GCSE

In GCSE students spend two years developing and refining their musical ability requiring candidates to demonstrate aural perception, musical knowledge and understanding and communication through a number of different skills.  These are as follows:

• Performing - Singing and/or playing an individual part with technical control, expression and suitable interpretation. Two performances are required; a solo, which may be accompanied by one or several players or unaccompanied and an ensemble in which the candidate must take a significant part and show a sense of ensemble.
• Composing - Creating and developing musical ideas in relation to a given or chosen brief, making connections with one of the Areas of Study and the Integrated Assignment.
• Appraising - Analysing and evaluating music using musical terminology as part of an exam.

Areas of study

• Music for Film
• Music for Dance
• Music for Special Events
• Orchestral Landmarks
• The Popular Song since 1960

The GCSE is assessed in four different sections each worth 25% of the mark.  These are Composition Coursework (60 marks), Performance Coursework (60 marks), Integrated Assignment (60 marks) and a 1 hour Listening and Appraising Test (100 marks).

The Integrated Assignment
As part of the coursework the examboard issues an Integrated Assignment containing briefs for four of the five areas of study. The composition will be submitted in the form of a score and/or annotation and it must be accompanied by a recorded realisation of the piece and an evaluation of its success when measured alongside the demands of the assignment. The composing and realisation processes will take place over the timetabled period and, once completed and presented in final form, there will be a half-hour session for the completion of the evaluation. This will be completed under the direct supervision of the teacher, under examination conditions, and on a timetabled date.