Eduqas GCSE Drama set text study overview quiz quiz

Component 1, the devising portfolio

Component 2, the visiting examiner's performance

Component 3, Section A of the Interpreting Theatre paper

Component 3, Section B, the live theatre evaluation

As a story, focusing on plot and theme

As a script for the stage, in terms of performance, staging and design

As a poem, focusing on language analysis

As a historical document

AO1

AO2

AO3

AO4

Author, critic and audience

Performer, director and designer

Actor, stage manager and producer

Reader, examiner and teacher

By reciting dates and facts about the period

Through the specific performer, director or designer choices it justifies

Only in Section B

By comparing the play to other plays

Emotions are banned in the exam

AO3 rewards the vocal and physical choices that communicate the emotion, with their effect

Performer questions are only about movement

Emotion is assessed in Component 1

A detailed retelling of the plot

Justified staging choices held together by a clear directorial concept

A list of every prop on stage

A description of the set only

Nice costume

Dark lighting

A single cold side-light throwing a long shadow to isolate and expose the character

Sad music

All questions are worth the same

Most marks are in the high-tariff questions, so over-writing short ones loses marks where they count

The short questions are optional

Timing does not affect the mark

Using too much theatre vocabulary

Retelling the plot or explaining the theme instead of making practical choices

Naming the moment too precisely

Justifying choices by their effect

The text never changes

Set-text lists are reviewed periodically, so your centre's chosen text and the options can change

The exam board chooses your text on the day

Confirming is only needed for Section B

Memorise long quotations word for word

Build a bank of rich moments you can write about from all three viewpoints

Read the play once the night before

Focus only on the plot summary