Performance Analysis: overview of Section 2 of the SQA Higher Drama question paper

Performance Analysis is Section 2 of the SQA Higher Drama question paper, worth 20 marks. It asks you to analyse and evaluate a live theatre performance you have seen, judging acting and production choices and their effect on the audience. This page maps the skills the section assesses and links to the detailed answer page.

What this section assesses

Analysis. Describing the specific acting and production choices you observed in a live performance: an actor's voice and movement at particular moments, and what the set, lighting, sound and costume actually did.

Evaluation. Judging how effective those choices were for the audience and justifying the judgement with evidence, what each choice communicated, the effect it created, and how the audience (including you) responded.

The section refers to a performance you have genuinely seen, so it tests how well you can watch theatre critically and judge it, not just make it.

How to study performance analysis

1. See and prepare a performance. Watch a production (live where possible) and take detailed notes on memorable acting and design choices and their effects.
2. Learn specific moments. Memorise a few concrete moments you can describe precisely, with the choices and their effects.
3. Practise judging, not describing. For each choice, write the justified judgement of how well it worked, with evidence.
4. Stay balanced. Note where something was less effective as well as where it succeeded, and avoid plot summary.

For the official course specification

The SQA publishes the full Higher Drama course specification, specimen and past papers, and marking instructions at sqa.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and SQA past papers, because the question paper structure was updated for 2025-26.