Student & ParentPortal

7Sep

Key Stage 4

Year 10 and 11 New Specification and Course Content

GCSE Music (New Specification)

Click here to view the full GCSE Music Specification

Assessment Objectives		Weighting
AO1	Perform with technical control, expression and interpretation.	30%
AO2	Compose and develop musical ideas with technical control and coherence.	30%
AO3	Demonstrate and apply musical knowledge.	20%
AO4	Use appraising skills to make evaluative and critical judgements about music.	20%

Component 1: Understanding Music (40%)

What's assessed

Component 1 focuses on listening and contextual understanding. It has two sections, covering assessment objectives AO3 (knowledge and understanding) and AO4 (evaluative and critical judgements).

How it's assessed

Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
Exam paper includes listening exercises using excerpts of music
Section A – listening (68 marks)
Section B – contextual understanding (28 marks)
96 marks in total (40% of GCSE)

Questions

Two sections
Section A – eight compulsory questions
Section B – four sets of linked questions, two compulsory (one must be on Western classical tradition)

Component 2: Performing Music (30%)

What's assessed

Musical performance, covering assessment objective AO1.

How it's assessed

Two pieces, one solo and one ensemble
Performances can be delivered in a number of ways which can include (but are not limited to):
– Voice
– Instrumentally (i.e Piano, Guitar, Saxophone, Violin, Trombone, Flute Keyboard or Drum Kit)
– Music Technology
– DJ performance
Total performance duration must be a minimum of four minutes and a maximum of seven minutes, and the ensemble performance must be one minute minimum
Candidates must provide recordings of their performances, including accompanying evidence (a lead sheet, score, annotation, or guide to the recording)
72% marks in total (30% of GCSE)

Component 3: Composing Music (30%)

What's assessed

Composition, covering assessment objective AO2.

How it's assessed

Each student must compose two compositions
Composition 1: composing to a brief (36 marks)
Composition 2: free composition (36 marks)
Compositions must have a combined duration of at least three minutes (minimum) and four and a half minutes (maximum)
72 marks in total (30% of GCSE)