Specification at a glance

This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams and submit all their non-exam assessment at the end of the course.

Subject content

Core content

  1. Performance
  2. Choreography
  3. Dance appreciation

Assessments

Students must complete both assessment components.

Component 1: Performance and choreography

What's assessed

Performance

  • Set phrases through a solo performance (approximately one minute in duration)
  • Duet/trio performance (three minutes in a dance which is a maximum of five minutes in duration)

Choreography

  • Solo or group choreography – a solo (two to two and a half minutes) or a group dance for two to five dancers (three to three and a half minutes)

How it's assessed

Internally marked and externally moderated

Performance
  • 30% of GCSE
  • 40 marks

Choreography

  • 30% of GCSE
  • 40 marks

Total component 60%

Non-exam assessment (NEA) marked by the centre and moderated by AQA.

Component 2: Dance appreciation

What's assessed

  • Knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performing skills
  • Critical appreciation of own work
  • Critical appreciation of professional works

How it's assessed

  • 40% of GCSE
  • Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • 80 marks

Questions

Based on students' own practice in performance and choreography and the GCSE Dance anthology.