Each student must choose to be assessed as a:

performer or
lighting designer or
sound designer or
set designer or
costume designer or
puppet designer.

Costume designers may choose to include make-up and/or hair and/or masks. Set designers may choose to include design of props.

Each student must choose one specialism only.

Students have to choose the same specialism for both extracts.

Requirements in relation to the number of students per specialism are as follows:

Specialism	Requirement for each performance
Performer	Betweenoneandsixstudents
Lighting designer	Maximum ofonestudent
Sound designer	Maximum ofonestudent
Set designer	Maximum ofonestudent
Costume designer	Maximum ofonestudent
Puppet designer	Maximum ofonestudent

In the case of only one student entering, this student must nominate himself/herself as performer.

Cross-sex casting is permitted.

Students must apply their chosen specialism as follows:

Specialism chosen	Requirement per extract
Performer	Must performonecharacter/interpretonerole per extract². The performer may perform the same character in both extracts or perform different characters in each extract.
Lighting designer	Must createonelighting design per extract. The lighting design must be different for each extract ie the student must design two different lighting plots, one for each extract. Each design must show a range of lighting effects/states and cues/transitions designed to meet the demands of the extract being performed.
Sound designer	Must createonesound design per extract. The sound design must be different for each extract ie the student must create two different sound plots, one for each extract. Each design must show a range of sound effects and cues/transitions designed to meet the demands of the extract being performed.
Set designer	Must createoneset design per extract. The set design must be different for each extract ie the student must either design two different settings, one for each extract, or adapt a single set for each extract. Each design must show dressings and props designed to meet the demands of the extract being performed.
Costume designer	Must createonecostume foronePerformer per extract. The costume design must be different for each extract ie the student must either design two different costumes, one for each extract, or adapt a single costume for each extract. Each design must show clothing and accessories, and hair and make-up if applicable, designed to meet the demands of the extract being performed.
Puppet designer	Must createonepuppet per extract. The puppet design must be different for each extract ie the student must either design two different puppets, one for each extract, or adapt a single puppet for each extract. Each design must show a complete puppet, designed to meet the demands of the extract being performed.

²Or more than one role if appropriate eg in a multi-role play.

Teachers must ensure that students have the opportunity to take an equal and active role in the creative and collaborative process regardless of their chosen specialism.

All designs must be assessed in live performance:

For lighting designers the lights and lighting effects must be seen in the live performance.
For sound designers the sound and sound effects must be heard in the live performance.
For set designers the set seen in the live performance should follow the students' design.
For costume designers the costume designed must be seen in the live performance.
For puppet designers the puppet designed must be a part of the live performance.

Design students are not assessed on their ability to operate equipment associated with their design.

Lighting designers are not required to operate the lighting equipment in the live performance.
Sound designers are not required to operate the sound equipment in the live performance.
Set designers are not assessed on the set's construction.
Costume designers are not assessed on the costume's construction.
Puppet designers are not assessed on the puppet's construction and need not be the puppet operators during the live performance.

Assessors must assess the design and not its execution.

Designs should be realised in performance to the full extent possible within any practical constraints.

Design students should have an awareness of how their design will impact on the live performance as a whole.