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GCSE Music8271

2.0 Specification at a glance

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

2.1 Subject content

Core content

2.2 Assessments

Component 1: Understanding music

What's assessed

  • Listening
  • Contextual understanding

How it's assessed

Exam paper with listening exercises and written questions using excerpts of music.

Questions

  • Section A: Listening – unfamiliar music (68 marks)
  • Section B: Study pieces (28 marks)
The exam is 1 hour and 30 minutes.

This component is worth 40% of GCSE marks (96 marks).

Component 2: Performing music

What's assessed

Music performance

How it's assessed

As an instrumentalist and/or vocalist and/or via technology:

  • Performance 1: Solo performance (36 marks)
  • Performance 2: Ensemble performance (36 marks) .

A minimum of four minutes of performance in total is required, of which a minimum of one minute must be the ensemble performance.

This component is 30% of GCSE marks (72 marks) .

Non-exam assessment (NEA) will be internally marked by teachers and externally moderated by AQA. Performances must be completed in the year of certification.

Component 3: Composing music

What's assessed

Composition

How it's assessed

  • Composition 1: Composition to a brief (36 marks)
  • Composition 2: Free composition (36 marks) .

A minimum of three minutes of music in total is required.

This component is 30% of GCSE marks (72 marks) .

Non-exam assessment (NEA) will be internally marked by teachers and externally moderated by AQA.