Specification/Exam Board

Eduqas GCSE Music, comprising 3 Components:

Component 1: Performing (30%)​

Component 2: Composing (30%)​

Component 3: Appraising (40%) Exam (1 hour 15 mins)​

As part of your GCSE Music coursework in Component 1, you will be expected to perform to a good standard (approximately Grade 4) as a singer/instrumentalist by the start of Year 11. As such, it is a course requirement that you are already a keen instrumentalist and/or singer. You must be committed to having regular instrumental/vocal tuition ​outside of your curriculum music lessons and to practising your instrumental/vocal performing weekly (ideally daily!)

Curriculum Allocation

Music is taught for 3 100-minute lessons per fortnight.

Curriculum Period 1:

Curriculum content

Having completed the entire initial study of all areas for Component 3 (Listening and Appraising exam), students will focus on completing their "Brief Composition" for Component 2 (Composing) NEA and recording their first performance for submission for Component 1 (Performing) NEA.

  • Select final choice of piece for first part of the Component 1 NEA
  • Work and rehearse performance/s
  • Begin work on the piece for the Eduqas Composition set brief
  • Strategic Reteach and Recall Activities based on assessments and other data from Year 10
  • Continued regular practice on appraising questions in the style of the examination, including comparisons of extracts (class and HWKs)

Learning activities include:

  • Continued work on performance (ensemble and solo), recording final performance/s as appropriate
  • Completing first draft of WJEC Eduqas set composition: production of score/leadsheet and composition log.

Assessment

  • Assess performances to WJEC Eduqas criteria when ready (30%)
  • Continued work on composition coursework, including composition log (30%)
  • Mock Exam for Component 3 (40%)


    Curriculum Period 2:

    Curriculum content

    Students will primarily focus on completing their "Free Composition" for Component 2 (Composing) NEA and recording their remaining performance/s for submission for Component 1 (Performing) NEA.

    • Select final choice of piece for remaining part of the Component 1 NEA
    • Work and rehearse performance/s
    • Compose the Eduqas "Free Composition" NEA
    • Continued regular practice on appraising questions in the style of the examination, including comparisons of extracts

    Learning activities include:

    • Continued work on performance (ensemble and solo), recording final performance/s as appropriate
    • Completing first draft of WJEC Eduqas free composition: production of score/leadsheet and composition log.

    Assessment

    • Continued work on performances, recording to meet deadline of end of spring term

    Assessment

    • Assess performances to WJEC Eduqas criteria when ready (30%)
    • Continued work on composition coursework, including composition log (30%)
    • Mock Exam for Component 3 (40%)

      Curriculum Period 3:

      Curriculum content

      • Listening practice and final examination (Component 3)
      • Completion and submission of all recorded performance coursework (Component 1)
      • Completion and submission of all composition coursework (Component 2)

      Assessment

      Final submission of coursework for Component 1: Performing (30%)​

      Final submission of coursework for Component 2: Composing (30%)​

      Final Exam for Component 3: Appraising (40%) 


      Revision resources

      Study Guide: "WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Music" (Jan Richards)

      Subject advice and guidance

      If you need any further guidance then please contact Mrs Reardon-Davies (Director of Teaching and Learning in Music) via email:

      a.reardon-davies@endon.shaw-education.org.uk