GCSE Drama (old)

Please note: Students starting GCSE Drama from September 2025 will follow the OCR course specification. Further information can be found here. The information on this page relates to the WJEC Eduqas course specification (current year 11 - summer 2026 exams).

How is the course externally examined?

Year 11 

Component 1 – Devising Theatre (40%)

Students will be assessed on either acting or design. Students participate in the creation, development and performance of a piece of devised theatre using either the techniques of an influential theatre practitioner or a genre, in response to a stimulus set by Eduqas in September of Year 11.

Component 2 - Performing from a Text (20%)

Drama Performance from a Text – an externally assessed performance based exam in February of Year 11. This is an extract of text, performed in a group of 2 – 5. OR performance support (lighting / sound / set and props /costume and makeup).

Component 3 – Interpreting Theatre (40%)

A 1 ½ hour written exam in May of Year 11. Section A: Questions on a set text: ‘Find me’ by Olwen Wymark, from the point of view of an actor, director or designer. Section B: Questions on a live theatre performance seen during the course.

The course is graded with GCSE grades 1 to 9.

How is the course internally assessed?

Students in KS4 are prepared for assessments and mock exams by sitting past or replica GCSE questions and participating in the practical exam of component 2 using the text Blood Blood from component 3.

For written work students receive a score and an estimated grade using the grade boundaries set by the exam board in the previous year. Students are given the opportunity to make progress by working on feedback to ensure they achieve the estimated grade awarded or to work to the next grade.