Guide to GCSE Music (first teaching in 2016)

The following pages provide an overview of the drafts submitted to Ofqual for
the new GCSE Music qualifications.
We have produced an overview to help you start thinking about which Awarding
Organisations new specification for GCSE Music will best suit your students and
setting.
We will be updating this as the final documents are published.
Basic information
The GCSE is a 2-year course of study, with an examination at the end. There are
no requirements that a pupil must have achieved a certain level / standard to be
able to undertake this course, which is good news for inclusion. This is specifically
stated in the criteria from each awarding body that it is open to young musicians
from all backgrounds and offers opportunities to explore their own musical
interests.
The current grading of A* G is changing to numerical grading of 91.
Grade 9 will be equivalent to A**,
Grade 4 will be equivalent to a Grade C
Grade 1 will be equivalent to a Grade G.
In essence the marks awarded come from three activities: This is very similar in
structure to the GCSE Music qualifications currently being studied for.
Component

Weighting
(% of total
marks)*

Performing music (ensemble is compulsory)

30%
Composing music (one piece to a brief set by
awarding body, one piece to a brief chosen by
the candidate)
Testing pupils knowledge and understanding
of music and their ability to listen to of
appraise music through a written examination
*These weightings have been fixed by Ofqual

30%

40%

Assessment
Internally
assessed,
externally
moderated
Internally
assessed,
externally
moderated
Externally
marked

Page3

Page5

Page7

Areas of study
In line with Ofqual requirements, each awarding body has selected a minimum of
four areas of study, all of which are examined. An additional Ofqual requirement
is that at least one of these relates to the Western Classical tradition with music
mostly taken from the period 1650 to 1910.
The areas of study are used in a variety of ways by the awarding bodies. The
commonality is that all examine the areas of study through the written /
listening examination, taken at the end of the course. Some of the awarding
bodies specify set works; others suggest a list of recommended listening / study
or a combination of both.
1
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Proposed areas of Study and set works

AQA

Western Classical tradition

1650-1910

*Haydn: Symphony 101 in D major The Clock,

movt. 2

Popular Music

The Beatles: Sgt.Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band

the following three tracks:

Traditional Music
Santana: Supernatural the following three tracks:

With a Little Help from my Friends

Within You, Without You
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
Smooth
Migra, Migra
Love of my Life.

Western Classical Tradition

since 1910
Instrumental music
1700-1820
Pearson
Edexcel

Vocal music
Music for stage and
screen
Fusions

Aaron Copland: Saturday Night Waltz and Hoedown

from Rodeo
J S Bach: 3rd Movement from Brandenburg
Concerto no. 5 in D major
H Purcell: Music for a While
S Schwartz: Defying Gravity (from the album of
the cast recording of Wicked)
Afro Celt Sound System: Release (from the album
Volume 2: Release)

My instrument
The Concerto through time
OCR

Suggested repertoire, no set works

Rhythms of the World

Film music
Conventions of pop
Musical forms and devices
(Western Classical
Tradition 1650-1910)

WJEC

Music for ensemble

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Movement 3, Minuet:

Mozart (1787)
Suggested repertoire, no set works
Suggested repertoire, no set works

Film music
Popular music

Since Youve Been Gone: Rainbow (released 1979)

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L van Beethoven: 1st Movement from

Piano Sonata no. 8 in C minor Pathetique
Queen: Killer Queen (from the album
Sheer Heart Attack)
J Williams: Main title/rebel blockade
runner (from the soundtrack to Star Wars
Episode IV: A New Hope)
Esperanza Spalding: Samba Em Preludio
(from the album Esperanza)

1. Performing / realising music (30% of marks)

This is internally marked and externally moderated.

The performances can take place any time during the final year of the course.

The teacher must be present in order to verify the performance, but this does not have
to take place in school. Audio recordings must be submitted.

All candidates are required to perform a minimum of two pieces. These do not have to
be on the same instrument.

Some boards allow performance of a candidates own composition to count towards the
performance component. Others do not.

One ensemble performance per candidate is compulsory. The requirements for the
other piece vary between the boards (most expect solo and ensemble).

Some awarding bodies allow more than two pieces to be marked as part of the
performance component.

The minimum duration for the portfolio of pieces presented by a candidate is 4 minutes.
If it is less than 4 minutes, zero marks will be awarded.

The minimum duration of the ensemble piece is 1 minute.

Any instrument, voices, music technology, DJ-ing, MC-ing and realising using music
technology are acceptable. Improvisation is also acceptable.

There is variation in whether the awarding organisations expect the choice of repertoire
to link to the areas of study.

All awarding bodies have grids to scale marks depending upon the difficulty of the
music performed/realised. Effectively these are:
o

Below standard

(approx. grade 2 and below)

Standard

(approx. grade 3)

Above standard

(approx. grades 4-5)

Specific criteria about standards is set out for those using music technology to realise
music or who are playing / singing less conventional instruments etc.

Supporting documentation must be submitted in the form of a score, lead sheet, chord
chart, annotation, guide recording etc. The requirements slightly vary between the
awarding bodies.

Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information

Performance requirements an overview

Requirements

AQA
2 pieces:
1 ensemble
1 solo

Edexcel / Pearson
Minimum of 2 pieces:
1 ensemble
1 solo
(both must be a
minimum of 1 minute
duration)

OCR
2 pieces
1 ensemble
1 solo

WJEC
Minimum of 2 pieces
1 ensemble
other(s) can be solo or
ensemble
(max 3 attempts at the
same piece)

Maximum suggested
performance
duration

7 minutes

Not specified

Not specified

6 minutes

Link to Areas of
Study

No

No

No

One piece must link to an

area of study

Marks awarded for: -

- level of demand
- accuracy
- expression and
interpretation

-technical control
- accuracy and fluency
- expression and
interpretation

- difficulty
- technical control and
fluency
- expression and
interpretation

- technical control
- expression and
appropriate interpretation
- accuracy of rhythm and
pitch
- appropriate pace and
fluency
- effective use of dynamics
- stylistic awareness
empathy (in ensemble
playing)

Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information

2. Composing music (30% of marks)

This is internally marked and externally moderated.

In line with Ofqual requirements, a minimum of two pieces must be composed.

o

One piece must be to respond to a brief set by the awarding body. The
awarding body must provide a choice of briefs.

One piece must be left to the free choice of the candidate.

All awarding bodies must offer a choice of brief.

Briefs will be released by awarding bodies in September of the school year in which the
course will be completed. Currently, release dates for these vary.

In line with Ofqual requirements, each of the awarding bodies has set a minimum time
duration of 3 minutes for the total length of the compositions. Some awarding bodies
have also set a maximum duration as a guideline.

Currently, the awarding bodies say different things about the awarding of marks should
the total duration of compositions come to less than 3 minutes.

All awarding bodies expect a recording of the pieces to be submitted. These do not
have to be performed by the candidate and they are not marked for the quality of the
performance, only the quality of the composition.

One of the awarding bodies (AQA) awards marks for awareness of the composing
process. All of the others award marks only for the final composition.

A score or chord sheet is required, although this is not usually reflected in the mark
awarded.

Currently, some awarding bodies suggest that the composition to the brief set by the
awarding body must be, in part, carried out under controlled conditions. Others do not
specify this.

Some of briefs set by awarding bodies link to areas of study. Those from AQA do not
purposefully link.

The briefs set by students need to be submitted with the recordings. Most of the
awarding bodies ask for the occasion and audience to be defined, as well as their
musical details.

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Overview of composing requirements

Two compositions (1 brief set by awarding organisation, the other by the candidate)
Marks awarded for:
AQA

Edexcel
Pearson

Rhythm and metre

Texture and melody
Harmony and tonality
Timbre and dynamics
Structure and form
Composing log

Developing musical ideas

Demonstrating technical control
Composing with musical coherence

OCR

WJEC

Creativity in response to the chosen

brief
Development of musical ideas
Technical control of musical
elements and resources
Musical coherence and
understanding

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Notes of the briefs

This appears to be the only awarding
body which awards some of the marks
for the process a composing log is
required as part of the submission
The draft specification does not
mention these linking to areas of study
There will be a choice of four
briefs set by Edexcel

These will relate to the areas of

study

The composition to a brief set

by OCR will be linked to an area
of study.

The free choice composition will

be for the candidates
instrument

There will be a choice of four briefs,

one linked to each area of study.

Other requirements / points worthy

of noting
Briefs will include different stimuli
including:
Written words, poems or a piece of text
Photographs images or film
Notation

Students must work on their

compositions under controlled conditions
for at least five hours. This must include
the final write up of their compositions,
and can include any research and
development time.
Candidates will be required to respond
to a brief using one of the following as a
stimulus:
A choice of two rhythmic phrases
A choice of two note patterns
A four line stanza of words
A chord sequence
A short story
An image
All secondary source materials, such as
musical quotes or pre-composed
samples, must be clearly acknowledged
and any work which is not entirely that
of the learner must be identified.
A composition log must be submitted.

3. Listening / understanding / appraising (40% of marks)

Each of the awarding bodies has a slightly different title for this section of the GCSE. It is the
component in which a final examination will be taken at the end of the two-year course.
As defined by Ofqual, the knowledge and understanding is defined around musical elements,
musical contexts and musical language. Each awarding organisation provides a detailed list of
terms.
Musical elements

melody
harmony
tonality
form and structure
dynamics
sonority
texture
tempo
rhythm
metre

Musical contexts

the purpose and intention of composers, performers and

those who commission music

the effect of the occasion, audience and choice of venue on

the way music is composed and performed

how music is created, developed and performed in different

social, historical and cultural contexts

reading and writing treble and bass clef staff notation in

simple time

reading treble and bass clef staff notation in compound time

chord symbols, e.g. G7

key signatures to four sharps and flats

musical vocabulary related to areas of study

Musical language

In line with another Ofqual requirements, this examination must include some
examples of music which have not been studied as set works.

AQA offers choice about the area of study chosen for the second part of questions on
contextual understanding. This is based upon the study piece for this area of study.

Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information

Listening/ appraising / understanding examination

Total
duration
AQA

1hr 30
mins

Total
marks
available
96

Overview

Description

Additional points

Section A listening (68

marks)

AQA have created classroom

performance editions of GCSE study
pieces so they can be played by any
instrument, in any combination.

Section B Extended
response comparison
between a set work and
one unfamiliar piece (12
marks)
Multiple choice, single or
short answer, questions
that require an extended
response

Eight compulsory questions covering all

areas of study it will be based upon
unheard works
four sets of linked questions on the study
pieces, two compulsory (one of these is
linked to area of study 1) and the other
based on an area of study of the
candidates choice
- Six questions related to 6 of the 8 set
works
- One short melody / rhythm completion
exercise (worth 6-10 marks)
- One question on an unfamiliar piece
(skeleton score provided) with questions
on its musical elements, musical
contexts and musical language
- one question that asks candidates to
compare and/or evaluate the musical
elements and musical language of one
set work with one unfamiliar piece of
music
Examination based around:
Musical elements
Musical contexts
Musical language

Eight questions in total. Six

questions on unprepared
musical extracts and two
questions on prepared
musical extracts (see above
- Mozart and Rainbow)

Examination is designed for students to

show knowledge and understanding of:
Musical elements
Musical contexts
Musical language
There are set works for AOS 1 & AOS4.

Section B - contextual
understanding (28 marks)

Edexcel
Pearson

1hr 45
mins

80

OCR

1hr 30
mins

80

WJEC

1hr 15
mins

96
marks

Section A Areas of study,

dictation, and unfamiliar
pieces (68 marks)

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Areas of study 2-5 will be examined:

The Concerto through time
Rhythms of the world
Film music
Conventions of pop
Each musical extract will be linked to
one of four areas of study:
1. Musical Forms and Devices
2. Music for Ensemble
3. Music for Film
4. Popular Music

Further information
You can read the full draft specifications at the following links:
Awarding body

Website

Draft specification location

AQA

www.aqa.org.uk

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/music/gcse/music-8271

Edexcel
Pearson

www.qualifications.pearson.com

http://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Music/2016/specificati
on/Specification_GCSE_L1-L2_in_Music_May_2015_Draft_1_0_for_web.pdf

OCR

www.ocr.org.uk

http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/219378-specification-draft-gcse-music-j536.pdf

WJEC

www.eduqas.co.uk

http://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/music/gcse/WJEC%20Eduqas%20GCSE
%20Music%20DRAFT%20Specification.pdf?language_id=1

Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information

Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information