The three assessments are broken down to written, performance and composition.
Component 1 – 2.5 hour written (40%)
Appraising music: listening, analysis and contextual understanding.
- Section A: Listening: Students must answer three sets of questions in this section. They are assessed on their ability to analyse and evaluate the music heard in the exam and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of musical elements and musical language to make critical judgements.
- Section B: Analysis: In this section students will be required to answer two sets of linked questions on two extracts of the set works from topic 1: Western Classical Tradition 1650–1910. Students will be able to access the excerpts relevant to their options digitally on an individual basis.
- Section C: Essay: Students will be required to answer one essay question on one area of study from a choice of topics 2-7.
Component 2 – performance (35%)
A solo and/or ensemble performance as an instrumentalist, or vocalist and/ or music production.
Component 3 – composition (25%)
One composition must be in response to an externally set brief and the other composition is freely composed. Together, the compositions must last a combined minimum time of four and a half minutes.
Students will be able to choose from seven externally set briefs, which may include stimuli such as a poem or a piece of text, photographs, images or film or notation. The free composition need not reference any brief or area of study.