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.

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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:

With a Little Help from my Friends

Within You, Without You
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

Santana: Supernatural the following three tracks:

Smooth
Migra, Migra
Love of my Life.

Traditional Music

Western Classical Tradition

since 1910
Instrumental music
1700-1820
Pearson
Edexcel

OCR

WJEC

Vocal music
Music for stage and
screen
Fusions
My instrument
The Concerto through time
Rhythms of the World
Film music
Conventions of pop
Musical forms and devices
(Western Classical
Tradition 1650-1910)
Music for ensemble
Film music
Popular music

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)

Suggested repertoire, no set works

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Movement 3, Minuet:

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

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Performance requirements an overview

AQA

Edexcel /
Pearson
Minimum of 2

OCR

WJEC

2 pieces:
1 ensemble
1 solo

pieces:

1 ensemble

1 solo

(both must be a
minimum of 1 minute
duration)

2 pieces
1 ensemble
1 solo

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

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

Requirements

-technical control

- accuracy and
fluency

- expression and
interpretation

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- difficulty

- technical
control and fluency
- expression
and
interpretation

6 minutes

- 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)

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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.

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)

A
Q
A

Ed
ex
ce
l
Pe
ar
so
n
O
C
R

Marks awarded for:

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

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

W
JE
C

Creativity in response to the chosen

brief
Development of musical ideas
Technical control of musical

The draft specification does not

mention these linking to areas
of study
There will be a choice of four
briefs set by Edexcel

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 precomposed samples, must be
clearly acknowledged and any

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.

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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

elements and resources

Musical coherence and
understanding

work which is not entirely that of

the learner must be identified.

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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

Musical contexts

Musical language

melody

harmony

tonality

form and structure

dynamics

sonority

texture

tempo

rhythm

metre

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

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musical vocabulary related to areas of study

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.

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Listening/ appraising / understanding examination

A
Q
A

E
d
e
x
c
e
l
P

T
o
t
a
l
d
u
r
a
t
i
o
n

1
h
r
3
0

m
i
n
s
1
h
r
4
5

T
o
t
a
l
m
a
r
k
s
a
v
a
il
a
b
l
e
9
6

8
0

Overview

Description

Additional points

Section A listening
(68 marks)

Section B contextual
understanding (28
marks)

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

AQA have created classroom

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

Section A Areas of
study, dictation, and
unfamiliar pieces
(68 marks)

- 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

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e
a
r
s
o
n

O
C
R

i
n
s

1
h
r
3
0

8
0

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 questions in
total. Six questions
on unprepared
musical extracts and
two questions on
prepared musical
extracts (see above
- Mozart and
Rainbow)

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

W
J
E
C

m
i
n
s
1
h
r
1
5
m
i
n
s

9
6
m
a
r
k
s

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.

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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:

Awardin
g body

AQA

Edexcel
Pearson

http://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Music/2016/sp
ecification/Specification_GCSE_L1L2_in_Music_May_2015_Draft_1_0_for_web.pdf

www.ocr.org.uk

WJEC

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

www.qualifications.pearso
n.com

OCR

Draft specification location

www.aqa.org.uk

Website

http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/219378-specification-draft-gcse-musicj536.pdf

www.eduqas.co.uk

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

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