GCSE Drama
Drama makes heavy literacy demands: close reading of a set text and unseen extracts, typed extended answers in a 2 hour on-screen examination, a written Reflective Log, precise drama terminology and sustained spoken performance of scripts. Numeracy is light and practical, mainly timing pieces to set lengths and working to scale on ground plans and model sets for designers. The single biggest thing Key Stage 3 should build is the ability to analyse how actors, designers and directors create meaning, and to write about it using accurate drama terminology.
- First taught
- September 2025
- Amount of literacy work
- High
- Amount of numeracy work
- Low
- Specification
- Open the WJEC specification (PDF)
How this GCSE is assessed
- Unit 1: Devising Theatre: Practical non-examination assessment and Reflective Log, marked by centre and moderated by WJEC, 40%, 96 marks
- Unit 2: Performance from a Text: Practical non-examination assessment, marked by a visiting examiner, 30%, 72 marks
- Unit 3: Interpreting Theatre: On-screen examination 2 hours, 30%, 72 marks
Skills that use Shape and space
-
Ground plans and model sets to scale
Set design is a design option in Units 1 and 2, and the glossary lists ground plans, sight lines and model sets. Appendix A ticks the geometry and measurement strand for both practical units.
Numeracy: Measurement, Shape and space, Angle, Calculation
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils measure the drama studio in metres and mark stage left, stage right and centre stage on a squared paper ground plan.
- Year 8
- Pupils draw a ground plan of a traverse staging at 1:50 and check sight lines from two audience seats with a ruler.
- Year 9
- Pupils build a shoebox model set at 1:25 from their ground plan, calculating the model size of each flat and piece of furniture.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Appendix B, Set design/staging, page 29; Appendix A, page 25
“Ground plan Sight lines”
Progression step 3
I can convert metric units of length to smaller units, e.g. cm to mm, m to cm, km to m.
I can measure and calculate perimeter.
Progression step 4
I can apply understanding of bearings and scale to interpret maps and plans, and to create plans and drawings to scale.
I can use ratio and proportion including map scales.
Progression step 5
I can apply proportional change to two-dimensional designs.
I can measure and draw angles.
Good to know
- Unit 3 is a "Digital only examination, marked by WJEC" (page 15), 2 hours (page 5), so extended answers are typed on screen, not handwritten.
- No separate marks are awarded for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Written analysis is credited through AO1 (20%) and AO3 (10%) in Unit 3 (page 20).
- The Unit 1 Reflective Log is "in a non-prescribed format" (page 5), with no word limit stated. It supports AO3, worth 5% in Unit 1 (page 20).
- Piece length depends on group size, for example "Group of two actors: 5-10 minutes", and each actor must interact "for a minimum of five minutes" (pages 21 to 22).
- The design viva is a "3-5 minute presentation" and "is non-assessed" (page 22).
- Learners "are not assessed on their collaborative skills" although they must work in a pair or group in Units 1 and 2 (page 19).
- There are no calculator rules; numeracy appears only in practical design and timing work.
Links with other GCSEs
Script reading and analytical writing overlap strongly with English, so agreeing a shared paragraph structure with the English department will help pupils.
Source: WJEC GCSE Drama specification, teaching from 2025, for award from 2027, Version 2, September 2026 (© WJEC CBAC Ltd 2024).