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 Organisation’s 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 9–1. 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 Performing music (ensemble is compulsory)
Weighting (% of total marks)* 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
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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 Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information