AS/A Level GCE (for first teaching in 2008) Performance Studies - H148 H548

FAQs

Please find below the most frequently asked questions for this qualification. If you have a question that is not answered here or elsewhere on the website please contact the OCR Customer Contact Centre.

Your regional Customer Support Manager is on hand to provide continued support, advice and guidance on what is happening with A Levels from an OCR prospective. This can include, an overview of our assessment approach or signposting to support and training to help you progress with our new A levels. To arrange a support call or visit, please email 14-19alevels@ocr.org.uk.

A. Elements from the two coursework units in the old specification have been combined, as have the elements from the two practical units. The written paper units are largely unchanged in terms of format but do contain some new practitioners and topics.

A. There are 3 assessment methods used in this specification:

  1. Unit 1 will be internally assessed coursework, marked by the teacher and moderated by postal moderation.
  2. Units 2 and 3 are externally assessed written examinations.
  3. Unit 4 will be externally assessed practical examinations marked by a visiting examiner.

A. Candidates will learn and develop an approach to the Performing Arts which is multi-disciplinary and develop their imagination, sensitivity and artistic knowledge and understanding in Dance, Drama and Music.
The specification contains extensive practical work and candidates will perform both existing pieces and create their own devised material.
Practical performance skills are assessed at both AS and A2 level and an examiner will visit the centre at A2 level.

A. Training - OCR offers a full range of INSET courses for both new and experienced teachers.
Resources - Exemplar work for all elements of the specification will be provided. For example sample coursework commentaries, sample candidate responses for written papers and DVD material of practical work.
The Performance e-community is also a good resource for teachers - it is designed to help teacher's help each other and share resources which can be posted to the member website attached to the community.
Website - View the Performance Studies qualification section of the OCR website and the
Performance Studies e-community members website.
Sample Assessment Material - Specimen question papers and mark schemes for the written examination papers and the practical unit commissions will be available.
Teacher Guidance - A detailed Teacher's Guide will be produced and updated annually.

A. Yes. In response to centre demand, OCR will be publishing past papers for live specifications on the OCR website. These will be free of charge. Question papers from the June 2008 series will be available to download from OCR Interchange only. Further details are available from OCR Interchange.

A. OCR is working in partnership with individual publishers for different subject groups. Comprehensive resources are being developed by these Publishing Partners and others to support the specification and complement the support available from OCR. For details of our partners view the support page.

A. Schemes of work and lesson plans can be downloaded from the OCR website. The materials are available in fixed PDF format, for reference purposes, and also in Word format, so that teachers can adapt the materials for their own use.