PRACTICAL UNIT ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The assessment criteria can also be found in the DRAM4 handbook you were given in June.

Unit 4 increases the demands placed on candidates in practical Unit 2 by requiring a more advanced level of performance and/or production skills underpinned by independent thought and refined in the light of their research.
The unit is synoptic in its requirements for candidates to address artistic challenges by adopting a distinctive style of theatre that they have seen as well as studied and to bring together both their theoretical knowledge and practical experience to create an original piece of theatre.

Assessments of the presentation of the finished piece must also take into account the distinctive features of specific skills on a separate marking scheme for individuals.

Part (a) – Preparation and development – Unit 4
A mark out of 5 is to be awarded for each of the following three sections:
Section 1
4–5 marks Candidates will demonstrate secure understanding of the style of theatre that they have chosen to work in as well as a strong commitment to it, throughout the devising process, to realise very clear dramatic intentions for the audience.

2–3 marks Candidates will demonstrate some understanding of the style of theatre that they have chosen to work in as well as some commitment to it, throughout the devising process, to
realise somewhat generalised dramatic intentions for the audience.

1 mark Candidates will demonstrate partial understanding of the style of theatre that they have chosen to work in and occasional commitment to it throughout the devising process. Dramatic
intentions for the audience may be underdeveloped.

Section 2
4–5 marks Candidates will demonstrate a high degree of creative co-operation and inventiveness throughout the devising process. They will maintain a high level of self-discipline and employ successful devising strategies. Candidates will display sound critical and evaluative
judgements of live theatre, including their own work as well as wider productions seen, as they develop their work, in its distinctive style, promising a successful outcome.

2–3 marks Candidates will demonstrate some attempt at creative co-operation and occasional inventiveness during the devising process. They will exhibit a reasonable level of self-discipline,
employing some useful devising strategies. Candidates will display some critical and/or evaluative judgement as they develop their work, in its distinctive style, suggesting an acceptable outcome.

1 mark Candidates will demonstrate restricted creative co-operation and willingness to experiment during the devising process. They will appear to lack the necessary self-discipline in devising. Candidates will display restricted critical and/or evaluative judgement as they develop their work, in the nominated style, making a positive outcome unlikely.

Section 3
4–5 marks Candidates will demonstrate significant development of their nominated skill in relation to the production/performance requirements of the devised work. These will be precisely attuned to the needs of the piece and be entirely appropriate to the chosen style of theatre.

2–3 marks Candidates will demonstrate some development of their nominated skill in relation to the production/performance requirements of the devised work. These will be generally appropriate to the needs of the piece and be largely suitable to the chosen style of theatre.

1 mark Candidates will demonstrate limited development of their nominated skill in relation to the production/performance requirements of the devised work. These may not be appropriate to the
needs of the piece nor to the chosen style of theatre.


Part (b) – Supporting notes – Unit 4
A mark out of 5 is to be awarded for each of the following three sections:
Section 1

4–5 marks Candidates will provide clear and concise evidence of detailed practical exploration and research into the chosen style of presentation, including purposeful reference to live theatre
seen. Dramatic intentions for the audience will be well-defined. Specialist terminology will be used confidently as candidates reflect thoughtfully and critically on their application of the chosen
style to the developing piece of theatre.

2–3 marks Candidates will provide some evidence of their practical exploration/research into the chosen style of presentation, including useful reference to live theatre seen. Dramatic intentions for the audience will be clearly stated. Specialist terminology will be used occasionally as candidates offer some meaningful, critical reflection upon their application of the chosen style to the developing piece of theatre.

1 mark Candidates will provide a little evidence of their practical exploration/research into the chosen style of presentation including reference to live theatre seen. Dramatic intentions for the audience will be generalised. Specialist terminology will rarely be used accurately as candidates
offer insufficient critical reflection upon their application of the chosen style to the developing piece of theatre.

Section 2
4–5 marks Candidates will offer clear details about the devising process, providing useful examples of the ways in which they have refined their work, in the light of both practical and theoretical research and feedback, to fulfil precisely defined aims.

2–3 marks Candidates will offer some details about the devising process, providing occasional examples of the ways in which they have refined their work, in the light of both practical and theoretical research and feedback, to fulfil quite clear aims.

1 mark Candidates will offer a few details about the devising process, providing underdeveloped exemplification of the ways in which they have shaped their work and restricted evidence of using
practical and theoretical research and/ or feedback to help them to achieve general aims.

Section 3
4–5 marks There is detailed and purposeful assessment of the piece and of its potential effectiveness for an audience as a piece of live theatre. Candidates include clear evaluation of the
development of the nominated skill in terms of achieving the selected style of theatre. Health and safety factors receive careful attention.

2–3 marks There is some meaningful assessment of the piece and of its potential effectiveness for an audience as a piece of live theatre. Candidates include an attempt at evaluation of the development of the nominated skill in terms of achieving the selected style of theatre. Health and safety factors receive fairly perfunctory attention.

1 mark There is an attempt at an assessment of the piece and of its potential effectiveness for an audience as a piece of live theatre. Candidates include a little evaluation of the development of
the nominated skill in terms of achieving the selected style of theatre. Health and safety factors receive insufficient attention.

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Part (c) – Presentation of the devised work – Unit 4
A single mark out of 50 is to be awarded according to the banding definitions below.
The full range of marks available within a mark band should be used as appropriate. If a candidate’s work is described exactly by a particular band, it should be placed in the middle of that band; elements of the band above or below will modify that mid-band mark accordingly.

Band 1 – 40–50 marks
Work in this range will create a highly effective theatrical experience for the audience. Candidates will demonstrate a very successful treatment of their selected subject matter in terms of their chosen style of theatre. The piece will be highly original. Candidates will demonstrate a high degree of inventiveness in their work, deploying the selected elements of stagecraft in a completely coherent way to achieve precise dramatic intentions for an audience. Candidates will display excellent technical accomplishment in their nominated skill(s), which will be entirely consistent with the group aims.

Band 2 – 30–39 marks
Work in this range will create a reasonably effective theatrical experience for the audience. Candidates will demonstrate quite a successful treatment of their selected subject matter in terms of their chosen style of theatre. The piece will display considerable originality. Candidates will demonstrate some inventiveness in their work, deploying the selected elements of stagecraft in a unified way to achieve clear dramatic intentions for an audience. Candidates will display good technical accomplishment in their nominated skill(s), which will be largely consistent with the group aims.

Band 3 – 20–29 marks
Work in this range will create an acceptable theatrical experience for the audience. Candidates’ treatment of their selected subject matter may not be consistently appropriate to their chosen style of theatre. The piece will display occasional originality. The candidates’ work will show occasional invention although their use of stagecraft may lack the necessary integration and precision to achieve their stated intentions for an audience. Candidates will display some technical accomplishment in their nominated skill(s), although it may be unevenly applied and may not be consistent with the group aims.

Band 4 – 10–19 marks
Work in this range will create a theatrical experience for the audience occasionally. Candidates’ treatment of their selected subject matter may be inappropriate to their chosen style of theatre at times. The piece will be restricted in terms of originality. The candidates’ invention may be restricted and their use of stagecraft may reveal underdeveloped theatrical awareness. Dramatic intentions for the audience may be unclear or only partially fulfilled, possibly as a result of insufficient purposeful rehearsal. Candidates will display some limitations in their technical accomplishment in their nominated skill(s).

Band 5 – 1–9 marks
Work in this range will attempt to create a sense of theatre for the audience. Candidates’ treatment of their selected subject matter will occasionally reveal something of their chosen style of theatre but, in the main, it may be unsuitable; a few specific stylistic features will be evident. The piece may be somewhat derivative. The candidates’ invention may be intermittent. The work may lack dramatic integration and the candidates’ execution of stagecraft will be such as to prevent them from realising stated dramatic intentions for the audience. Candidates will display restricted technical competence in their nominated skill(s), which might have benefited from further rehearsal time.