GCSE Pearson/Edexcel Drama Revision Conference

ABOUT THIS CONFERENCE

This NEW conference, designed for students studying GCSE Drama aims to inspire, extend and consolidate students’ learning in the three components studied for GCSE: Devising; performing an extract, analysing, evaluating a production and understanding a set text for a written exam. With practical activities, interactive sessions and supported writing opportunities, we will develop students’ confidence in navigating the wide demands of the GCSE specification, and achieving well in examination. Throughout the day, reference will be made to specific feedback from Examiners’ reports.

KEY FOCUS AREAS

• A memorable, valuable and interactive day, with LIVE performances from professional actors, leading Drama experts
• Watch and participate in practical rehearsals and performance, and gain insight and confidence in how to approach the written exam
• Gain first hand guidance and crucial insight from experts
• Find out more about high quality exam responses
• Understand how to improve your answers about set texts and live productions
• Take away a comprehensive set of notes which can be used as part of your revision
• Learn devising techniques that can immediately be applied to your own practical work in school or college
• Explore a range of techniques to apply to scripted performances in Year 11

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PROGRAMME

Welcome and Introduction

10.00 – 10.15am

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What the examiners want to see

10.15 – 10.30am

• The examiner’s perspective: what examiners are looking for in each component – an overview
• STUDENT ACTIVITY Component 3 theatre roles, staging and skills interactive student quiz!

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Achieving a Top Band Portfolio

10.30 – 11.15am

• How to focus on the demands of each question to hit top band within the word count
• Analysing and evaluation: identifying the difference between these two skills and how to get high marks by doing these well
• Workshopping what adding specific practical detail looks like
• Expert advice on using drama-specific terminology correctly

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Break

11.15 – 11.35am

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Component 3: Acing the 9 and 12-mark questions

11.35 – 12.15pm

• Expert advice on how to integrate context into your response to make it sophisticated
• Identifying how the relationship between the director and the designer differs from the relationship between the director and the performer, and how to approach this in written responses
• Structuring answers on set texts for top marks – ensuring that your response is relevant and detailed
• STUDENT ACTIVITY: Improving competent responses to achieve top band

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Component 2: Student Showcase

12.15 – 12.45pm

• Students present extracts from their Component 2 pieces to an audience – would you like to perform your work?

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Lunch

12.45 – 1.15pm

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Question Box

1.15 – 1.30pm

• A chance to ask direct questions to the keynote speakers, with a prize awarded for the best question.

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Smashing the 14-mark question

1.30 – 2.15pm

• Reviewing the significance of the designer when staging a production
• Structuring answers for top marks – a no-fear approach to structuring your response within the time limit
• Expert examiner hints and tips on how to ensure you meet the demands of a top band response
• STUDENT ACTIVITY: Technical theatre interactive quiz

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Live Theatre Review

2.15 – 3.00pm

• Re-examining the role of the audience member when making judgements about live theatre
• Identifying the differences between a performance and a technical question
• A no-nonsense approach to structuring sophisticated responses
• STUDENT ACTIVITY: Adapting an analysis response to be evaluative

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Final Top Tips and Inter School Quiz

3.00 – 3.15pm

• Key points from each of the keynote presenters on how to improve your final grade

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