Topic outline

  • Collapse all Expand all
    Digital Media and Design overview


    Cambridge International AS & A Level Drama 9482 (for examination from 2021)
    Example 2


  • Now that you have read the assessment criteria, you may want to practise marking the performances. Watch the videos below, make a note of the strengths and weaknesses of the candidate and give a mark, before you read the moderator comments and marks below.



    • Part 1 Devised piece (30 marks)

      Devised piece - 'Everything Everything'

      This video has been anonymised so the candidate names have been removed at the start. The audio starts at 00:25 secs.


    • Commentary on devised piece

    • The piece lasts for approximately 13’ 00”

      One of the headlines in the book is 'My heart stops and starts again' and this was the more specific starting point for the group. The plot follows the character of Sam, played by Candidate 1, who is a struggling high school student. He is facing challenges such as dealing with his father's loss and his demanding, over controlling mother. He has a toxic school friend Jade, played by Candidate 4. His best friend Ciara, played by Candidate 3 always supports him. At the end he tries to commit suicide, but is saved just in time by his mother, played by Candidate 2 and his best friend. His mother realises that her intentions were good, but her methods were devastating.

      The piece lasts for just under 13 minutes, which is acceptable. Of this, there are 3' 17" of transitions/blackouts.

      Structure: the piece has an uneven structure dominated by slow, lengthy and poorly-handled transitions. 

      Pacing and contrast: there are a few moments of dramatic tension but the candidates struggle to handle these effectively.

      Roles: these are straightforward and coherent but all of them would benefit from being developed further.

      Dialogue: this is functional but offers few dramatic possibilities.

      00:43 Opening scene with the mother and Sam, which lasts for 23 seconds.

      01:06 Transition 1, lasting for 47 seconds.

      01:54 Ciara and Jade are in the exam hall, seated at desks, joined by Sam. The introduction of the ticking clock at 03:16 adds a sense of tension and signifies the passing of time in the exam.

      04:39 Transition 2, lasting for 21 seconds ending with back-projection of text messages.

      04:57 Sam, Ciara and Jade enter, and exam results are issued.

      06:39 Transition 3, lasting for 49 seconds.

      07:28 Mother returns. Takes telephone call and sits down to learn the news that Sam has failed the exam and has gone to Starbucks.

      08:33 Transition 4, lasting for 20 seconds.

      08:53 Sam and Ciara are in Starbucks. She is exasperated trying to help him understand what he can do to improve his situation.

      10:37 Transition 5, lasting for 40 seconds with poorly handled back projection to return to a previous slide.

      11:19 The mother and Sam enter, and she pushes him onto his bed and threatens him with being grounded for the rest of his life.

      12:53 Transition 6, lasting for 17 seconds.

      13:13 Ciara and Sam meet and embrace.

      13:22 Piece ends.
    • Candidates

    • Candidates in the order they present themselves


      Candidates in order of merit

      Candidate

      A Response to stimulus

      (5 marks)

      B Ensemble, structure, role

      (15 marks)

      C Quality of analysis and evaluation

      (10 marks)

      Total mark awarded

      (30 marks)

      Candidate 1

      4

      9

      9

      22

      Candidate 2

      4

      9

      7

      20

      Candidate 3

      3

      18

      5

      16

      Candidate 4

      3

      7

      4

      14


    • Devised piece: Candidate 1

      This video has been anonymised so the candidate names have been removed at the start. The audio starts at approximately 00:03 secs.

      • Candidate 1 - Evaluation
      Devised piece: Candidate 2

      This video has been anonymised so the candidate names have been removed at the start. The audio starts at approximately 00:02 secs.

      • Candidate 2 - Evaluation
      Devised piece: Candidate 3

      This video has been anonymised so the candidate names have been removed at the start. The audio starts at approximately 00:02 secs.
      Devised piece: Candidate 4 

      This video has been anonymised so the candidate names have been removed at the start. The audio starts at approximately 00:03 secs.

      • Candidate 4 - Evaluation

    • Part 2 Scripted performance (30 marks)

      Scripted performance - 'The house of Bernarda Alba'

      This video has been anonymised so the candidate names have been removed at the start. The audio starts at 00:30 secs.


    • Commentary on scripted performance

    • Lorca’s play centres on the story of the relationship of Bernarda Alba and her five unmarried daughters. Bernarda Alba is a controlling and domineering widow who insists that all five daughters should remain in mourning for their dead father, and that they should be isolated with her on the family estate for eight years. This sets up unresolvable tensions as the five daughters respond with frustration and anger to their mother’s cruelty. The play ends in violence.

      The scenes in the performance have been chosen as they require only four actors. The characters played are:

      • La Poncia - Candidate 1 (Maid)
      • Adela - Candidate 2 (Daughter)
      • Martirio - Candidate 3 (Daughter)
      • Bernarda - Candidate 4 (Mother)

      We see extracts from Act 2 and Act 3, which involve all four children. All of the dialogue appears in the order it appears in the play. Sections have been omitted so that the extract does not exceed the time limit.

      00:44 Piece starts - all characters enter, led by the mother Bernarda. They all deliver the opening speech in unison

      01:36 Slow transition into the next scene, which is set at the central table. Adela discusses her sister and her troubles with the maid, Poncia.

      04:42 Martirio enters the scene briefly and the scene ends with a Black-out.

      05:08 After a slow transition the next scene begins, with the mother shouting at her daughters off-stage. They all enter.

      05:52 The mother and maid are left on stage. Their relationship is established in this long scene.

      09:55 The daughters enter.

      11:02 The maid leaves to see what the crows is doing outside the house and the mother is left with the two daughters. She leaves and the daughters talk.

      11:29 The maid rushes in, accompanied by a sound effect of crowds.

      12:43 Black-out signifying a passing of time. Mother and maid enter.

      14:10 The mother leaves and Adela joins the maid briefly.

      14:54 New scene begins with the sisters arguing about the man Adela is in love with.

      16:30 A whistle signifies the presence of this man and Martirio calls her mother, who dashes out to apprehend him.

      17:17 A shot gun sound is heard, and they all enter the room again. Adela runs out in despair. 30 seconds later, we hear another noise and the women become worried for her safety. She has killed herself and her mother tells the others how to react in public.

      18:52 A black-our to signify the end of the scene. The three characters do the final speech in unison as they did at the start.

    • Candidates
    • Candidates in the order they present themselves


      Candidates in order of merit

      Candidate name

      Interpretation and performance skills

      (15 marks)

      Communication

      (15 marks)

      Total

      (30 marks)

      Candidate 1

      12

      12

      24

      Candidate 2

      12

      12

      24

      Candidate 3

      10

      10

      20

      Candidate 4

      13

      14

      27

    • Scripted performance: Candidate 1

      Scripted performance: Candidate 4