GCSE Dance Written Exam Guide
Top Tips for Students and Teachers
📋 Exam Overview
Key Information:
- ⏱️ Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 📝 Total Marks: 80
- 📑 Three Sections: A, B, and C
📝 Section A: Hypothetical Choreography & Performance
⏱️ 25 minutes
⭐ 30 marks
⭐ 30 marks
Question 1 Strategy:
- ✅ Keep choreographic intent clear and specific
- ✅ Link your idea to the stimulus
- ✅ Explain how you’ll use your dancers
- ✅ Read all related questions first
- ✅ Mark ‘choreographic intent’ questions with *
Writing Motifs:
- Start with position (e.g., “centre stage”)
- Describe actions clearly and specifically
- Include spatial elements
- Specify dynamics
- Keep it achievable and clear
Performance Skills Categories:
Physical Skills
Expressive Skills
Technical Skills
Mental Skills
👥 Section B: Practical Analysis
⏱️ 25 minutes
⭐ 18 marks
⭐ 18 marks
PEE Structure
P – Point: State skill/technique
E – Evidence: Give specific example
E – Explain: Show improvement
Answer Strategies
Strategy 1: Multiple Skills
- • Cover several skills
- • One example per skill
- • Brief explanations
Strategy 2: Deep Dive
- • Focus on double skills per example (strength and control)
- • Multiple examples
- • Detailed explanations
🎭 Section C: Professional Works
⏱️ 40 minutes
⭐ 32 marks
⭐ 32 marks
6-Mark Questions
🔹 Use PEE structure
🔹 Stick to choreographer’s intentions/stimulus – read the question carefully
🔹 Support with specific movement examples
🔹 Link everything to choreographic intent
12-Mark Questions
🔹 Use PEEP structure
🔹 Include personal interpretation
🔹 Evaluate effectiveness e.g. the impact on the audience
🔹 Support with detailed examples
Comparison Questions
- 📌 Find 2 similarities and 2 differences
- 📌 Support with specific examples from both works
- 📌 Explain contribution to each piece
- 📌 Add personal interpretation
- 📌 Integrate discussion rather than separating works
🧠 Memory Aids
Key Abbreviations:
Performance Skills:
- • MICS FAB PECS – Physical
- • SPF SPF MC – Expressive
- • RADS Mr T – Technical
- • My Students Plan Rehearsals Really Carefully – Mental (rehearsal)
- • Mc3 – Mental (performance)
Study Tips:
- • Plan answers before writing
- • Use technical vocabulary
- • Make clear links to intent
💡 Exam Day Tips
Before Exam
- 📚 Watch anthology works multiple times
- 📝 Create detailed notes
- ⏱️ Practice timing with past papers
- 🎯 Build example bank
- 📖 Learn terminology
During Exam
- 👀 Read questions carefully
- 📋 Plan 12-mark answers
- ✍️ Use PEE/PEEP structure
- ⏰ Manage time strictly
- 💭 Think before writing
This study guide is not endorsed by AQA. It is designed as a supplementary resource to support your exam preparation.
