You must perform at least 2 pieces: One piece must be an ensemble, the other(s) can be ensembles or solos. You can sing or play any instrument. You can have an accompanist or use a backing track, or perform unaccompanied. Backing tracks and accompaniments must not contain the part you are playing/singing. 

An ensemble in this course is described as a group of 2-8 live performers. You must not be performing the tune all the way through while the other performers accompany you. You must also be the only person performing your part. 

Each piece must be recorded in the same school year you take the exam, and your teacher must be present. 

Performing more difficult pieces – harder than Grade 3 standard – can boost your marks. You can perform easier pieces – below Grade 3 standard, but your marks will be scaled down a bit. Playing an easier piece well could result in a better mark than playing a harder piece badly! 

You will need to hand in a score or a lead sheet of each piece so your teacher can assess how accurately you perform. You cannot hand in an audio/video guide track instead. 

If your performances last less than 4 minutes in total, you will lose marks.

You must compose two original pieces of music. Each is equally weighted. One is a free composition, which you can complete at any time in the course. The other must be written in response to a brief released by Eduqas on the 1st September in the same school year as you take the exam. They can both be in a similar style as long as the actual musical content is different. 

You will have to hand in an audio file of each piece – either a live recording (of you or someone else performing your piece) or an output from software. You will also need either a score or a lead sheet with a detailed description of each piece. 

You have to complete a composing log as well which is signed by you and your teacher to authenticate your work. This explains how you completed your work, if you used any ideas which were not your own (like drum loops)  and if anyone else helped you. 

In your exam there will be 8 questions. Each will have an extract of music which is played out loud for you to answer the questions on what you hear. Question 1 and question 7 will always be on the set works.  

The questions will focus on three things:  

Elements of Music – melody, harmony, tonality, form and structure, dynamics, sonority, texture, tempo, rhythm, metre.  

The context – the time, place or purpose of the music  

Musical Language – the list of musical terms in Appendix C of the specification, notes in the treble and bass clef and any specific vocabulary which goes with the set works.