National 3 Drama has no final exam.

The pupils must show a basic understanding of both Drama and Production skills through practical ability and written texts.

Drama and Production Skills

•  Work in groups 

• Create a completely original 10 – 15-minute piece of theatre inspired by various stimuli

•  They must help to create the script, characters and story. 

• Help organise rehearsals, undertake rehearsal activities and add all production elements to their piece. 

• This process must all be documented in written form 

• Performed in front of an audience.

Pupils then chose their chosen discipline - either Acting or Production. 

Acting Candidates 

• Perform a 5–10-minute interactive piece

• This can be a devised piece or a scripted play

Pupils must perform in front of an audience

Production Candidates

• Display basic skills within their chosen discipline (lights, sound, set, hair and makeup, props, costume) 

• Apply the skills practically

• Showing a basic element of understanding of their chosen play 

• Present a portfolio of drawings/ design/cue sheets and research. 

This will be presented to the class as a form of assessment.

Successful completion of N3 allows pupils entry to N4 Drama.

National 4 Drama has no final exam.

The pupils must show a proficient understanding of both Drama and Production skills through practical ability, written texts and an Added Value Unit assessment.

Added Value Unit (AVU)

• Work in groups

• Create a completely original 10 – 15-minute piece of theatre

• Inspired by various stimuli.

• Consider the social, historical and cultural context through research

• Organise rehearsals, undertake rehearsal activities and add all production elements to their piece

Performed in front of an audience

Reflective evaluation that is conducted in test conditions. 

Pupils then chose their chosen discipline - either Acting or Production. 

Acting Candidates

•  5–20-minute interactive piece

•  Devised piece or a scripted play

Pupils must perform in front of an audience

Production Candidates 

• Display proficient skills within their chosen discipline (lights, sound, set, hair and makeup, props, costume) 

• Apply the skills practically 

• Showing a basic element of understanding of their chosen play

• Present a portfolio of drawings/design/cue sheets and research into the social, historical and cultural context. 

This will be presented to the class as a form of assessment.

Successful completion of N4 allows pupils entry to N5 Drama.

National 5 Drama has two final exams - practical and written. 

The pupils must show an advanced understanding and application of both Drama and Production skills through 3 methods of assessment: 

1. Preparation for Performance essay (10% of final grade)

2.  Practical Exam (50% of final grade)

3.  Written Exam (40% of final grade)

Practical Elements

Drama and Production Skills

• Work in groups

• Create a completely original 10 – 15-minute piece of theatre

• Inspired by various stimuli.

• Consider the social, historical and cultural context through research

• Organise rehearsals, undertake rehearsal activities and add all production elements to their piece

Performed in front of an audience

Reflective evaluations are conducted in test conditions. 

Pupils then chose their chosen discipline - either Acting or Production. An external SQA visiting assessor will assess 12 candidates per cohort in this discipline and this counts for 50% of their overall grade. The exam for this is normally in February/March.

Acting Candidates

• Perform a 5–20-minute interactive extract from a published scripted play

• Group size 2-4 candidates

Must perform in front of an audience and potentially the SQA visiting assessor.

Production Candidates

• Display advanced skills within their chosen discipline (lights, sound, set, hair and makeup, props, costume)

• 10 -30 minute long presentation of an application of chosen skills

• Portfolio of drawings/design/cue sheets

• Research into the social, historical and cultural context.

This will be presented to the class and potentially the visiting assessor. 

Written Elements

Preparation for Performance essay

• 10% of a candidate’s final grade

• 400-word essay

• Process of preparing for their exam performance

• Research they undertook

• Application of their skills

• Drama terminology

This is marked on the day of the practical exam, potentially the SQA visiting assessor. 

Written Exam

• 1 hour and 30 minutes long

• 60 marks and 40% of their final grade

Section 1 (20 marks)

• Reflect on their devised piece

• Comment on their/others' contribution to the final performance

Section 2 (40 marks)

• Choice of three stimuli

• Create a theoretical yet original theatre production inspired by one of the three stimuli

Successful completion of N5 Drama allows pupils entry to NPA Acting & Performance/Technical Theatre and Higher Drama.

NPA A&P, TT and Higher Drama require a C at minimum at NATIONAL 5 ENGLISH due to the level of writing expected of the candidates.

Higher Drama has two final exams - practical and written.

The pupils must show a very advanced understanding and application of both Drama and Production skills through three methods of assessment: 

1. Preparation for Performance essay (10% of final grade)

2. Practical Exam (50% of final grade) 

3. Written Exam (40% of final grade) 

Practical Elements

Pupils choose their discipline - either Acting or Production or Directing. An external SQA visiting assessor will assess all candidates in this discipline and this counts for 50% of their overall grade. The exam for this is normally in February/March.

Acting Candidates 

• Perform two 10 - 20-minute interactive extracts 

• Groups of 2- 4

• This must both be from a published scripted play 

• Pupils must perform in front of an audience and the SQA visiting assessor.

Production Candidates 

• Display advanced skills within both Set Design and their chosen discipline (lights, sound, hair and makeup, props, costume)

•  This is split 30% Set and 20% additional role in the final presentation

• Show a deep understanding of their chosen play through a 30-minute long presentation

• Set changes for the entire text must be conveyed through elevations and ground plans in 3 stages of development

• A portfolio of drawings/design/cue sheets of additional role 

• Display of their additional role in 3 stages of development

•  Display extensive research into the social, historical and cultural context of the play 

• Convey a clear and impactful design concept that links both their Set Design and their additional role

This will be presented to the visiting assessor.

Directing Candidates 

• Conduct a 30-minute rehearsal of two pages of their chosen text in front of the visiting assessor 

• 2-4 acting candidates will be selected to take part in their rehearsal 

• Pages selected by the visiting assessor 

• Director time to plan and run the rehearsal with their actors before the presentation

• Communicate the plot and characters of their chosen play to the actors

• Directorial concept must be clear in direction

• Positive and constructive during their rehearsal 

• A full run of both pages should be displayed at the end of the 30 minutes. 

This will be presented to the visiting assessor.

Written Elements

Preparation for Performance essay 

• 10% of a candidate’s final grade 

• 500-word essay 

• world of the play in terms of historical/social and cultural context

• preparing for the exam

•  How they will perform with a wealth of Drama terminology

This is marked on the day of the practical exam by the SQA visiting assessor.

Written Exam 

• 2 hours and 30 minutes long 

• 50 marks and 40% of their final grade 

Section 1 (20 marks)

• Textual analysis essay as an actor/director  

• Selected text that they have studied in class

Section 2 (10 marks)

• Plan for a production of their selected text

• Question (a,b, c format)

• Any production element could be asked for including directing and acting

Section 3 (20 marks)

• Performance analysis essay on a play that they have recently been to see

• Answer as an audience member rather than an actor, director or designer