Assessment overview
Students must complete three components (01, 03, and 05, or 02, 04 and 05) to be awarded the OCR A Level in Music.
| Component | Marks | Duration | Weighting | insert text |
Performing A (01) | 75 | - | 25% | Recital minimum six minutes, two contrasting pieces. Externally assessed via audio-visual recording. |
Performing B (02) | 105 | - | 35% | Recital minimum ten minutes, three contrasting pieces. Externally assessed via audio-visual recording.
Section 1: Free choice; Section 2: Focused study. |
Composing A (03) | 105 | - | 35% | Two pieces and three short technical exercises, minimum combined duration of eight minutes. Externally assessed via audio-visual recording. |
Composing B (04) | 75 | - | 25% | Two pieces, minimum combined duration of four minutes. Externally assessed via audio-visual recording. |
Listening and appraising (05) | 120 | 2 hours 30 mins | 40% | Written exam including aural extracts. |
Content overview
Students study at least four out of six areas of study: areas 1 and 2, and at least two more from 3—6:
- Area of study 1: Instrumental music of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven
- Area of study 2: Popular song: blues, jazz, swing and big band
- Area of study 3: Developments in instrumental jazz, 1910 to the present day
- Area of study 4: Religious music of the baroque period
- Area of study 5: Programme music, 1820—1910
- Area of study 6: Innovations in music, 1900 to the present day.
Component 01: Performing A
(Must be combined with component 03: Composing A.)
Students perform at least two contrasting pieces. They make use of musical elements, techniques and resources to interpret and communicate musical ideas with technical and expressive control and an understanding of style and context. The pieces may relate to one or more of the areas of study.
Component 02: Performing B
(Must be combined with component 04: Composing B.)
Students perform at least three pieces. They make use of musical elements, techniques and resources to interpret and communicate musical ideas with technical and expressive control and an understanding of style and context. The pieces may relate to one or more of the areas of study.
Component 03: Composing A
(Must be combined with component 01: Performing A.)
Students make use of musical elements, techniques and resources to create and develop musical ideas with technical control and expressive understanding. They produce two compositions:
- A composition in response to a set brief from OCR
- A composition in response to a brief set by the student.
They also produce three technical exercises, which must relate to an area of study of the student’s choice.
Component 04: Composing B
(Must be combined with component 02: Performing B.)
Students make use of musical elements, techniques and resources to create and develop musical ideas with technical control and expressive understanding. They produce two compositions:
- A composition in response to a set brief from OCR
- A composition in response to a brief set by the student.
Component 05: Listening and appraising
Through the investigation and in-depth study of the large variety of music contained in the areas of study, students develop their knowledge and understanding of the interrelated elements, language and contexts of music.