Lesson one in a series aimed at revising the written exam for Y11 GCSE Drama (Edexcel) studying As You Like It for Section B and The Crucible for Section A

1. Y11 DRAMA
PPE REVISION LESSONS
• Approaching the PPE in January
• Revision of Section B (As You Like It by William Shakespeare)
• Revision of Section A (The Crucible by Arthur Miller)
• In depth analysis of questions with exemplar responses
• Questions for you to try at home each week as homework
• Exam timings
• All lessons posted online
• Revision Guides for additional support

2. DRAMA PPE REVISION LESSONS
L1: SECTION B – 9 MARK QUESTION
AIMS of this group of lessons
• To recap learning in preparation for the written
exam worth 40%
• To be able to feel confident in ourselves, ready
and able to achieve the best result
• To provide resources to support learners outside
of the classrooms to challenge yourselves, not
simply additional teaching of the same content.
RESOURCES
• ONLINE: soadrama.blogspot.com is where all
lessons will be posted to throughout the scheme,
so when you need to find the home learning task,
or if you have missed a class it is there for you.
• REVISION GUIDES are available from all
booksellers and cost around £5.50. They are
packed with useful information and tasks and I
will be setting revision tasks from them as we
approach the final exams in May. (Students who
are PP can borrow these for free and return
them at the end of the course)
• Copies of The Crucible – will be available in class,
but you should consider buying your own if you
can to read at home. The edition we use is
packed with contextual information about The
Puritans and the Characters in the play.

3. DRAMA PPE REVISION LESSONS
L1: SECTION B – 9 MARK QUESTION
Why start with Section B, and not A?
The breakdown of the marks is as follows
• Section A:
• 4 performer
• 6 performer
• 9 director
• 12 director
• 14 designer
• Section B:
• 6 performer focus
• 9 design element focus
• Section A total = 45 marks
• Section B total = 15 marks
RESOURCES
• ONLINE: soadrama.blogspot.com is where all lessons
will be posted to throughout the scheme, so when you
need to find the home learning task, or if you have
missed a class it is there for you.
• REVISION GUIDES are available from all booksellers
and cost around £5.50. They are packed with useful
information and tasks and I will be setting revision
tasks from them as we approach the final exams in
May. (Students who are PP can borrow these for free
and return them at the end of the course)
• Copies of The Crucible – will be available in class, but
you should consider buying your own if you can to
read at home. The edition we use is packed with
contextual information about The Puritans and the
Characters in the play.

4. DRAMA PPE REVISION LESSONS
L1: SECTION B – 9 MARK QUESTION
BUT – what if I spend too long on the first few questions? I might not get to Section B
at all, or to the 12 and 14 mark questions in Section B!
• Section A:
• 4 – scores 4
• 6 – scores 5
• 9 – scores 7
• 12 – scores 3
• 14 – no mark
• Section B:
• 6 – no mark
• 9 – no mark
• Section A total = 45 marks – achieved 19/45
• Section B total = 15 marks – achieved 0/15
• Level achieved would be L3 at best using current grade boundaries.
L3

5. DRAMA PPE REVISION LESSONS
L1: SECTION B – 9 MARK QUESTION
SO – we are going to start by securing Section B, then attacking the highest mark
questions in Section A, working our way back down. EXAMPLE:
• Section A:
• 4 – scores 2
• 6 – scores 4
• 9 – scores 5
• 12 – scores 10
• 14 – 13 marks
• Section B:
• 6 – 6 marks
• 9 – 9 marks
• Section A total = 45 marks – achieved 34/45
• Section B total = 15 marks – achieved 15/15
• Level achieved (49/60) would be L5/6 using current grade boundaries.
L5/L6

6. So – how do I
secure 15 marks for
Section B?

7. • Example question
• Break it into parts
• Choose your examples using your notes
• Look at an exemplar response
• Questions
• Here’s one to try at home

8. Section B - The 9 marker
• So this question is asking you about a design element throughout the play.
• How did that element create an impact/engage the audience – both are
phrases which have featured and will likely feature in this exam too.
• You can refer to your notes of course and are free to select the design
element which you feel most able to write about.
• You’re going to need around four or five examples of how that design
element (such as lighting/sound/props and stage furniture) created an
impact or engaged you as a member of the audience.
• Quick thinking time – As you Like It – design element – throughout the
play – GO!

9. Exemplar questions and planning
• Evaluate how Lighting was used
throughout the play to engage the
audience
• Evaluate how Sound was used
throughout the play to engage the
audience
• Evaluate how staging was used at
various points in the production to
create an impact on the audience
How my notes can plan for this:
Lighting Sound
Opening – spotlight on swing
– Orlando isolation
In-between each opening
scene, the sound of a rope
being drawn under tension –
added tension and
anticipation/fear
Orlando flees the court –
stage lantern held by Adam –
dramatic angular shadows
cast
Transformation to the forest
– backstage calls on a tannoy,
orchestra tuning up etc
fitting with the revealing of
the stage and its mechanisms
Forest change – whole space
lit, wider space revealed, all
audience included ‘Now my
co-mates and brothers in
exile’
Final scene – appearance of
Hymen and a celebratory
song

10. Evaluate how lighting was used throughout the
play to engage the audience.
(9 marks)
Example of first lighting
effect, and it’s impact on
your understanding of that
moment
Example of second lighting
effect, and it’s impact on
your understanding of that
moment
Example of third lighting
effect, and it’s impact on
your understanding of that
moment
Example of fourth lighting
effect, and it’s impact on
your understanding of that
moment
Example of fifth lighting
effect, and it’s impact on
your understanding of that
moment

11. Evaluate how lighting was used throughout the
play to engage the audience.
(9 marks)
Example of first lighting
effect, and it’s impact on
your understanding of that
moment
At the beginning of the play Orlando was sitting on a swing centre stage
in a circular pool of light blue light. This made him appear alone and
isolated from his family and the rest of the court.
Example of second lighting
effect, and it’s impact on
your understanding of that
moment
Later when Rosalind was discovered by the Duke to have fled to the
forest, stark bright white lighting from directly in front of the stage gave
eerie shadows on the back wall, creating tension and a dramatic
atmosphere.
Example of third lighting
effect, and it’s impact on
your understanding of that
moment
As the scene changed to the forest of Arden, lighting illuminated the
entire theatre space, including the audience. This had the effect of us
all being in the forest together, all as ‘exiles’
Example of fourth lighting
effect, and it’s impact on
your understanding of that
moment
This effect was further supported by the pillars of the auditorium being
illuminated in green, to represent trees, as if the forest extended
beyond the stage and we were all in it too.
Example of fifth lighting
effect, and it’s impact on
your understanding of that
moment
Finally, bright, flashing multi coloured lighting lit the whole stage
following the wedding celebrations, giving an impression of joy and
hope at the closing of the main action on stage.