Examinations

More information on the AS examination is included below:

Listening test 60 mins 10% of A2 Level January and Summer
Students must attempt:
  • two aural perception questions on unfamiliar music, drawn from approximately 1450 to the present day, but not including music from any of the Areas of Study;
  • one contextual-style aural perception question on unfamiliar music, requiring an extended answer highlighting aspects of style, form, genre and period, etc; and
  • two aural perception questions on set extracts studied as part of the compulsory Area of Study (Music for Orchestra in the Twentieth Century).

 

Written examination 90 mins 10% A2 Level January and Summer
Students must attempt a series of short-answer questions and one essay question.

Short-Answer Questions

Students are given a short, printed score extract from one of the set works from the compulsory area of study (Music for Orchestra in the Twentieth Century). They must complete a number of short-answer questions relating to the score extract. Questions focus on characteristics of musical style, structural matters, resources used and musical devices.  

Essay Question

Students must answer one essay question on one of the three optional areas of study:

  • English Secular Music, 1580 to 1600;
  • New Directions in Twentieth Century Music; or
  • Jazz in the USA, 1930 to 1960.

For more detail on examinations, see the full specification.