WJECAS/A Level20 resources

WJEC AS/A Level Drama and Theatre Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Free WJEC A Level Drama and Theatre papers & mark schemes. Written units on text in theatre and performance, plus NEA guidance. 29 resources.

📅Summer series📄20 resources availableFree to download

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Type
Year

20 of 20 resources

Summer 2023

5 files
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AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 3: NEA: Text in Action – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 4: Written: Text in Performance – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 2: Written: Text in Theatre – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 4: Written: Text in Performance – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 2: Written: Text in Theatre – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

Mark Scheme

Summer 2022

4 files

AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 4: Written: Text in Performance – Mark Scheme – Summer 2022

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 2: Written: Text in Theatre – Mark Scheme – Summer 2022

Mark Scheme
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AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 2: Written: Text in Theatre – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper
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AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 4: Written: Text in Performance – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper

Summer 2019

5 files
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AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 3: NEA: Text in Action – Past Paper – Summer 2019

Past Paper
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AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 4: Written: Text in Performance – Past Paper – Summer 2019

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AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 2: Written: Text in Theatre – Past Paper – Summer 2019

Past Paper

AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 4: Written: Text in Performance – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 2: Written: Text in Theatre – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

Summer 2018

4 files
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AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 2: Written: Text in Theatre – Past Paper – Summer 2018

Past Paper

AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 4: Written: Text in Performance – Mark Scheme – Summer 2018

Mark Scheme

AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 2: Written: Text in Theatre – Mark Scheme – Summer 2018

Mark Scheme
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AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 4: Written: Text in Performance – Past Paper – Summer 2018

Past Paper

Summer 2017

2 files

AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 2: Written: Text in Theatre – Mark Scheme – Summer 2017

Mark Scheme
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AS/A Level Drama and Theatre – Unit 2: Written: Text in Theatre – Past Paper – Summer 2017

Past Paper

Text, Theatre, and Performance: WJEC’s Practical and Analytical Drama Qualification

WJEC AS/A Level Drama and Theatre combines practical performance skills with rigorous textual analysis, requiring candidates to work both as theatre practitioners and critical analysts. The qualification balances examined written components with non-examined practical assessment. Unit 1 — Theatre Workshop (AS, NEA, 20% of A Level) — assesses the ability to create and perform an original piece of theatre, demonstrating understanding of theatrical style and audience impact. Unit 2 — Text in Theatre (AS, written, 1 hour 30 minutes, 20%) — examines knowledge of one set text, testing the candidate’s ability to analyse a play from the perspective of a director, designer, or performer. Unit 3 — Text in Action (A2, NEA, 30%) — requires candidates to create and evaluate two performances: a reinterpretation of a published text and an original devised piece influenced by the work of a named theatre practitioner. Unit 4 — Text in Performance (A2, written, 2 hours 30 minutes, 30%) — examines two set texts in depth, demanding directorial vision, character analysis, and understanding of performance conventions across different periods. The 29 resources include examination papers and mark schemes for the two written units.

Exam Paper Structure

Unit 1No calculator

Theatre Workshop

NEA🎯 Varies marks📊 20% of grade
Devising original theatrePerformance skillsTheatrical style and audience impact
Unit 2No calculator

Text in Theatre

1 hour 30 minutes🎯 Varies marks📊 20% of grade
Set text analysisDirectorial, design, or performance perspectiveStaging and interpretation
Unit 3No calculator

Text in Action

NEA🎯 Varies marks📊 30% of grade
Reinterpretation of a published textDevised piece influenced by a theatre practitionerEvaluation of creative process
Unit 4No calculator

Text in Performance

2 hours 30 minutes🎯 Varies marks📊 30% of grade
Two set texts in depthDirectorial vision and character analysisPerformance conventions across periods

Key Information

Exam BoardWJEC
Specification CodeEduqas (WJEC) Drama and Theatre
QualificationAS/A Level
Grading ScaleA*–E (A Level), A–E (AS)
Assessment Type2 written exams + 2 practical NEAs
TiersNo tiers
Number Of Papers4 units (2 examined + 2 NEA)
Exam DurationUnit 2: 1 hr 30 min; Unit 4: 2 hrs 30 min
Total MarksVaries by component
Calculator StatusNot required
Available SessionsSummer series
Total Resources29

Key Topics in Drama and Theatre

Topics you need to know

Set text analysis from a practitioner’s perspectiveTheatre practitioners: Brecht, Stanislavski, Artaud, and othersDevising and performing original theatreDirectorial interpretation and staging conceptsDesign elements: lighting, set, costume, and soundPhysical theatre and vocal techniqueAudience engagement and theatrical impactEvaluation of creative and rehearsal processes

Exam Command Words

Command wordWhat the examiner expects
DiscussExplore how a text could be interpreted and staged
ExplainGive reasons for specific performance or design choices
AnalyseExamine how a playwright or practitioner achieves theatrical effects
EvaluateAssess the effectiveness of a staging choice or interpretation
As a directorRespond from the perspective of someone shaping the whole production

Typical Grade Boundaries

GradeApproximate mark needed
A*79–89%
A69–78%
B58–68%
C47–57%
D36–46%
E25–35%

⚠️ Typical A Level boundaries across all four units. Boundaries vary by session.

Directorial Vision and Practitioner Knowledge for WJEC Drama and Theatre

Written papers in Drama and Theatre require you to think as a practitioner, not merely as a literary critic. When answering questions on a set text, adopt a specific creative role — director, performer, or designer — and maintain that perspective throughout your response. A director’s answer discusses staging, blocking, and the overall interpretive concept; a performer’s answer focuses on vocal quality, physicality, and emotional motivation. Knowledge of theatre practitioners is essential for both Units 3 and 4. Prepare detailed notes on practitioners such as Brecht (epic theatre, Verfremdungseffekt), Stanislavski (naturalism, given circumstances), Artaud (Theatre of Cruelty), and Berkoff (physical theatre). Know their key techniques, at least two productions that exemplify their approach, and how their methods can be applied to the texts you have studied. For Unit 4’s extended analytical responses, ground your answers in specific moments from the text. Rather than discussing a character in general terms, reference particular scenes, speeches, or stage directions. Describe how you would realise a specific moment on stage: lighting state, set configuration, spatial relationships between performers, and the intended effect on the audience.

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