GCSE Drama Topics by Exam Board: Full List

Choosing GCSE Drama—or already studying it—but not totally sure what it involves? You're not alone. Drama isn't like Maths, where everyone learns the same formulas. What you study depends heavily on your exam board.

This guide breaks down the GCSE Drama topics by exam board – whether you're doing AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC or Eduqas. We'll show you what plays you'll study, what performances you'll create, and how you'll be assessed, so you can prepare properly and smash your exams.

Key Takeaways

• GCSE Drama combines practical work (devising, performing) with written exams

• Every exam board requires you to devise original drama, perform from a script, and analyse live theatre

• The specific plays, assessment styles, and coursework requirements differ by board

• Knowing your exact exam board topics helps you revise smarter and avoid wasting time on irrelevant content

What Is Covered in GCSE Drama?

No matter which exam board you're studying, GCSE Drama typically includes three main components:

You can usually choose to specialise as either a performer or a designer (focusing on lighting, sound, set, or costume). Not all schools offer the design route, so check with your drama teacher.

Now, let's break down what each exam board actually covers.

AQA GCSE Drama Topics

AQA specification (opens in a new tab) comprises:

Component 1: Understanding Drama (40%; 80 marks - written exam)

• 1 hour 45 minutes written exam

• Section A: Multiple choice questions on theatre vocabulary and practitioners

• Section B: Questions on a set play from the AQA list (examples include DNA by Dennis Kelly, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, or Blood Brothers by Willy Russell)

• You'll answer questions about how you'd perform or design a specific extract

• Section C: Live Theatre Evaluation—analyse a professional production you've seen, focusing on design elements like lighting, set, costumes, sound, and acting choices

Component 2: Devising Drama (40%; 80 marks - practical coursework)

• Create an original devised piece (3-10 minutes for duologues, 4-20 minutes for groups)

• Work from a teacher-provided stimulus

• Complete a Devising Log with three sections:

  • Section 1: Initial ideas and research

  • Section 2: Development and collaboration

  • Section 3: Evaluation of your work

• Perform your devised piece (recorded by your teacher)

Component 3: Texts in Practice (20%; 40 marks - Practical Exam)

• Performance of two extracts from one chosen play - as performer or designer

• Each extract is 3-10 minutes long

• Assessed by a visiting AQA examiner

• You choose your own performance text (must be different from your Component 1 set text)

Key Skills You Need:

• Physical skills: movement, gesture, facial expressions, spatial awareness

• Vocal skills: projection, accent, pace, tone, emotional range

• Understanding of practitioners like Stanislavski, Brecht, or Artaud

• Ability to analyse technical theatre elements

Check out the AQA GCSE Drama past papers at Save My Exams.

Edexcel GCSE Drama Topics

The Edexcel syllabus (opens in a new tab) is made up of: 

Component 1: Devising (40%; 60 marks - non-examination assessment)

• Create a devised performance from a stimulus

• Work as a performer or designer

• Complete a portfolio (1,500-2000 words or 8-10 mins of recorded evidence or a combination) explaining:

  • Your artistic intentions

  • How you developed ideas

  • Evaluation of your performance

• The performance itself is also assessed

Component 2: Performance from Text (20%; 48 marks - non-examination assessment)

• Perform two key extracts from a set text 

• Must contrast with your Component 3 set text (different time period, playwright, and genre)

• Work as a performer or designer

• Assessed by a visiting Edexcel examiner

Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice (40%; 60 marks - written exam)

• 1 hour 45 minutes written exam

• Section A: Study of a set text 

  • Examples include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Dr Korczak's Example, or 1984)

  • Answer questions about performing, directing, and designing the text

• Section B: Live Theatre Evaluation

  • Analyse a professional production you've seen

  • Focus on theatrical choices and their impact on the audience

Key Topics:

• Contrasting plays from different eras and genres

• Technical theatre skills (lighting states, soundscapes, set design principles)

• Practitioner influences on your work

• Collaboration and development process

The full set of Edexcel GCSE Drama past papers at Save My Exams will help your revision.

OCR GCSE Drama Topics

The OCR specification (opens in a new tab) is also unique: 

Component 1: Devising Drama (30%; 60 marks - non-examination assessment)

• Create a devised performance from a stimulus paper

• Work as a performer or designer

• Complete a devising log (20 sides of mixed media A4 or 1,500-2000 words or 12 mins of recorded presentation or a combination) covering:

  • Initial ideas and research

  • Development through rehearsal

  • Evaluation of final performance

• Assessed by your teacher, moderated by OCR

Component 2: Presenting and Performing Texts (30%; 60 marks - non-examination assessment)

• Perform two extracts from one play

• Each extract: 3-8 minutes

• You choose to be assessed as performer or designer

• Assessed by a visiting OCR examiner

• Plays must be substantial enough for GCSE standard

Component 3: Drama: Performance and Response (40%; 80 marks - Written Exam)

• 1 hour 30 minutes written exam

• Section A: Study of a complete performance text

• You'll answer questions about:

  • How you'd perform a character

  • Design choices for staging the play

  • Directorial decisions

• Section B: Live Theatre Evaluation

• Analyse a professional production focusing on:

  • Acting techniques

  • Design elements

  • Overall impact and effectiveness

Key Features:

• Flexible text choices (no prescribed list, but must be appropriate)

• Strong focus on practitioner theory

• Opportunity to specialise in acting or design throughout

We have a full set of OCR GCSE Drama past papers free for you to practice with. 

WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Drama Topics

WJEC and Eduqas are the same specification (opens in a new tab), so if you're studying either, here's what you'll cover:

Component 1: Devising Theatre (40% - non-examination assessment)

• Devise an original piece using either:

  • An influential theatre practitioner (like Stanislavski, Brecht, Artaud, or Berkoff)

  • A specific genre (like physical theatre, musical theatre, or documentary theatre)

• Based on a WJEC-set stimulus

• Work as either designer or performer

• Create a portfolio of supporting evidence (750-900 words or 4-7 minute video or recording)

• Write an evaluation in 1 hour 30 minutes, under supervised conditions

• Assessed by your teacher, moderated by WJEC

Component 2: Performing from a Text (20%; 60 marks - non-examination assessment)

• Performance of two key 10 minute extracts from one play

• Must contrast with your Component 3 set text (different playwright, time period, theme)

• Work as performer or designer 

• Must submit 150 words describing intentions 

• Assessed by a WJEC visiting examiner, live performances recorded

• Submit text choices to WJEC in advance

Component 3: Interpreting Theatre (40%; 60 marks - written exam)

• 1 hour 30 minutes written exam

• Section A: Set Text study (examples include Macbeth, An Inspector Calls, Find Me, Noughts and Crosses, Refugee Boy, I Love You Mum – I Promise I Won’t Die and The IT) 

  • Analyse context, history, genre and performance conventions

• Section B: Live Theatre Evaluation

  • Analyse a production you've seen

  • Discuss acting, directing, and design choices

Important Note: Your Component 2 and Component 3 texts must be carefully chosen to contrast in:

• Playwright

• Cultural/historical time period

• Theme

Check the WJEC specification for the full contrasting text requirements. We also have a full bank of WJEC past papers for you.

How To Use GCSE Drama Topic Lists for Revision

Knowing your exam board's specific requirements is half the battle. Here's how to revise effectively:

For Practical Components:

• Keep detailed notes throughout the devising process—don't wait until the end to write your portfolio

• Rehearse your scripted extracts until you know them inside out

• Record yourself performing and watch it back critically

• Understand the technical terminology for your chosen specialism (performer or designer)

For Written Exams:

• Read your set text multiple times, not just once

• Watch different productions of your set text if available on YouTube or Digital Theatre

• Create character analysis notes with quotes

• Learn key quotes from your set text that demonstrate important themes or character development

• Write practice answers for potential exam questions

• When evaluating live theatre, take detailed notes immediately after watching (most exam boards allow you to bring these into the exam)

Study Smart:

• Use platforms like Save My Exams to access topic-specific revision notes, past papers, and mark schemes for your exam board

• Practice writing under timed conditions

• Learn the assessment criteria so you know exactly what examiners want

• Create flashcards for drama terminology and practitioner theories

• Form study groups to practise performing together

We have plenty more study tips for you in our article on the best revision techniques. 

Pro Tip: For your live theatre evaluation, see at least two professional productions during your course. This gives you options for what to write about in your exam and shows a broader understanding of theatre.

Our GCSE Drama resources are tailored to each exam board and will give your revision an extra boost. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do All GCSE Drama Exam Boards Have a Written Exam?

Yes. Every GCSE Drama specification includes a written exam component, typically worth 30-40% of your final grade. This tests your understanding of drama theory, your ability to analyse plays, and your evaluation skills.

You can't avoid the written work even if you're brilliant at performing—drama is about understanding theatre from multiple perspectives, not just acting.

Is GCSE Drama Hard?

GCSE Drama requires a different skill set than most academic subjects. If you enjoy performing, working collaboratively, and expressing yourself creatively, you'll likely find it rewarding rather than "hard."

The challenges are:

• Time management: Balancing practical rehearsals with written coursework

• Collaboration: Working successfully with others (you can't control everything)

• Memorisation: Learning lines for scripted performances

• Confidence: Performing in front of examiners can feel nerve-wracking

Grade statistics (opens in a new tab) show Drama has a slightly higher pass rate than many other subjects, with good numbers achieving grade 7+ if they're committed.

Which Exam Board is Best for GCSE Drama?

There's no "best" exam board—they're all accepted equally by sixth forms and universities. Your school chooses the exam board, not you.

That said, AQA is the most popular, with excellent support materials and a clear structure.

Final thoughts

Many students find Drama easier and more enjoyable than traditional academic subjects because it plays to different strengths. It may have its challenges, but Drama doesn't require masses of memorisation like History or Science. Your teacher assesses much of your work, and you can choose texts that interest you. 

GCSE Drama can be an exciting, fulfilling and valuable option if it is suited to you. 

We have plenty more advice on choosing your GCSEs at Save My Exams, along with all of our tailored learning resources. So, why not explore to help you in your choices?

References

• AQA Syllabus (opens in a new tab)

• Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Drama (opens in a new tab)

• OCR GCSE Drama J316 (opens in a new tab)

• WJEC GCSE DRAMA Spec from 2016 (opens in a new tab)

• GCSE results 2025: How did each subject perform? | Tes (opens in a new tab)