AS DANCEExam Prep

IN TODAY’S LESSON WE WILL BE:

Looking at what you need to know to answer the exam paper

Considering how to approach the exam paper

Analysing the essay questions and how to answer them

Looking at example papers (if possible)

MAIN TOPICS YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IN DETAIL

Safe Practice Dancer as a Performer 4 – 5 Professional Works Choreographic Devices and how they

are used/how they help to communicate meaning

Your own experiences and knowledge of dance/dance creation and preparation/works you have seen live

GO TO PAGE 2 IN YOUR THEORY PREP

THE EXAM PAPER IS DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS:

Section A – short answer questions that test your knowledge and understanding of a variety of topics. Some of the questions are related, which means if you get one thing wrong it could effect your ability to answer another question

Section B – two essay questions that test your knowledge on one specific topic each (usually not something asked in Section A). You should be able to write at length about this topic and provide examples.

Section A – This section is worth 20 marks. You are advised to spend half an hour on Section A.

Section B – Each question is worth 20 marks (40 marks for the section). You are advised to spend half an hour on each question.

GRADE BOUNDARIES FROM 2012/13

Grade Points you need to get in order to reach this grade

A 41

B 37

C 33

D 30

E 27

U Up to 26

OVERALL FEEDBACK; Many of you did not answer the questions properly Many of you did not provide accurate answers Many of you either did not revise or did not

remember many of the topics covered in class Two of you have very bad handwriting and your

examiner will not spend ages trying to figure out what you have said and therefore will not get marks (E, S)

None of you planned your answers for the 20 mark questions

Most of you need to use terminology correctly otherwise you will not get a mark even if the examiner gets the gist of what you are trying to say

OVERALL FEEDBACK;

You need to use the P.E.A. system when answering questions that are 6 – 20marks; Point, Evidence, Analysis

You need to arrive to your exam on time so you are not rushed and disorientated

You need to consider the key words in the question so you know what you are expected to do.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF QUESTIONS IN THE EXAM PAPER:

Questions that want you to demonstrate your knowledge about something e.g. What are the different kinds of injuries that effect dancers

Questions that want you to explain your understanding of something e.g. Discuss ways in which dance can have a relationship to aural setting

Questions that want you to analysis a topic e.g. Explain the importance of the rehearsal process, referring to your own preparation for your practical exam

PLANNING YOUR ANSWERS

When you plan your answers, you jot down what you need to include in your answer and what order you will talk about them in.

This way you will not forget to include something and the answer will be well structured.

This also helps to make sure you stick to what the question is asking as when you write freely it is very easy to go off-topic.

QUESTION ANALYSIS

Discuss the skills needed to perform successfully with others.

Explain the importance of cool down.

What are the benefits of experimenting with movement material in the rehearsal studio?

Considering three professional works, discuss why costume is significant.

QUESTION ANALYSIS

Discuss ways that a choreographer can develop, manipulate and structure their ideas using

choreographic devices

Live performance, recording of live performance, and dance specifically made for film and television are the ways in which

dance works are presented to us.

Discuss how these different forms of presentation affect the way we understand and appreciate dance works. Provide

examples from professional works in your discussion.