Grades 9 and 10 · MYP Drama · PCUP
Everything the examiner wants.
This is a guide for Grade 9 and 10 students preparing the MYP Drama PCUP. The criteria breakdowns, structures and command term work here apply to every cohort, whatever your SOI and style turn out to be.
What do you notice about the wording?
Outlines, describes, analyses, critiques. Each one asks something different of you. Keep scrolling and watch what the higher bands demand.
States briefly. Gives a general sense. Not always related to the SOI.
A detailed account. Mostly relevant information related to the SOI.
Breaks it down. Elements, techniques and context, the how and the why.
Evaluates effectiveness. Strengths and weaknesses. Always justified in relation to the impact on an audience.
What are you working on? MAX 8 EACH · TOTAL 32
AInvestigating
Criterion A · Task 1 · 8 marks
Research the style and critique a live production. Two strands, both argued through the SOI.
BDeveloping
Criterion B · Task 2 · 8 marks each strand
Your devising journey. The artistic intention, the moodboard and three scenes shown developing across rehearsals.
CCreating
Criterion C · Task 3 · 8 marks
The performance itself. Marked on the final piece, not the process.
DEvaluating
Criterion D · Task 4 · 8 marks each strand
Evaluate your own performance with timestamps, then reflect on your growth as an artist.
If you read nothing else, read these
How this guide is organised
One page per criterion. Each one carries the criteria breakdown, the structures, the three level worked example (1 to 2, 5 to 6, 7 to 8) and the pitfalls that lose marks. The unit page holds this year's SOI, global context and key concepts, the part that changes every year. The criteria pages do not.
The single most important habit
Every claim must be linked to the SOI throughout, not tagged on at the end. The jump from band 5 to 6 up to 7 to 8 is almost always made up of SOI integration and adjective rich evidence, not extra word count. Weave the SOI through every paragraph. Always justify your choices in relation to the impact it has on an audience. Think of the so what technique.
Examiners cannot mark what is not there. If the examiner cannot see it on the video, it does not exist.
“Students investigate an aspect of an art form in the context of a chosen statement of inquiry, presenting comprehensive, organised and relevant information.”MYP Arts criteria
What you will submit
Written tasks 3 PDFs · 11 pt
Three separate PDFs, one per task. Task 1 (Investigating), Task 2 (Developing), Task 4 (Evaluating). 4 pages per criterion, 12 pages maximum in total. The bibliography is submitted as a fourth, separate PDF.
Video tasks MP4
Two videos. Task 2 development (about 4 minutes, three different scenes each shown developing across rehearsals) and Task 3 final performance (about 5 minutes). Between them the two videos must run 9 minutes or less. Identify yourself at the start of each. Circle yourself in the picture.