NCEA Level 2 Drama cheat sheet

Internal Drama standards at Level 2 are assessed by teachers against achievement criteria; evidence is typically collected through performance, rehearsal logs, and written or oral reflection rather than a single written test.

AS91213 (Apply drama techniques in a scripted context) requires a sustained scripted performance showing voice, body, movement, and use of space; technique must be applied to communicate a specific intention, not just executed.

AS91214 (Devise and perform a drama to realise an intention) requires students to create original work collaboratively, develop a dramatic intention, and structure the piece with a clear beginning, development, and resolution.

AS91215 (Discuss a drama or theatre form or period with reference to a text) is internally assessed and requires specific reference to the text, conventions of the form, and how those conventions shape meaning.

AS91216 (Use complex performance skills associated with a drama or theatre form) demands form-specific skills - for example, commedia physicality, mask work, or musical theatre integration - sustained across a performance.

AS91217 (Examine the work of a playwright) requires analysis of the playwright's purpose, use of dramatic conventions, and the social or historical context influencing the text.

AS91218 (Perform a substantial acting role in a scripted production) is assessed through a full production; the role must be substantial, with evidence of character development, interaction, and sustained energy across the performance.

AS91219 (Discuss drama elements, techniques, conventions, and technologies within a live performance) requires students to attend a live performance and analyse specific choices, not simply describe the plot.

For all internal standards, the grade boundary between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence is determined by the depth of intention, control, and reflection demonstrated - Excellence requires convincing, sustained, and integrated application.

External Drama standards at Level 2 are assessed through a written examination; candidates answer questions analysing scripted drama and live or recorded performance, using specific terminology.

AS91211 (Analyse drama processes and performance) is externally assessed and requires candidates to examine how production choices shape meaning for an audience, referencing specific moments.

AS91212 (Analyse a drama or theatre form or period) is externally assessed and requires knowledge of conventions, historical context, and how the form communicates meaning.

Examination answers are marked against achievement criteria; Excellence requires perceptive analysis with integrated evidence, while Achieved requires description or identification of relevant features.

Candidates should use correct drama terminology - for example, subtext, status, proxemics, blocking, pace, and convention - to demonstrate understanding rather than relying on general language.

Answers must reference the specific text or performance studied; generic statements about drama that could apply to any production do not meet the standard.

The external examination format typically includes structured questions with parts (a), (b), and (c), progressing from identification to analysis and evaluation; candidates should allocate time according to mark weighting.

Evidence for external standards is drawn from study of at least one drama or theatre form or period and one live or recorded performance, analysed in depth rather than surveyed broadly.