Circular

S/IF/122/11

November 2011

To: The Principals of Post-Primary Schools and Directors of Institutes of Further and Higher
Education
For circulation to: The Head of the Music Department

GCE and GCSE Music


Congratulations to you and your candidates on the successful completion of another year of excellent
achievement in GCSE and GCE Music. The 2011 Summer series was a very busy one and the standard of work
received by CCEA is testament to all the hard work going on in centres across Northern Ireland.
The following important information will assist you in the delivery of both GCSE and GCE Music specifications.
Music teachers e-mail circular
If you are not already on the CCEA Music Teachers circular mailing list and would like to be added, please email
nmclarnon@ccea.org.uk with your name and centre number. You will receive emails alerting you of all CCEA
Music subject developments, support and information updates. CCEA will not distribute your email to any third
party.
News and Events
Continue to stay up-to-date with all CCEA Music subject developments by clicking the News and Events tab on
the subject microsite.
Re-marks and Re-sits
Following the 2011 Summer Examination Series, some centres were applying for re-marks in components where
candidates had already achieved full raw marks. Centres are reminded that in both GCSE and GCE Music re-
marks can be requested on single components or units. Whilst in GCSE Music a re-mark is available for any single
component, on a re-sit candidates will need to re-sit all three components.
In AS or A2 re-marks can be requested per component (part-unit), but re-sits are available by unit only. Eg.
candidates can obtain a re-mark on their Unit 1 Optional Task, without applying for a re-mark on their Unit 1
Core Performance, and vice versa.

Performing component

Centres are encouraged to give candidates time and opportunity to properly sound-check prior to their
performances. Centres must not make their own recordings of CCEA assessed performances. CCEA records all
performances. These recordings are used to monitor standards of examining and also used in the re-marks of
the performing component.

Centres should honour the time and date agreed with the examiner for assessment. This should only be changed
in extreme circumstances. It should be treated, like other assessments in CCEA Music and other subjects, as
part of the examinations timetable.

In GCSE Music, now that marks are no longer divulged by the examiner, only performers required in the relevant
music should be in the room (this includes non-playing teachers, tutors or other staff), this also applies to the
discussion element with the examiner.






Centres are reminded that in cases where a candidate is unable to present a performance on the day due to ill
health, family bereavement etc. that they should complete an Application to re-schedule which the examiner
will have. This should be completed on the day accompanied (or followed) by a doctors note where applicable.

Composing component

Effective immediately, arrangements of music by other composers will not be accepted in GCSE Music Composing
Component (or GCE). Unlike the legacy GCSE Music specification, the new specification has no Area of Study for
Musical Arrangements. Any centre with candidates that have completed or part-completed work of this
nature, intended for submission in 2012 or 2013, should contact Roger Trigg immediately.

The submission of compositions using pre-recorded loops and other pre-recorded musical material that is not
the candidates own is not permitted at AS and A2 and should be avoided at GCSE. If used for GCSE submissions,
in most cases this will effectively self-penalise candidates as they will not have achieved certain aspects of the
marking criteria in particular in the upper bands. It may however be an aid to very weak candidates, however it
will not allow them to achieve all the available marks.

GCE Multi-tracking Task

Effective immediately in both AS and A2 Multi-tracking task, centres will no longer be permitted to submit
recorded performances of the same piece of music for different candidates in the same examination series in
either of the AS or A2 Multi-tracking Task.

GCE Composition Task durations

Music departments are reminded that the permitted composition durations should be adhered to. In the GCE
Examination Series, there were a large number of AS and A2 compositions submitted that were well beyond the
accepted time limits. These time limits are part of the composition brief and should be observed. In many
instances, the over-long durations actually result in poorer outcomes as maintaining ideas and interest for the
extended duration makes the task more challenging.

Here is a reminder:
GCSE Composition Composition portfolio (2 compositions) 3 - 6 minutes (in total)
AS Optional Composition 1 composition 1 - 2 minutes
A2 Optional Composition 1 composition 2 - 3 minutes

New Specification - GCSE Exemplification of Examination Performance events

By now you would have received invitations for these events, or you can register your attendance at the event
by visiting the News and Events page on the Music microsite. These three regional events will exemplify grades
A and C for all examined GCSE Level components (Listening and Appraising, and Performing) from the
Summer 2011 series.

Best wishes for a rewarding academic year.

Regards
Roger Trigg

Subject Officer
Music and Drama


If you have any queries regarding the content of this circular please contact:

Roger Trigg at CCEA on: (028) 9026 1200 ext: 2296

Email: rtrigg@ccea.org.uk