Drama 9482
Explore dramatic texts, performance and theatre-making. Develop interpretation, practical ideas and evaluation through the available study activities.
What you'll cover
- Component 1 · published play
- Component 1 · actor and role
- Component 1 · direction
- Component 1 · design
- Component 1 · genre and context
- Component 2 · devised piece
Published syllabus exam years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029. Confirm exam-series and centre availability with your school and Cambridge.
Cambridge International AS & A Level Drama
2024–2026 and 2027–2029 Version 2 (June 2026)
14 of 14 mapped learning areas have teaching and practice
Start the learning pathwayStudy options and assessment
Fourteen mapped learning areas provide original teaching and Guided, Independent and Transfer practice with worked explanations. They span all four syllabus components: Component 1 play interpretation; Component 2 stimulus-based devising and group scripted performance; Component 3 practitioner-led group work and individual programme performance; and Component 4 theatre-in-context research. Assessment dates, set plays, stimuli and practitioner lists are exam-year specific. These are original StudyForA explanations and practice, not Cambridge questions, mark schemes or official grades. Set plays, prescribed stimuli, practitioner lists and component rules depend on the examination year; check the current Cambridge syllabus and your centre’s instructions. Live performance, rehearsal safety, coursework supervision, teacher assessment, external moderation and examination entry remain centre responsibilities. Assessed coursework must remain the candidate’s independent work; this tutor will not draft or edit assessed submissions.
Choose your paper route
- Examinations in 2024–2026Component 1: 2 h · 60 marks; Components 2–4: coursework
AS-only route takes Components 1 and 2; staged A Level completes Components 3 and 4 in year two; linear A Level takes all four in one series. The 2024–2026 syllabus and its updates contain that year window’s set plays and prescribed theatre-maker list. Check the exact syllabus and centre instructions.
- Examinations in 2027–2029Component 1: 2 h · 60 marks; Components 2–4: coursework
AS-only route takes Components 1 and 2; staged A Level completes Components 3 and 4 in year two; linear A Level takes all four in one series. Component 2 includes a 10–15 minute devised piece, 3-minute self-evaluation and 10–25 minute scripted performance. Component 3 includes a 15–20 minute group devised piece, an 800-word analysis/evaluation and a 6–8 minute individual programme. Component 4 is a 2500–3000-word research essay. Use the Version 2 syllabus and update, including its revised Helen Edmundson text detail.
Cambridge recommends prior study equivalent to IGCSE or O Level Drama. The qualification is available in the June and November series; private candidates cannot enter. Confirm the year, administrative zone, component option and centre availability with the school.
View syllabus coverage
Cambridge’s published subject content is organised as four components and skill descriptions rather than numbered learning outcomes. StudyForA’s C1–C4 codes are navigation labels for the twelve mapped areas; they are not Cambridge section numbers. The practical skills and research methods transfer across both listed syllabus windows, but set-text titles, specified editions, prescribed stimuli, practitioner/style lists and assessment details must be checked in the syllabus for the learner’s examination year. The live Component 4 essay and all practical coursework require teacher supervision/assessment; no official grade or mastery certification is provided here.
Component 1 · published play
- Read a play extract as part of the whole playC1.1
Component 1 · actor and role
- Shape a role through voice, movement and interactionC1.2
Component 1 · direction
- Direct a scene around intention, space and audience focusC1.3
Component 1 · design
- Design sound, light, costume, set and props for meaningC1.4
Component 1 · genre and context
- Connect genre, history and performance tradition to a playC1.5
Component 2 · devised piece
- Develop a devised piece from a prescribed stimulusC2.1
Component 2 · scripted performance
- Prepare a published-play extract for group performanceC2.2
Component 2 · self-evaluation
- Evaluate a devised process in the three-minute reflectionC2.3
Component 3 · case-study research
- Investigate a prescribed theatre-maker through one productionC3.1
Component 3 · group devising
- Devise an original performance from a practitioner or styleC3.2
Component 3 · individual performance
- Build a connected individual performance from thematically linked textsC3.3
Component 4 · research essay
- Frame a focused research question about theatre-makingC4.1
Component 4 · evidence and evaluation
- Evaluate production evidence and build a reasoned argumentC4.2
Component 4 · independent essay
- Structure the independently written 2500–3000-word essayC4.3
Practice the papers
Practice the papers
- Published play interpretationComponent 1 · written exam · 5 lessonsRead a play extract as part of the whole playShape a role through voice, movement and interactionDirect a scene around intention, space and audience focusDesign sound, light, costume, set and props for meaningConnect genre, history and performance tradition to a play
Open-book, externally assessed. Candidates answer one question from each section. Study the current-year set plays and editions; do not take annotated texts into the examination.
- Stimulus-based devising and scripted performanceComponent 2 · practical drama · 3 lessonsDevelop a devised piece from a prescribed stimulusPrepare a published-play extract for group performanceEvaluate a devised process in the three-minute reflection
Live group performance and reflection, internally assessed and externally moderated. The exact stimuli and task instructions depend on the exam year and centre.
- Practitioner/style case study, group devising and individual programmeComponent 3 · theatre-making and performing · 3 lessonsInvestigate a prescribed theatre-maker through one productionDevise an original performance from a practitioner or styleBuild a connected individual performance from thematically linked texts
Live group and individual work with coursework evidence. The investigation informs practical work; it does not replace teacher supervision or marking.
- Independent research essayComponent 4 · theatre in context · 3 lessonsFrame a focused research question about theatre-makingEvaluate production evidence and build a reasoned argumentStructure the independently written 2500–3000-word essay
Externally assessed, 2500–3000 words for the 2027–2029 syllabus. Candidate selects the topic, agrees the question with the teacher and writes independently. StudyForA must not produce or edit assessed text.
Lessons and worked examples
Choose where to begin
Choose a lesson, try the practice and explain the idea without your notes. Your study checks help you decide what to review.
- 01
Read a play extract as part of the whole play
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 02
Shape a role through voice, movement and interaction
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 03
Direct a scene around intention, space and audience focus
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 04
Design sound, light, costume, set and props for meaning
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 05
Connect genre, history and performance tradition to a play
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 06
Develop a devised piece from a prescribed stimulus
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 07
Prepare a published-play extract for group performance
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 08
Evaluate a devised process in the three-minute reflection
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 09
Investigate a prescribed theatre-maker through one production
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 10
Devise an original performance from a practitioner or style
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 11
Build a connected individual performance from thematically linked texts
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 12
Frame a focused research question about theatre-making
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 13
Evaluate production evidence and build a reasoned argument
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 14
Structure the independently written 2500–3000-word essay
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started
These checks record your study activity and self-assessment, not a mastery score. Check the course coverage map for available lessons and remaining topics.
Practise this subject
Topic tests: Easy, Normal and Difficult
Choose a topic, save your answers and compare your reasoning with worked models. See available tests and any coverage gaps.
Browse 14 topics →No StudyForA practice set is published for this exact qualification yet. Use the official papers below or in the resource guide.