Drama (9-1) 0994
Explore dramatic texts, performance and theatre-making. Develop interpretation, practical ideas and evaluation through the available study activities.
What you'll cover
- Practical drama concepts
- Acting skills
- Directing and interpretation
- Staging and design
- Working with published plays
- Devising original drama
Published syllabus exam years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031. Confirm exam-series and centre availability with your school and Cambridge.
Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Drama
2025–2027, 2028 and 2029–2031
11 of 11 mapped learning areas have teaching and practice
Start the learning pathwayStudy options and assessment
Eleven mapped learning areas provide original explanations and Guided, Independent and Transfer practice with worked reasoning. Cambridge confirms that 0994 is graded 9–1 and is otherwise the same as 0411. This is a distinct qualification with separate syllabus documents and restricted administrative-zone availability; it is not an A*–G grade conversion. Set-play editions, protected pre-release packs, live performance, teacher marking, safety and moderation remain centre-led.
Select the syllabus for the year you sit the exam. The written assessment changes in 2029; read the route below and confirm the selected play, entry and centre arrangements with your school.
Choose your paper route
- Exams in 2025–2027Component 1: 2 h 30 min · 80 marks · two pre-release extracts; Component 2: 120 marks · 60%
Use the correct administrative-zone pre-release materials supplied by the centre. Component 1 uses Sections A, B and C; candidates must not take prepared material into the exam. Component 2 has individual scripted, group scripted and group devised performances. The qualification is graded 9–1.
- Exam in 2028Component 1: 2 h 30 min · 80 marks · two pre-release extracts; Component 2: 120 marks · 60%
Use the separate 2028 syllabus and centre materials for the actual exam; do not assume that the 2029 set-play route applies. The qualification is graded 9–1 and zone availability is limited.
- Exams in 2029–2031Component 1: 2 h · 60 marks · one clean-text set play; Component 2: 90 marks · 60%
Component 1 is open text with five questions on one of the listed set plays. Use the edition specified by Cambridge where one is named. Coursework adds an individual evaluative review. The 2029 coursework mark cannot be carried forward from a previous series. The qualification is graded 9–1.
Cambridge does not expect prior Drama study. 0994 is available only in a limited set of administrative zones: June in Zone 3 and centres in Oman and the UAE; November in Zone 3 only. Confirm entry with your school. The 2029–2031 route permits a clean, unannotated copy of the selected set text; use the edition specified where applicable.
View syllabus coverage
Cambridge grades 0994 from 9 to 1 and states its subject content is otherwise the same as 0411. The shared learning map is taught here with separate 0994 syllabus links and year-specific assessment routes. The two qualification identities and grade scales must not be interchanged.
Practical drama concepts
- Build a scene with dramatic elementsS3.1
Acting skills
- Shape voice for meaning and audienceS3.2
- Use movement and space to tell the storyS3.3
- Create and sustain a roleS3.4
Directing and interpretation
- Direct a scene toward an intentionS3.5
Staging and design
- Make design choices support the dramaS3.6
Working with published plays
- Move from script to performanceS3.7
Devising original drama
- Create an original piece from a stimulusS3.8
Rehearsal and ensemble
- Rehearse, listen and improve togetherS3.9
Evaluation and communication
- Evaluate how well drama communicatesS3.10
Examination and coursework routes
- Choose the right 0411 assessment routeS3.11
Centre-led assessment
- Text-specific and live assessment requirementsASSESSMENT-LIMITS · Assessment limitation, not a syllabus sectionTeacher, centre, or specialist assessment required
Practice the papers
Practice the papers
- Pre-release extracts and devised drama0994 · Paper 1 · 2025–2027 · 8 lessonsBuild a scene with dramatic elementsShape voice for meaning and audienceUse movement and space to tell the storyCreate and sustain a roleDirect a scene toward an intentionMake design choices support the dramaMove from script to performanceChoose the right 0411 assessment route
Transferable practice only. Ask the centre for the correct year and administrative-zone extracts; StudyForA does not reproduce protected pre-release materials. Confirm the 0994 administrative-zone entry with your school.
- 2028 written examination0994 · Paper 1 · 2028 · 8 lessonsBuild a scene with dramatic elementsShape voice for meaning and audienceUse movement and space to tell the storyCreate and sustain a roleDirect a scene toward an intentionMake design choices support the dramaMove from script to performanceChoose the right 0411 assessment route
Use the separate 2028 syllabus and centre-issued materials. The paper remains an 80-mark, two-extract pre-release route. Confirm the 0994 administrative-zone entry with your school.
- Open-text set-play examination0994 · Paper 1 · 2029–2031 · 8 lessonsBuild a scene with dramatic elementsShape voice for meaning and audienceUse movement and space to tell the storyCreate and sustain a roleDirect a scene toward an intentionMake design choices support the dramaMove from script to performanceChoose the right 0411 assessment route
Study the complete selected play and required edition. StudyForA teaches transferable set-play analysis and original practice scenes. Students and teachers must select and study the complete set play and the specified edition for their actual examination year; these lessons do not replace close study of that chosen text. Confirm the 0994 administrative-zone entry with your school.
- Individual, group and devised performance0994 · Component 2 · 8 lessonsShape voice for meaning and audienceUse movement and space to tell the storyCreate and sustain a roleDirect a scene toward an intentionMake design choices support the dramaCreate an original piece from a stimulusRehearse, listen and improve togetherEvaluate how well drama communicates
Live individual and ensemble performances, rehearsal safety, teacher-supervised coursework, official marking and Cambridge moderation are not assessed or certified by StudyForA. For exams in 2025–2027, centre-supplied pre-release materials and administrative-zone instructions are required. For 2029–2031, the candidate's evaluative review must be their own unaided work; use only fictional examples for AI practice. Confirm the 0994 administrative-zone entry with your school.
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
Build a scene with dramatic elements
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 02
Shape voice for meaning and audience
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 03
Use movement and space to tell the story
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 04
Create and sustain a role
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 05
Direct a scene toward an intention
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 06
Make design choices support the drama
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 07
Move from script to performance
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 08
Create an original piece from a stimulus
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 09
Rehearse, listen and improve together
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 10
Evaluate how well drama communicates
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 11
Choose the right 0411 assessment route
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
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Browse 11 topics →No StudyForA practice set is published for this exact qualification yet. Use the official papers below or in the resource guide.