November 2025 Drama update

• GCSE and A Level Drama and Theatre Component 2 information 2025/2026
• Changes to sample sizes for GCSE Component 1 moderation 
  
• GCSE Drama qualification feedback
• Admin Support Guides 2026
• Training events this term
• Useful links for GCSE and A Level
• Forbidden texts information for Component 3
• Review of Component 1 centre marks by candidates
• Drama and Theatre Facebook group
• Support and contact

GCSE and A Level Drama and Theatre Component 2 information 2025/2026

Here is an update on the Component 2 assessment window for this academic year. 

The Component 2 assessment window will be from 5th January to 24th April 2026.

If you are a centre that had entries last year:

Examiners will be automatically allocated to centres who had entries in the last academic year.
From the start of December 2025, examiners will contact their allocated centres to make arrangements for the Component 2 examination.

If you are a centre that had entries last year and would like to run the assessments between 5th Jan and 31st Jan 2026, this must be assessed via digital recording (you will not be able to request a visiting examiner). We request that you please complete the form below.

If you are a centre that had entries last year and would like to run the assessments between 1st February and 24th April, with either a visiting examiner or assessed via digital recording, please wait for your examiner to contact you from 1st December.
You will be able to share your preferred dates and make arrangements for the assessment.

If you are a new centre / no previous exam entries for Drama:

If you are a new centre ie you did not have exam entries in the last academic year, we request that please complete the form below.

Please note: Exam entries must be made in your centre before the Component 2 assessment takes place. Please speak to your exams office about this.

Please submit your responses by 30 November 2025.

Component 2 survey for new centres / centres with January assessments

Changes to sample sizes for GCSE Component 1 moderation 

GCSE Drama Qualification Feedback

Admin Support Guides 2026

The Administrative Support Guide for the 2025-26 academic year  is the go-to place for all the information and guidance your centre needs for administering the three Components successfully.

It contains:

• the key dates for this academic year
• a breakdown of the requirements for each Component
• a link to the Live Theatre Evaluation Confirmation Form
• guidance on how to use LWT
• contact details for your assessment team and Subject Advisor

GCSE and A Level Drama training events this term

We have some online training events for Components 1, 2 and 3 happening this term for both GCSE and A Level, including Exam Insights for the summer 2025 exams, Marking training for C1, plus preparatory events for C2 and C3:

Useful links for GCSE and A Level

Forbidden texts information for Component 3

To help you choose appropriate live productions for your students, we have guidance to clarify which set texts and types of productions i.e. sung through musicals are forbidden in Component 3.  Students might be awarded 0 marks if they refer to a production of a set text or a sung through musical, so it's important to ensure that you refer to this guidance before the examination is taken.

Review of Component 1 centre marks by candidates

The GCSE and A level Drama qualifications are unique in their creative and subjective nature, and because they are marked by teachers before being moderated externally, there is no option for individual reviews once results have been published.

The only post-results service available is a review of moderation (Service 3), which looks at the whole cohort, not at individual candidates. As such, the only opportunity for an individual candidate to query their mark, is before marks
are submitted to the awarding body.

It is therefore essential that the processes surrounding assessment uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, and centres must ensure that students are both informed of their marks, and given the opportunity to request a review of the centre’s marking, before marks are submitted to the awarding body. 

Please read this guidance on the responsibilites of the centre ahead of the published deadlines for submission of marks, the review process, and resources to support you and your students.submission of marks

Pearson Edexcel Drama and Theatre Facebook Group

Join the Pearson Edexcel Drama and Theatre Facebook Group

Support and contact

Please feel free to get in touch, if you require any help or support in your teaching and assessment of the qualifications.