Question 1

What is NCEA AS 91514 about?

Accepted Answer

This standard asks you to pick a play by a prescribed playwright and explain how it shows the features of a particular theatre form (like Greek Theatre, Absurdism, or Realism) or time period. You need to show you understand both the play itself and the theatrical style it belongs to, making clear connections between what happens in the text and the wider context it comes from.

Question 2

What do students need to do for AS 91514?

Accepted Answer

1. Read the full play and study the specific theatre form or period it belongs to (for example, its performance space, acting style, themes, conventions, and historical/social context) 2. Use specific quotes and examples from the text to show how the play demonstrates features of that form or period 3. Make connections between details in the play and the real-world history or society that influenced it 4. Use drama terminology accurately when explaining the form or period and how the text fits into it 5. Answer all parts of the exam questions and stay focused on what each question is asking, rather than writing general plot summaries

Question 3

What's the difference between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence for AS 91514?

Accepted Answer

Achieved: You explain how the play shows features of its theatre form or period, with some examples from the text and basic knowledge of the historical or social context. Merit: You provide detailed, accurate examples from the text and show understanding of the form's features and context; you discuss what would have been seen in a typical performance of that style, not just the plot. Excellence: You make insightful connections between the play's specific features, the form's purpose, and the wider historical and social context; you show thinking beyond just the facts, including awareness of how the audience or broader events influenced the work.

Question 4

What mistakes do students typically make in AS 91514?

Accepted Answer

1. Choosing a text that doesn't actually fit the theatre form you claim (especially with Realism or New Zealand theatre)—study both the play AND the form carefully before deciding 2. Giving plot-based answers rather than form-based ones, or talking about your own performance work instead of how the original play was meant to be performed in its own time period 3. Not knowing the original historical and social context—modern productions or your own viewing can hide what the form actually looks like, so read about the play's original context separately from watching modern versions

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