GCSE (9-1) Music - Specification - Issue 3 changes

Sep 5, 2026

GCSE (9–1) Music specification for Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 outlines key qualification information, including first teaching from September 2016 and first certification from 2018. The document provides a structured summary of changes in Issue 3 compared with previous issues, covering updates to assessment guidance and administrative requirements across Components 1 (Performing) and 2 (Composing). It includes corrections to Appendix 9 mark penalty tables, revised rules for minimum assessment time, and adjustments to submission, moderation, and supporting materials requirements.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages90

Reading Time3 h 47 min

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Summary of Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Music specification

Issue 3 changes

Summary of Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Music specification Issue 2 changes

Summary of Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Music specification Issue 1 changes

GCSE (9-1) Music Speciﬁcation | Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Music (1MU0) | | --- | | First teaching from September 2016 | First certiﬁcation from 2018 Issue 3 Summary of Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1) in Music specification Issue 3 changes | Summary of changes made between previous issue and this current issue | Page number | | --- | --- | | In Appendix 9: Mark penalty tables for submissions not meeting the minimum assessment time, the percentages in the table for Component 2: Composition have been corrected to two decimal places, whereas previously they were rounded up or down to the nearest whole number. | 82 | Earlier issue(s) show(s) previous changes. If you need further information on these changes or what they mean, contact us via our website at: [qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/contact-us.html](qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/contact-us.html). Summary of Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1) in Music specification Issue 2 changes | Summary of changes made between previous issue and this current issue | Page number | | --- | --- | | In Component 1: Performing, Overview section, information about zero marks has been removed. | 9 | | In Component 1: Performing, Ensemble performances section, the duration of an ensemble component has been indicated as at least one minute.
We have also replaced ‘Performance accompanied by backing tracks are acceptable but the part to be assessed must include elements of ensemble performance that could include, but is not limited to, accompaniment of other parts’ with ‘ Backing tracks may be used to accompany an ensemble performance but would not count towards alive instrumental part.’ | 11 | | In Component 1: Performing, Assessment information section, the following information has been added: ‘ For performances that do not meet the total minimum time requirement, the total performance mark will be reduced proportionally according to how many seconds the combined performance is less than four minutes. This will be applied by Pearson during the moderation process. Please see Appendix 9: Mark penalty tables for submissions not meeting the minimum assessment time.’ | 13 | | Summary of changes made between previous issue and this current issue | Page number | | --- | --- | | In Component 1: Performing, Performance assessment section, the following information has been removed: ‘At the start of each recording (both solo and ensemble) the student(s) being assessed should introduce themselves, stating their name, candidate number, instrument and role in the piece of music. The teacher must authenticate that the student performing their piece is the correct student, and must sign the Performance Authentication Sheet to this effect.’ | 15 | | In Component 1: Performing, Score section, information has been updated to reflect the fact that where a written score or lead sheet exists, this must be submitted with the recording of the performance and relevant reference materials. The section also states what materials must be provided if a written score or lead sheet does not exist, that the scores/lead sheets and/or reference materials are not assessed and receive no marks, and that performances that are not accompanied by acceptable scores/lead sheets/reference materials cannot be assessed. | 15–16 | | In Component 1: Performing, Submissions not meeting minimum time requirement section, it is indicated that a proportional time penalty will be applied for performances that do not meet the minimum time requirement of four minutes. Information about moderation arrangements for verifying performance times and potential consequences of the failure to accurately record performance times has also been provided.
The following guidance has also been removed: ‘The statements made by students to introduce themselves and their instruments atthe start of their recording, gaps between pieces and tuning do not count towards the performance time

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Issue 3 changes section in the GCSE (9–1) Music specification?

It summarizes the changes made in Issue 3 compared with the previous issue, focusing on updates to assessment and related guidance across the specification.

How are mark penalties affected when submission does not meet the minimum assessment time?

The document states that proportional reductions are applied based on how many seconds the combined performance or composition is below the minimum time, and it references Appendix 9 mark penalty tables for submissions not meeting the minimum assessment time.

What kinds of updates were made to Component 1 (Performing) guidance across earlier issues?

Updates include clarifications about zero marks removal, ensemble performance duration wording, moderation application for time shortfalls, and revised requirements around acceptable score/lead sheet and supporting reference materials.

Sep 5, 2026

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