GCSE Dance 8236 Recording and Submission Requirements - Version 4.0 - March 2024

Oct 20, 2026

Guidance for GCSE Dance (8236) centres on recording and submitting performance evidence to AQA for external moderation. The document explains consent checks, video quality practices (camera setup, lighting, clothing visibility), accurate student identification, and recording rules such as single-camera, unedited, audience perspective, and coverage from start to finish. It also covers file format compliance, post-recording verification, making duplicate copies, and required file naming via Centre Services for Centre marks submission.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Before you start recording

Identifying students

During recording

After recording

File formats

Organising and naming files

Notes and guidance: Requirements for recording and submitting performance evidence Introduction This document is for GCSE Dance (8236) . We require centres to video record all students' final performances for assessment and submit them to AQA for external moderation. Please be aware, if dances aren’t recorded correctly, AQA moderators may be unable to moderate your marking of student work. These guidelines are provided to ensure your students evidence of performance and choreography can be moderated effectively. Please refer to section 4.2 of the specification for full details of the assessment tasks and centre responsibilities for administering the tasks. Please read this document carefully so you’ll be familiar with AQA’s recording requirements. If you have any questions please call 01483 437750 or email [aqadance@aqa.org.uk](aqadance@aqa.org.uk) Version 4.0 March 2024 Before you start recording Centres should check that they obtained informed consent at the beginning of the course from parents/carers/guardians to use audio-visual of students as assessment evidence. Centres should adhere to the following guidelines to ensure sufficient quality: • Test the camera and any accessories, such as microphones, by recording a small piece of video and playing it back. • Use a tripod to stabilise the camera and position it from an audience perspective. • Ensure that the space being used for filming is clear of furniture, equipment and other students standing around the edges; these can obscure the overall view of the dancer or detract from the performance. • Ensure the studio is well lit, with any direct light source behind the camera operator; where natural light floods in from windows behind the dancer, the recording will appear in silhouette; stage lighting or spotlights can also adversely affect the video quality. • Ask students to wear light coloured clothing where black curtains are the background; this should enable them to be seen clearly. Identifying students • If the moderator is not completely certain of the identity of a student, the work cannot be moderated. • Before every dance, the student must state their name and student number and/or holdup a notice clearly showing their full name (as entered for the exam) and student number close to the camera. The student should then move to the start position whilst on camera to commence the performance. • In a group performance all candidates being assessed in that performance should be identified as above. During recording The final performance for assessment must be recorded with a single camera from an audience perspective and from start to finish and be unedited. • Wherever possible, try to film the dance straight-on from the audience perspective. Evidence filmed from a side angle, or from behind the student, might not be accepted for moderation. • If a student goes out of shot during the filming, the period they are not on screen cannot be included as part of the assessment. • Check that the camera is not set to go automatically to auto-focus during the performance as this can cause blurring on the recording, making assessment very difficult. • Ensure that extraneous noise is kept to a minimum. It can affect student performances and make it difficult to hear the soundtrack. • Make sure that the person operating the camera knows the dance well. Familiarity with the work will enable the action to be followed and the frame zoomed to ¾ full with the student in the centre of the shot. • Do not film the student from some distance without the zoom facility being used as this will affect the ability to moderate expressive skills • Keep filming for several seconds beyond the end of the dance. • Avoid using a fixed position camera without an operator as students may unintentionally disappear off camera. After recording After a recording has been made, please ensure you watch and check that there are no problems with the rec

FAQs

What must centres do before recording performance evidence for GCSE Dance (8236)?

Centres should confirm informed consent at the beginning of the course from parents/carers/guardians to use audio-visual evidence. They must also test the camera and accessories and ensure filming conditions meet the quality guidance.

How should student identity be confirmed for moderation?

If the moderator is not fully certain of a student’s identity, the work cannot be moderated. Before every dance, the student must state their name and student number and/or hold a notice showing full name and student number close to the camera, including identifying all candidates in group performances.

What recording rules apply during filming?

The final assessed performance must be recorded from an audience perspective with a single camera, start to finish, and remain unedited. Filming should be straight-on where possible, avoid side or behind angles for evidence, prevent missing screen time, and keep focus and noise stable by disabling automatic auto-focus during the performance.

Oct 20, 2026

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