GCSE DRAMA — Actual May 2025 PAST PAPER: Drama: Performance and Response
All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR J316/04]
Exam Resource Summary
The GCSE (9–1) Drama May 2025 Drama: Performance and Response Paper (OCR J316/04)
merges the full official examination paper with its detailed mark scheme to provide a
comprehensive and practical revision resource. This paper assesses students’ understanding
of performance skills, dramatic techniques, and textual analysis. Candidates are required to
interpret and perform extracts, evaluate their own and others’ performances, and demonstrate
knowledge of theatrical conventions and contexts. By presenting each question alongside its
marking criteria, the resource clarifies examiner expectations, highlights the evaluative and
performance skills required for high-band responses, and guides learners in producing
precise, reflective, and well-structured answers. This integrated format strengthens practical
and analytical drama skills, supports focused revision, and prepares students thoroughly for
the 2026 OCR GCSE Drama Performance and Response examination.
Turn over
, 2
Section A
You should spend about 55 minutes on this section.
Blood Brothers – Willy Russell
Death of a Salesman – Arthur Miller
Find Me – Olwen Wymark
Gizmo – Alan Ayckbourn
Kindertransport – Diane Samuels
Missing Dan Nolan – Mark Wheeller
Misterman – Enda Walsh
Name your performance text ...................................................................................................................
1 From the list below, select the character from your performance text.
Suggest two props the actor could use during a performance.
Explain briefly what the use of the prop shows the audience about the character.
Blood Brothers Mickey
Death of a Salesman Linda
Find me Verity
Gizmo Ben
Kindertransport Faith
Missing Dan Nolan Pauline
Misterman Thomas
Name of character ............................................
Prop 1 ...............................................................................................................................................
What the use of the prop shows the audience about the character .................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Prop 2 ...............................................................................................................................................
What the use of the prop shows the audience about the character .................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
© OCR 2025
, 3
2 Choose a character from your performance text.
Name of character ............................................................................................................................
As an actor, describe how you would show two relevant emotions during the closing
scene/section of your performance text.
Emotion 1 .........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Emotion 2 .........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
© OCR 2025 Turn over
, 4
3 Choose a character who appears in the opening scene/section of your performance text.
Name of character ............................................................................................................................
Describe how an actor playing this role could use the way they sit or walk to show the audience
three things about this character.
Way of sitting or walking 1 ...............................................................................................................
What it shows the audience about the character .............................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Way of sitting or walking 2 ...............................................................................................................
What it shows the audience about the character .............................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Way of sitting or walking 3 ...............................................................................................................
What it shows the audience about the character ..............................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[6]
© OCR 2025
All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR J316/04]
Exam Resource Summary
The GCSE (9–1) Drama May 2025 Drama: Performance and Response Paper (OCR J316/04)
merges the full official examination paper with its detailed mark scheme to provide a
comprehensive and practical revision resource. This paper assesses students’ understanding
of performance skills, dramatic techniques, and textual analysis. Candidates are required to
interpret and perform extracts, evaluate their own and others’ performances, and demonstrate
knowledge of theatrical conventions and contexts. By presenting each question alongside its
marking criteria, the resource clarifies examiner expectations, highlights the evaluative and
performance skills required for high-band responses, and guides learners in producing
precise, reflective, and well-structured answers. This integrated format strengthens practical
and analytical drama skills, supports focused revision, and prepares students thoroughly for
the 2026 OCR GCSE Drama Performance and Response examination.
Turn over
, 2
Section A
You should spend about 55 minutes on this section.
Blood Brothers – Willy Russell
Death of a Salesman – Arthur Miller
Find Me – Olwen Wymark
Gizmo – Alan Ayckbourn
Kindertransport – Diane Samuels
Missing Dan Nolan – Mark Wheeller
Misterman – Enda Walsh
Name your performance text ...................................................................................................................
1 From the list below, select the character from your performance text.
Suggest two props the actor could use during a performance.
Explain briefly what the use of the prop shows the audience about the character.
Blood Brothers Mickey
Death of a Salesman Linda
Find me Verity
Gizmo Ben
Kindertransport Faith
Missing Dan Nolan Pauline
Misterman Thomas
Name of character ............................................
Prop 1 ...............................................................................................................................................
What the use of the prop shows the audience about the character .................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Prop 2 ...............................................................................................................................................
What the use of the prop shows the audience about the character .................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
© OCR 2025
, 3
2 Choose a character from your performance text.
Name of character ............................................................................................................................
As an actor, describe how you would show two relevant emotions during the closing
scene/section of your performance text.
Emotion 1 .........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Emotion 2 .........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
© OCR 2025 Turn over
, 4
3 Choose a character who appears in the opening scene/section of your performance text.
Name of character ............................................................................................................................
Describe how an actor playing this role could use the way they sit or walk to show the audience
three things about this character.
Way of sitting or walking 1 ...............................................................................................................
What it shows the audience about the character .............................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Way of sitting or walking 2 ...............................................................................................................
What it shows the audience about the character .............................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Way of sitting or walking 3 ...............................................................................................................
What it shows the audience about the character ..............................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[6]
© OCR 2025
