Years 9 and 10 standard elaborations — Australian Curriculum: Drama
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The Australian Curriculum achievement standards are an expectation of the depth of understanding, the extent of knowledge and the sophistication of
skills that students should typically demonstrate at the end of a teaching and learning band. In Queensland, the Years 9 and 10 Australian Curriculum
achievement standard represents a C standard — a sound level of knowledge and understanding of the content, and application of skills.
Years 9 and 10 Australian Curriculum: Drama achievement standard
By the end of Year 10, students analyse the elements of drama, forms and performance styles and evaluate meaning and aesthetic effect in drama they devise,
interpret, perform and view. They use their experiences of drama practices from different cultures, places and times to evaluate drama from different viewpoints.
Students develop and sustain different roles and characters for given circumstances and intentions. They perform devised and scripted drama in different forms,
styles and performance spaces. They collaborate with others to plan, direct, produce, rehearse and refine performances. They select and use the elements of
drama, narrative and structure in directing and acting in order to engage audiences. They refine performance and expressive skills in voice and movement to
convey dramatic action.
Source:
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), Australian Curriculum The Arts — Drama for Foundation–10,
www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/the-arts/drama/curriculum/f-10?layout=1#level9-10
The standard elaborations (SEs) should be used in conjunction with the Australian Curriculum achievement standard and content descriptions for the
relevant band. They provide additional clarity about using the Australian Curriculum achievement standard to make judgments on a five-point scale.
The SEs for Drama have been developed using the Australian Curriculum content descriptions and the achievement standard. They promote and support:
 aligning curriculum, assessment and reporting, connecting curriculum and evidence in assessment, so that what is assessed relates directly to what
students have had the opportunity to learn
 continuing skill development from one band of schooling to another
 making judgments on a five-point scale based on evidence of learning in a folio of student work
 planning an assessment program and individual assessments
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 developing task-specific standards and grading guides.
Years 9 and 10 Drama standard elaborations
A
B
DRAFT
C
D
E
Forming
Responding
Making
Knowledge, understanding and skills
The folio of student work has the following characteristics:
 thorough analysis of the
use of elements of drama,
forms and performance
styles to discerningly
evaluate the creation of
meaning in drama
devised, interpreted,
performed and viewed
 informed analysis of the
use of elements of drama,
forms and performance
styles to purposefully
evaluate the creation of
meaning in drama
devised, interpreted,
performed and viewed
 analysis of the use of
elements of drama,
forms and performance
styles to evaluate the
creation of meaning in
drama devised,
interpreted, performed
and viewed
 description of the
elements of drama,
forms and performance
styles to explain
meaning in drama
devised, interpreted,
performed and viewed
 identification of the
elements of drama,
forms and
performance styles in
drama devised,
interpreted, performed
and viewed
 discerning evaluation of
drama from different
viewpoints (as artist and
audience) using
experiences of drama
practices from different
cultures, places and times
 informed evaluation of
drama from different
viewpoints (as artist and
audience) using
experiences of drama
practices from different
cultures, places and times
 evaluation of drama
from different
viewpoints (as artist
and audience) using
experiences of drama
practices from different
cultures, places and
times
 statements of opinion
about drama from
different viewpoints (as
artist and audience)
using experiences of
drama practices from
different cultures,
places and times
 statements about
drama from different
viewpoints (as artist
and audience) using
experiences of drama
practices from
different cultures,
places and times
purposeful and effective
development of roles and
characters for given
circumstances and intentions
when collaborating to plan,
direct, produce and refine
drama in different forms,
styles and performance
spaces through the
discerning selection and
purposeful and skilful use of:
 the elements of drama
 narrative and structure
effective development of
roles and characters for
given circumstances and
intentions when
collaborating to plan, direct,
produce and refine drama in
different forms, styles and
performance spaces
through the effective
selection and skilful use of:
development of roles and
characters for given
circumstances and
intentions when
collaborating to plan,
direct, produce and
refine drama in different
forms, styles and
performance spaces
through the selection and
use of:
 the elements of drama
 narrative and structure
partial development of
roles and characters for
given circumstances and
intentions when
collaborating to plan
drama
through the uneven
use of aspects of:
fragmented use of roles
and characters when
collaborating to plan
drama
 the elements of drama
 narrative and structure
Years 9 and 10 standard elaborations — Australian Curriculum: Drama
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 the elements of drama
 narrative and structure
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A
B
C
D
E
Key
Performing
Making
Knowledge, understanding and skills
The folio of student work has the following characteristics:
sustained and effective
engagement of audiences to
clearly convey dramatic
action when collaborating to
rehearse, refine and produce
devised and scripted drama
performances in different
forms, styles and
performance spaces through
the skilful and sustained
use of:
 the elements of drama
 performance and
expressive skills, including
sustained roles and
characters, voice and
movement.
effective engagement of
audiences to clearly convey
dramatic action when
collaborating to rehearse,
refine and produce devised
and scripted drama
performances in different
forms, styles and
performance spaces
through the skilful use of:
engagement of
audiences to convey
dramatic action when
collaborating to rehearse,
refine and produce
devised and scripted
drama performances in
different forms, styles
and performance spaces
through the use of:
partial engagement of
audiences to unevenly
convey dramatic action
when collaborating to
perform drama through
the use of aspects of:
uneven conveying of
dramatic action when
collaborating to perform
drama through the
sporadic use of
aspects of:
 the elements of drama
 performance and
expressive skills,
including sustained roles
and characters, voice and
movement.
 the elements of drama
 performance and
expressive skills,
including sustained
roles and characters,
voice and movement.
 the elements of drama
 performance and
expressive skills,
including sustained
roles and characters,
voice and movement.
 the elements of drama
 performance and
expressive skills,
including sustained
roles and characters,
voice and movement.
Shading emphasises the key aspects of the achievement standard and qualities that discriminate between the A–E descriptors. Key terms are described overleaf.
Years 9 and 10 standard elaborations — Australian Curriculum: Drama
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Notes
Examples of knowledge and skills in Years 9 and 10 Drama
ACARA provides examples of knowledge and skills in Drama across each band, and they are
provided here for your reference.
Years 9 and 10
1
In this band students develop their knowledge of how ideas and intentions are communicated in and
through drama. They build on and refine their knowledge, understanding and skills through drama
practices focusing on:

elements of drama
- role, character and relationships

role and character: e.g. analysing and using background, motivation, words and actions of
characters to build roles; sustaining multidimensional relationships in the drama to develop the
interplay between characters

situation: using props, costumes and furniture to establish situation; using conventions of story
in drama
- voice and movement

e.g. sustaining belief in character and situation through voice and movement; revealing
character and situation through the use of voice, movement/blocking and props

focus: e.g. using a range of devices and effects to highlight the central themes for an audience;
making deliberate artistic choices to sharpen focus

tension: e.g. using various physical and digital stage effects to produce specific audience
reactions through tension

space and time: manipulating time in drama; using blocking (e.g. when and where to move) and
stage areas (e.g. upstage right, downstage centre) in planning and performance
- language, ideas and dramatic action


e.g. using conventions relevant to selected performance styles to manipulate central ideas or
themes and offer perspectives to the audience

mood and atmosphere: e.g. using stage design to manipulate the feeling or tone of physical
space and the dramatic action emerging from the performance
audience
e.g. modifying production elements to suit different audiences.
(ACARA, Examples of knowledge and skill in Drama, www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/the-arts/drama/Examples#9-10)
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Australian Curriculum valued features
The SEs describe the qualities of achievement in the two valued features for Australian
Curriculum Arts achievement standards — responding and making.
Valued features
Description
responding
includes exploring, responding to, analysing and interpreting artworks
making
includes learning about and using knowledge, skills, techniques, processes,
materials and technologies to explore arts practices and make artworks that
communicate ideas and intentions
Terms used in the Years 9 and 10 Drama SEs
The following terms are used in the Years 9 and 10 Drama SEs. They help to clarify the
descriptors, and should be read in conjunction with the ACARA Drama glossary:
www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/the-arts/drama/glossary.
Term
Description
aesthetic
specific artistic awareness, or a deep appreciation of the meaning of an artistic
experience through intellectual, emotional and sensual response to a work of art;
in Drama, involves subjective responses to non-verbal, affective and verbal devices
which can be representative of genre/style/time/place
analysis;
analyse
consider in detail for the purpose of finding meaning or relationships, and identifying
patterns, similarities and differences
artist
generic term for the maker of an artwork in each of the five Arts subjects
aspects
particular parts or features
atmosphere
the established mood or feeling conveyed in an artwork or performance
audience
individuals or groups of people who experience the arts in a range of settings and
contexts (formal, informal, virtual or interactive) through intellectual, emotional and
social engagement; the artist is audience to their own artwork;
see ACARA’s Examples of knowledge and skills in Years 9 and 10 Drama
character
identification and portrayal of a person’s values, attitudes, intentions and actions as
imagined relationships, situations and ideas in dramatic action;
see ACARA’s Examples of knowledge and skills in Years 9 and 10 Drama
clear
easy to perceive, understand, or interpret
collaborate;
collaborating
working jointly on an activity or project;
in Years 9 and 10 Drama, students must be given opportunities to work
collaboratively to devise, interpret and perform drama
description;
describe
give an account of characteristics or features
design elements
include line, colour, shape, texture, space and form found in artworks, and
incorporated in the design of performance spaces (including sets)
discerning
showing good judgment to make thoughtful choices
dramatic action
the driving force and forward motion of drama to create dramatic meaning, tension,
belief and audience engagement; the movement of the drama from the introduction,
exposition of ideas and conflict to a resolution;
see ACARA’s Examples of knowledge and skills in Years 9 and 10 Drama
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Term
Description
dramatic
meaning
a signified, intended purpose or effect interpreted from the communication of
expressive dramatic action
elements of
drama
in Drama, the elements of drama are:

role, character and relationships
- role and character: identification and portrayal of a person’s values, attitudes,
intentions and actions as imagined relationships, situations and ideas in
dramatic action; role focus on type and stereotype; characters are detailed
and specific
- relationships: the connections and interactions between people that affect
the dramatic action
- situation: the setting and circumstances of the dramatic action — the who,
what, where, when and what is at stake of the roles/characters

voice and movement
- voice: using voice expressively to create roles, situations, relationships,
atmosphere and symbols
- movement: using facial expression, posture and action expressively in space
and time to create roles, situations, relationships, atmosphere and symbols
- focus: directing and intensifying attention and framing moments of dramatic
action
- tension: sense of anticipation or conflict within characters or character
relationships, or problems, surprise and mystery in stories and ideas to
propel dramatic action and create audience engagement

space and time
- space: the physical space of the performance and audience, fictional space
of the dramatic action and the emotional space between characters
- time: fictional time in the narrative or setting; timing of one moment to the
next contributing to the tension and rhythm of dramatic action

language, ideas, dramatic meaning, mood and atmosphere, and symbol
- language, ideas and dramatic meaning: the choice of linguistic expression
and ideas in drama used to create dramatic action
- mood and atmosphere: the feeling or tone of both the physical space and the
dramatic action created by or emerging from the performance
- symbol: associations that occur when something is used to represent
something else to reinforce or extend dramatic meaning;
see ACARA’s Examples of knowledge and skills in Years 9 and 10 Drama
evaluation;
evaluate
examine and judge the merit or significance of something
explanation;
explain
provide additional information that demonstrates understanding of reasoning and/or
application
focus
concentrate the attention on a spatial direction or a point in space to intensify
attention or increase the projection of intent;
in Drama, directing and intensifying attention and framing moments of dramatic
action or identifying the main idea of the drama;
see ACARA’s Examples of knowledge and skills in Years 9 and 10 Drama
fragmented
disjointed, incomplete or isolated
identification;
identify
establish or indicate who or what someone or something is
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Term
Description
improvisation;
improvising
spontaneous, creative activity applying the elements of an art form;
in Drama, a spontaneous enactment taking on roles and situations to create
dramatic action and extend an idea; usually short and are structured into a
complete little play
informed
having relevant knowledge; being conversant with the topic;
in Drama, this includes how the knowledge and skills (elements of drama,
conventions of forms/styles and the skills of drama) work together to communicate
meaning or intent in and through drama
movement
vocabulary
the accumulation of movement, steps, gestures that make up a repertoire for
physical expression of feelings or ideas;
see ACARA’s Examples of knowledge and skills in Years 9 and 10 Drama
playbuilding;
playbuild
creating a play through improvisation or devising
purposeful
intentional; done by design; focused and clearly linked to the goals of the task
role
adopting identification and portrayal of a person’s values, attitudes, intentions and
actions and portraying these as imagined relationships, situations and ideas in
dramatic action;
see ACARA’s Examples of knowledge and skills in Years 9 and 10 Drama
skilful
in Drama, in the context of:
 creating artworks, this includes discerning selection, management and application
of the elements of drama;
 sharing artworks, this includes a high degree of proficiency and polish
sporadic
appearing, happening now and again or at intervals; (irregular) or occasional
statement;
state
a sentence or assertion
sustained
continuing for an extended period or without interruption
thorough
demonstrating depth and breadth of drama knowledge and skills
uneven
not properly corresponding or aligning; not in keeping with
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