AQA A-Level Music
Explore your course, one topic at a time.
Explore your topics
41 study areas
Subject content considerations1 topic
Appraising music37 study areas
- Appraising music4 objectives
- Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (compulsory)5 objectives
- Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (compulsory) - Listening – unfamiliar music1 objective
- Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (compulsory) - Strand A: Baroque solo concerto1 objective
- Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (compulsory) - Strand B: The operas of Mozart9 objectives
- Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (compulsory) - Strand C: The piano music of Chopin, Brahms and Grieg7 objectives
- Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (compulsory) - Musical elements60 objectives
- Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (compulsory) - Musical language1 objective
- Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (compulsory) - Reading staff notation3 objectives
- Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (compulsory) - Writing staff notation3 objectives
- Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (compulsory) - Chords1 objective
- Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (compulsory) - Musical vocabulary and terminology1 objective
12 of 37 shown
Performance1 topic
About this course
About AQA A-Level Music
The AQA A-Level Music course offers you the chance to deepen your musical understanding through the integrated study of performing, composing, and listening. You will explore a wide range of musical styles and genres, developing your skills as a well-rounded musician. The course is designed to build on your GCSE knowledge and to prepare you for further study in music at university or a career in the arts.
Central to the specification is the appraising component, where you will study the compulsory area of the Western Classical Tradition (1650–1910), along with two further optional areas chosen from a list including pop music, music for media, music for theatre, jazz, contemporary traditional music, and art music since 1910. Through set works and wider listening, you will learn to analyse and evaluate music with confidence, understanding the context and language of different traditions.
Practical music-making is at the heart of the AQA course. You will deliver a performance as a soloist and/or as part of an ensemble, and you will create two compositions: one in response to a brief and one free composition. This blend of academic study and hands-on creativity ensures that you can excel whether your strengths lie in performance, composition, or musical analysis.
Assessment Structure
The AQA A-Level Music qualification is assessed through three components. Component 1: Appraising Music is a written examination lasting 2 hours 30 minutes, worth 120 marks and accounting for 40% of the A-level. Component 2: Performance is a non-exam assessment (NEA) externally marked by AQA, requiring a minimum of 10 minutes of performance, worth 50 marks and contributing 35%. Component 3: Composition is also an NEA externally assessed, requiring two compositions totalling a minimum of 4½ minutes, worth 50 marks and making up the final 25% of the qualification. The total overall mark is 220.
Why Choose AQA?
- AQA offers a flexible and student-centred approach, allowing you to choose two optional areas of study that align with your musical interests, from pop to jazz to contemporary classical. This means you can tailor the course to your strengths and passions, making study more engaging.
- The exam structure is transparent and well-supported with extensive resources. The written paper focuses on aural perception and musical analysis using excerpts, so you are rewarded for your listening skills as much as your theoretical knowledge. AQA provides clear mark schemes and exemplar materials, helping you understand exactly what is required to succeed.
- AQA has a strong reputation for supporting practical music-making. The performance and composition components are externally assessed, ensuring a fair and rigorous evaluation of your work. Many schools and colleges appreciate the straightforward administrative process and the detailed feedback reports that help improve teaching and learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is the performance component in AQA A-Level Music?
What are the set works for AQA A-Level Music?
Can I compose in any style for the AQA Music A-Level?
How does the appraising exam work and how should I prepare?
What is the difference between AQA and Edexcel A-Level Music?
Assessment and exam guidance
What Gets Top Grades
Knowledge & Understanding
Demonstrates comprehensive and accurate knowledge
- Uses correct subject-specific terminology
- Shows detailed understanding of concepts
- Makes accurate connections between topics
- Demonstrates depth beyond surface-level knowledge
Application
Applies knowledge effectively to new contexts
- Selects relevant knowledge for the question
- Adapts understanding to unfamiliar scenarios
- Uses examples appropriately
- Shows awareness of context
Analysis & Evaluation
Develops sophisticated analytical arguments
- Constructs logical chains of reasoning
- Considers multiple perspectives
- Weighs evidence to reach justified conclusions
- Acknowledges limitations and nuances
Key Command Words
Give a single fact or term
Name, select, or recognise
Set out main features briefly
Give an account of what something is like or what happens
Give reasons with developed cause→effect chains
State similarities AND differences (both required)
Examine in detail showing cause→effect→consequence chains
Weigh up BOTH sides, reach JUSTIFIED conclusion
Make judgments about importance with justification
Show formula→substitution→calculation→answer with units
Tips and common mistakes
Common Exam Mistakes
Pitfalls to avoid in your exams
- •Inaccurate identification of musical elements in unfamiliar excerpts.
- •Failure to link musical analysis to the historical and cultural context of the set works.
- •Inconsistent use of appropriate musical terminology.
- •Lack of precision when writing staff notation or identifying chord symbols.
- •Superficial analysis that fails to address the composer's purpose or intention.
- •Failure to use appropriate musical vocabulary and terminology.
- •Inability to link musical elements to the context of the work.
- •Insufficient comparison of works when analysing an artist's style over time.
Top Examiner Tips
Expert advice for exam success
- •Use the digital access to excerpts to control playback and listen carefully to specific details.
- •Ensure essay responses demonstrate sophisticated connections between the music and its context.
- •Practice identifying intervals, chords, and melodic/rhythmic dictation regularly.
- •Focus on the specific musical elements listed in the specification tables for this area of study.
- •When analyzing set works, ensure you address the interdependencies between different musical elements.
- •Ensure you can identify and apply the specific musical elements listed for each chosen area of study.
- •Practice listening to unfamiliar music and identifying elements from the relevant tables.
- •Focus on making critical judgements rather than just describing the music.
Ready for a little practice?
Create your account to start practising Music.
7 days Premium · Then free forever · No card, no charge