WJEC A-Level Music
Explore your course, one topic at a time.
Explore your topics
16 topics
Course topics12 topics
- Rock and Pop 1965–1990 (Pop/Funk/Disco, Rock/Prog/Heavy Metal, Soul, Country)
- Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries — Impressionism (set work: Debussy/Boulanger; subsidiary: Debussy, Ravel)
- Composing (A2) — Option A (14%) or Option B (22%): Western Classical brief, area-of-study linked, and free compositions
- Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries — American Musical Theatre (Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz)
- Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries — Chamber Music in Wales (set work: Plowman/Heneghan; subsidiary: Wilson-Dickson, Samuel)
- Musical Theatre — Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Jazz 1940–1965 (Big Band/Swing, Be-bop, Cool)
- Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries — Popular Music in Wales (Gruff Rhys, Super Furry Animals, Manic Street Preachers, Kizzy Crawford)
- Composing (AS) — Western Classical brief composition and free composition
- Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries — Jazz Legends (Duke Ellington, Miles Davis)
- Performing (A2) — Option A (22%) or Option B (14%): Solo, Ensemble and Improvisation
- Performing (AS) — Solo, Ensemble and Improvisation
The Western Classical Tradition Part 12 topics
The Western Classical Tradition Part 22 topics
About this course
About WJEC A-Level Music
WJEC A-Level Music is a vibrant and challenging course that develops your skills as a performer, composer and critical listener. You will explore a diverse range of music, from the classical masterpieces of the Western tradition to the energetic styles of rock, pop, jazz and musical theatre, as well as innovative 20th and 21st-century works. The course is designed to deepen your understanding of how music is constructed and performed, while giving you the freedom to focus on your own interests as a musician.
Central to the qualification is the study of set works, which provide a rich foundation for analysis and appreciation. Through these, you'll learn to identify key musical features, understand historical and cultural contexts, and evaluate performances and compositions. You'll also have the opportunity to hone your performance skills on your chosen instrument or voice, and to craft original compositions using a range of techniques, including those modelled on the styles you've studied.
Structured around three interconnected components—Performing, Composing and Appraising—the WJEC specification ensures a balanced approach to music education. Whether you aspire to study music at university, pursue a career in the arts, or simply deepen your passion, this A-Level provides a robust platform. It encourages independent learning, creativity and a lifelong appreciation for music in all its forms.
Assessment Structure
The WJEC A-Level Music qualification is assessed through three components: Component 1: Performing (35% of the A-Level, 105 marks) – a non-exam assessment where you submit a recording of a performance lasting 10–12 minutes, either as a soloist and/or as part of an ensemble. Component 2: Composing (25%, 75 marks) – non-exam assessment requiring you to produce two compositions, one in response to a brief set by WJEC and one free composition, with a total duration of 4–6 minutes. Component 3: Appraising (40%, 120 marks) – a written examination lasting 2 hours 15 minutes, comprising listening and appraising questions on set works and unfamiliar music from the areas of study.
Why Choose WJEC?
- WJEC offers a flexible performing component, allowing you to choose between a solo-focused option (Option A) or an ensemble-focused option (Option B) with a shorter solo, catering to different musical strengths and interests.
- The specification features a broad and engaging range of set works, spanning classical, popular, jazz and modern styles, making the course relevant and motivating for students with diverse musical tastes.
- Clear and structured composition briefs, combined with a free composition element, provide a supportive framework that encourages creativity while ensuring you meet the assessment criteria – an approach that many find less intimidating than entirely open-ended briefs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the set works for WJEC A-Level Music?
How many performances do I need to do for the WJEC Music A-Level?
Is there coursework in WJEC A-Level Music?
What is the difference between AS and A-Level Music with WJEC?
What grade do I need to study WJEC 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
- •Failing to link musical elements to the specific context of the genre.
- •Inadequate analysis of how studio recordings differ from live performances.
- •Lack of specific musical vocabulary related to rock and pop (e.g., specific guitar effects, synth types, or rhythmic devices).
- •Ignoring the relationship between lyrics and musical choices.
- •Poor quality of written communication in the essay-style question.
- •Failing to link the set work to the wider social, historical, and cultural context of 1760–1830.
- •Inability to identify specific harmonic features like circle of 5ths, secondary/diminished 7ths, or tonicisation.
- •Neglecting the development of the woodwind section's role in the Classical orchestra.
Top Examiner Tips
Expert advice for exam success
- •Ensure familiarity with iconic instruments such as the Rhodes piano, Stratocaster guitar, and Moog synthesizer.
- •Be prepared to identify and explain effects like distortion, feedback, tremolo, wah-wah, and power chords.
- •Practice identifying structures like strophic, 32-bar song form, 12-bar blues, and verse-chorus.
- •Study how composers use musical elements to underline lyrics.
- •Be ready to discuss the impact of music technology on the sound and production of tracks from this era.
- •Bring a clean, unannotated copy of the set work score into the examination.
- •Practice aural dictation and identification of intervals, chords, and structural features.
- •Focus on the specific movements prescribed for your exam year (1 & 2 until 2025; 3 & 4 from 2026).
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