🎯 Section C · Mini Site 8a
Answering 1-Mark Questions
Identify, Name & Give — the quick wins at the start of Section C. Get these right and you bank two marks in about four minutes.
2
1-mark questions
2
marks up for grabs
~4
mins suggested
📚 What you'll learn on this page
- Recognise the command words that flag a 1-mark question
- Answer in a word or short phrase — no paragraphs
- Dodge the common mistakes students make under pressure
- Practise real 1-markers for all six anthology works
How 1-Mark Questions Work
Section C always opens with a 1-mark question. It'll come back again later with a second 1-marker on a different work. That's 2 marks, 2 questions in total — worth about four minutes of your time combined.
You can spot a 1-marker instantly. It uses one of these command words:
Identify
Name
Give
Outline
State
What
How
Here are three real examples from past papers:
2019
Identify one action used in A Linha Curva.
1 mark
2022
State the number of dancers in Artificial Things.
1 mark
2023
Name the dance style of Emancipation of Expressionism.
1 mark
Examiner's Eye
One word or short phrase is enough. These aren't mini-essays — the examiner is checking you know the fact. Save your writing energy for the 6- and 12-markers.
Every 1-marker follows the same shape. The question names a feature of a specific work, and you give it back in a word or phrase.
1
Spot the work
Which of the six anthology works is it asking about?
2
Spot the feature
Action? Prop? Composer? Dance style? Pin down exactly what's being asked.
3
Answer in one phrase
Use the exact terminology from the Fact File.
Try it yourself. Read the question, then pick the answer that earns the mark:
Four real-style questions, each with an answer that would earn the mark. Tap a card to flip it.
Artificial Things · 2023
Identify a prop used in the work.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Dismantled wheelchair (also accepted: stool, suit on mannequin legs)
A Linha Curva · 2019
Identify one action used.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Samba hip movement (also: jumps, turns, contact work)
Within Her Eyes · 2019
Name the performance environment.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Site sensitive / dance for camera
Shadows · 2018
Identify a prop used.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Suitcase (also: table, bench, stool, coat stand)
The only real way to nail 1-mark questions is to know your facts — especially each work's stimulus and choreographic intention. Here's what to watch for:
Writing a whole paragraph when a word will do.
Fix: One word or a short phrase earns the mark. Save your writing energy for the 6- and 12-markers.
Naming a feature from the wrong work.
Fix: Read the question twice. If it says Shadows, don't answer about Artificial Things. Circle the work's name before you write.
Being too vague — e.g. "music" instead of naming the composer or style.
Fix: Use the exact terminology from the Fact File — "live percussion by Percossa" scores; "loud drums" doesn't.
Mixing up stimulus and choreographic intention.
Fix: Stimulus = the starting point (e.g. Brazilian culture). Intention = what the choreographer wants to say (e.g. to have fun). Learn both for every work.
Leaving the question blank if you're not sure.
Fix: Always have a go. A blank scores 0. Your best guess costs you nothing and might win the mark.
Practice by Work
Five quick flashcards per work, plus the key facts the examiner loves to test. Tap any card to reveal its answer.
Artificial Things
Choreographer Lucy Bennett · Company Stopgap Dance Company · 4 dancers (2 male / 2 female)
Stimulus
Snow-covered urban landscape; figure on collapsed wheelchair; Goran Djurovic paintings
Intention (Scene 3)
Coming to terms with life's limitations; finding resolution by coming together
Dance style
Inclusive contemporary dance
Performance env.
Proscenium arch
Composer
Andy Higgs
Costume / Set designer
Anna Jones
Practice flashcards
AT · Q1
Name the choreographer.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Lucy Bennett
AT · Q2
Identify a prop used.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Dismantled wheelchair (also: stool, suit on mannequin legs)
AT · Q3
Name the aural setting composer.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Andy Higgs
AT · Q4
How many dancers perform the work?
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
4 (2 male / 2 female)
AT · Q5
Name the dance style.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Inclusive contemporary dance
StretchCan you write your own 1-mark question about Artificial Things?
A Linha Curva
Choreographer Itzik Galili · Company Rambert · 28 dancers (15 male / 13 female)
Stimulus
Brazilian culture — 'The Curved Line' in Portuguese
Intention
To have fun; celebrate Brazilian way of life; live in the moment
Dance style
Samba, capoeira & contemporary
Performance env.
End stage
Aural setting
Live percussion by Percossa (4 percussionists)
Costume / Lighting
Designed by Itzik Galili
Practice flashcards
ALC · Q1
Name the choreographer.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Itzik Galili
ALC · Q2
How many dancers perform the work?
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
28 (15 male / 13 female)
ALC · Q3
Name the musicians who created the aural setting.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Percossa (a percussion group from Holland)
ALC · Q4
Identify one costume feature.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Wet-look Lycra shorts (also: black vests, metallic disc collars)
ALC · Q5
Name the performance environment.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
End stage
StretchCan you write your own 1-mark question about A Linha Curva?
Emancipation of Expressionism
Choreographer Kenrick 'H2O' Sandy · Company Boy Blue Entertainment · 17 dancers (9 male / 8 female)
Stimulus
The music 'Til Enda' by Ólafur Arnalds; freedom of expression through hip-hop
Intention
Emotional journey through all hip-hop styles; theme of order and chaos
Dance style
Hip-hop (popping, locking, krumping, waacking, breaking, waving)
Performance env.
Proscenium arch (Sadler's Wells)
Structure
4 sections: Genesis · Growth & Struggle · Connection & Flow · Empowerment
Costume
Pastel blue t-shirts, blue jeans, grey trainers (white sole)
Practice flashcards
EofE · Q1
Name the choreographer.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Kenrick 'H2O' Sandy
EofE · Q2
Name the company.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Boy Blue Entertainment
EofE · Q3
Name the dance style.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Hip-hop
EofE · Q4
Identify an action used.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Popping (also: locking, krumping, waacking, breaking, waving)
EofE · Q5
Name the composer of the main music.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Ólafur Arnalds ('Til Enda')
StretchCan you write your own 1-mark question about Emancipation of Expressionism?
Infra
Choreographer Wayne McGregor · Company The Royal Ballet · 12 dancers (6 male / 6 female)
Stimulus
Life beneath the surface of the city; T.S. Eliot's The Wasteland
Intention
A moving meditation on human interactions; inferences about relationships
Dance style
Contemporary ballet
Performance env.
Proscenium arch
Composer
Max Richter
Set designer
Julian Opie (18m LED screen of walking figures)
Practice flashcards
Infra · Q1
Name the choreographer.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Wayne McGregor
Infra · Q2
Name the company.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
The Royal Ballet
Infra · Q3
How many dancers perform the work?
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
12 (6 male / 6 female), plus a brief crowd
Infra · Q4
Name the set designer.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Julian Opie
Infra · Q5
Name the composer.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Max Richter
StretchCan you write your own 1-mark question about Infra?
Shadows
Choreographer Christopher Bruce · Company Phoenix Dance Theatre · 4 dancers (2 male / 2 female)
Stimulus
Arvo Pärt's Fratres for violin and piano
Intention
Family dynamic dealing with an unseen outside force; deprivation & poverty
Dance style
Neo-classical
Performance env.
End stage (black-box)
Composer
Arvo Pärt
Lighting designer
John B Read
Practice flashcards
Shadows · Q1
Name the choreographer.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Christopher Bruce
Shadows · Q2
Identify a prop used.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Suitcase (also: table, bench, stool, coat stand)
Shadows · Q3
Name the composer.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Arvo Pärt (piece: Fratres)
Shadows · Q4
How many dancers perform the work?
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
4 (2 male / 2 female)
Shadows · Q5
Name the performance environment.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
End stage
StretchCan you write your own 1-mark question about Shadows?
Within Her Eyes
Choreographer James Cousins · Company James Cousins Company · 2 dancers (1 male / 1 female)
Stimulus
A love story with a twist; love & loss, dependency & loyalty
Intention
Abstract tragic love story; maintain visceral energy of the original stage work
Dance style
Contemporary / contact work
Performance env.
Site sensitive · dance for camera (filmed by Scratch)
Composer
Seymour Milton
Key physical idea
Female dancer never touches the floor
Practice flashcards
WHE · Q1
Name the choreographer.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
James Cousins
WHE · Q2
Name the performance environment.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Site sensitive / dance for camera
WHE · Q3
Name the composer.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Seymour Milton
WHE · Q4
How many dancers perform the work?
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
2 (1 male / 1 female)
WHE · Q5
Identify a dance relationship used.
Tap to reveal ›
Answer
Contact / physical interdependence (duet)
StretchCan you write your own 1-mark question about Within Her Eyes?
Revision Check — Practice by Work
10 exam-style 1-markers covering all six anthology works. Pick one answer per question, then submit.
0/10
Take a screenshot of your score now and paste it into your ePortfolio document so your teacher can see your progress.
📌 Revisit this — the essentials
How many2 × 1-mark questions in Section C
Command wordsIdentify, Name, Give, Outline, State, What, How
Answer lengthOne word or a short phrase — never a paragraph
Know coldStimulus + intention for all 6 works
Exact termsUse Fact File language, not vague descriptions
Golden ruleBlank = 0. Always have a go.
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