On this page, you will find Dance Studies Grade 12 Practical Assessment Tasks (PAT) for current and previous years (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019). Memorandums for previous PATs are included where possible.
Why PATs are Important for Grade 12
A practical assessment task (PAT) is a compulsory component of the final promotion mark for all candidates offering subjects that have a practical component and counts 25% (100 marks) of the end-of-year examination mark. The PAT is implemented across the first three terms of the school year. This is broken down into different phases or a series of smaller activities that make up the PAT. The PAT allows for learners to be assessed on a regular basis during the school year and it also allows for the assessment of skills that cannot be assessed in a written format, e.g. test or examination. It is therefore important that schools ensure that all learners complete the practical assessment tasks within the stipulated period to ensure that learners are resulted at the end of the school year. The planning and execution of the PAT differ from subject to subject.
Dance Studies serves the following learning purposes:
- It serves to strengthen the higher-order thinking and performing skills needed in the final written Paper 1 and practical Paper 2 NSC examinations.
- Dance as a performing art needs to be experienced not only in the classroom and examination room but also in productions on stage, where possible.
- Performance lifts the standard of dance technique and performance quality.
- It encourages an active and critical learning approach to learning, rather than rote learning of given truths.
- It teaches content, concepts, skills, competencies, attitudes and values – essential life skills needed in the 21st century.
The Structure and Answer Guide for Dance Studies Grade 12 Practical Assessment Tasks
Below is the structure that Grade 12 Dance Studies students should follow:
The PAT is a compulsory component of the final Grade 12 FET promotion mark.
Failure to complete the PAT will result in an incomplete/not resulted mark at the end of the year.
Guidance to manage the PAT
- In the case of large numbers of Grade 12 dance learners, the teacher is at liberty to place learners in groups of 3–6.
- If choreographing in a group, learners provide one choreographic work with all members of the group contributing towards this work.
- If there are only 1 or 2 Grade 12 learners, dancers from other grades could be used to dance in the choreography/dance work. The PAT requires learners to produce a group dance and may not produce a solo or duet.
- Quality v/s quantity: Teachers should guide learners to select the most relevant material developed over their planning and improvisation processes for their final product.
- A letter of authenticity is required from each learner declaring that their choreography has not been plagiarised.
- Teachers should assist learners by providing a selection of music for learners/groups to choose from if they are unable to find their own music. Not all learners will have access to a wide range of suitable music. Teachers should also guide and assist in the final selection, fading, cutting and collection of music for final assessment and moderation.
- Teachers may use the school Wi-Fi connectivity/overhead projectors connected to a laptop or cellphone to access the relevant electronic examples of the content provided in this document.