Art and Design (Fine Art)

Assessment

Component One: Personal Investigation (60% of the total A Level mark) This is a practical portfolio of work with supporting contextual research where clear links are made, in which students develop a personal response based on a theme agreed upon with their teacher. The best themes are those where the student can relate to the idea personally, be that through experience or a desire to discover anew. This will develop into a sustained project, or journey of discovery, which is recorded as it develops, in sketchbooks, experiments, testing and explorations and ensures that each of the four assessment objectives are met. This will lead them to create a finished outcome that realises their intentions. Concurrently the students will develop a supporting written element to this component which is used to clarify and extend ideas and influences. Component Two: Externally Set Task (40% of the total A Level mark) The paper, set by the examination board, will give students a choice of seven themes, starting points, briefs or stimuli. The students choose one option, for which they will generate an appropriate personal response for assessment. Much like Component One, the structure is the same, albeit a shorter project. Students will be given a preparatory period during which they will research, plan and develop ideas for their own response to the option they have chosen. They will then have fifteen hours (split over 3 days) in which to independently complete their work, usually in the form of a significant final piece.