Art and Design

Assessment

The A-Level course will consist of two components: Component 1 Personal Investigation (60% of A-Level) This is a practical investigation supported by written material. Students are required to conduct a practical investigation, into an idea, issue, concept or theme, supported by written material. The focus of the investigation must be identified independently by the student and must lead to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes. The investigation should be a coherent, in-depth study that demonstrates the student’s ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning from an initial starting point to a final realisation. The practical element should make connections with some aspect of contemporary or past practice of artist(s), designer(s), photographers, or craftspeople and include written work of no less than 1000 and no more than 3000 words which support the practical work. The investigation must show clear development from initial intentions to the outcome or outcomes. It must include evidence of the student’s ability to research and develop ideas and relate their work in meaningful ways to relevant critical/contextual materials. Component 2 Externally Set Assignment (40% of A-Level) Students respond to a stimulus, provided by AQA, to produce work which provides evidence of their ability to work independently within specified time constraints, developing a personal and meaningful response which addresses all the assessment objectives and leads to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes.