The GCSE Art ‘Exam’ is very different to other subjects. The final two-day (10-hour) exam is the conclusion of 10 weeks of preparation work, developing from and responding to a chosen title. The aim of this preparation is to show the student’s development of ideas, research and understanding of artists and concepts, experimentation with media, techniques and processes, and their ability to make a personal and informed response that effectively and creatively conveys their ideas.
Advice:
You should discuss your ideas with your teacher before deciding on your starting point.
You should make sure that any materials or equipment which you might need are available before you start your exam. You should take all your preparatory work into the examination sessions.
You should look at examples of the work of other artists, craftspeople and/or designers as part of your research.
You may work on further supporting studies until you have completed your final piece(s). You may use any appropriate medium, method(s) and materials, unless the question states otherwise.
Art Exam Prep = Homework & Classwork:
Your prep work should take the viewer on your creative journey from initial ideas to finished piece(s) via experimentation, drawing, research and analysis.
We would expect at least five full (carefully presented) A1 design boards, or 10 A2 boards or a full A3 sketchbook by the time you reach the exam (Yes, a lot of work!).
Come to every lesson prepared with everything you need in order to work effectively during class time (images printed out etc.).
Weeks One/two
(PLAN YOUR TIME –don’t waste time and space on a huge, beautiful title – hardly any marks)
Weeks Three & four
Weeks five to nine
2017 GCSE ART & DESIGN EXTERTERNALLY SET UNIT
Extra art classes available Thursdays from 3.15 – 4.30
Coursework and Exam work are marked according to the same assessment objectives:
Coursework = 60% of total marks
Your coursework units are Landscape and the Environment (including Y10 mock exam and close to home project), Natural Forms (mini shells project), and Messages (Y11 mock exam/ coursework). Response to all assessment objectives required in coursework as a whole.
Controlled Test (exam project) = 40% of total marks
Your exam paper will contain seven titles. You will choose one of these.
Preparatory period: nine weeks (not including Easter holidays)
Exam papers given 2 February. Your Exam board is AQA.
Exam dates w/c 2 May 2017 - two days (10 hours) to produce final outcome.
Your work must fulfil all four of the assessment objectives above.
During your preparatory period you will research, investigate and develop your ideas. Your work during this period could be in sketchbooks, journals, design sheets, or any other appropriate form of preparation (e.g. 3D work, video work etc). We recommend working on A1 or A2 design boards, as they display well and allow you to present your work in a way that shows connection between your ideas. These will, however, have to be at your own expense (Black A1 mount board £1.20 from art dpt.). It may be best for you to work in a sketchbook and assemble on the mount board at a later stage. A3 or A2 sketchbooks are a good portable alternative (best to work on one side of page only).
The work submitted for this examination must be your own unaided work.
You must hand in your final piece(s) and all the preparatory work at the end of the examination.
All your work, including the work done during the preparatory period, will be marked out of 80.
The PowerPoint containing possible artists and approaches relating to each title on the question paper is available for you to download on the Shared area.