A Level Art, Craft and Design 

AQA Art & Design: Art, Craft & Design offers the students an opportunity to explore a variety of different specialisms, experimenting in a range of materials including drawing, painting, printing, textiles, relief, mixed media and sculpture.  

Course Content  

Component 1 – Personal Investigation  

60% of the total A-Level marks 96 marks (September of Year 12 – January of Year 13) 

 The emphasis of this component will be on a practical investigation, into an idea, issue, concept or theme, supported by written material. The investigation 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.  

Within Component 1 students will also be expected to write an essay. The essay must be a coherent and logically structured extended response of between 1000 and 3000 words of continuous prose. 

Component 2 - Externally set Assignment  

40% of the total A-Level marks 96 marks (February of Year 13 – May) 

Students select one of eight starting points set by the exam board. The externally set assignment period will last from 1st February until the deadline for receipt of marks. Candidates should produce preparatory work and a finished piece or pieces.    

This should demonstrate the student’s ability to produce sustained work from an initial starting point to a realisation and apply the skills acquired during the first part of the course.    

Students will sit an exam, which comprises of 15 hours of unaided, supervised time. Work produced for this unit, including that produced during the 15 hours, will be marked as a whole.  

How the work is assessed:   

The work is assessed internally according to 4 different assessment objectives and marked out of a total of 96 (24 being the maximum mark for each area): 

Assessment Objective 1 - Developing ideas 

Assessment Objective 2 - Exploring materials, techniques and process 

Assessment Objective 3 - Recording ideas  

Assessment Objective 4 - Presenting a personal response.   

All work is set and marked by the school and internally standardised. AQA moderators will then visit the centre.     

Course Requirements –  

Students must have a GCSE in Art, Textiles, Graphics, DT or an art related subject. Interested candidates must have achieved a minimum of a Level 6 at GCSE in their art or art related subject.    

Students will be expected to make visits to galleries relevant to the themes they are working on as well as staff organised trips.  

Please contact Miss Ranshi, Head of Art  on 01494 673043 or email: ranshi-r@beaconsfieldhigh.bucks.sch.uk,