Art

What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course?

The best foundation for success in AS and A-level Art is a good grade at GCSE.  However, this isn’t a requirement.  If you have an aptitude for the subject, if you are creative or ‘good at drawing’ you may have the basic skills to succeed.

You should have an understanding of the basic elements of art – colour, tone, form etc, and also some understanding of the place of art, craft and design in the world – its history and its purpose.  Above all, you should have an interest in creating and understanding art and the determination to develop that interest.

What will I learn on this AS and A-level course?

The main purpose of any course in art, craft and design is to develop your ability to appreciate the visual world, respond in a personal and creative way and perhaps even contribute for the benefit of everyone.

The skills you will develop will be varied.  Among them, you will develop a working knowledge of materials, practices and technology within art.  You will develop the skills to interpret and convey your ideas and feelings using art, craft and design.  You will develop your imaginative and creative powers and your experimental, analytical and documenting skills.  You will also develop a specialist vocabulary and the knowledge and understanding of the place of art, craft and design in history and in contemporary society.

AS-level

Unit 1 – Thematic Enquiry

30% of the AS or 15% of the A-level

You will be required to work from a given starting theme towards one or more well-considered conclusions. 

Unit 2 – Expressive Study

30% of the AS or 15% of the A-level

You will explore the expressive force of art and design.  You will learn how to use appropriate language and practices to express your own ideas.  You should use a work journal to develop your understanding of the formal elements of art.

Unit 3 – Externally Set Assignment

40% of the AS or 15% of the A-level

A question paper will be given to you at the beginning of the spring term in the first year of the course, which will provide you with a choice of questions.   This will be taken at the end of the AS course and represents the culmination of your work so far.

A2-level

Unit 4 – Contextual Study

15% of the A-level

The Contextual Study requires you to link your own practical work with a broader study of the world of art, craft and design.  It can take a variety of forms.  It could, for example, be a written and illustrated thesis of up to 2,000-3,000 words.  It may take the form of a substantial display, a tape or slide presentation, a video, a combination of these or any other equivalent form agreed by your teacher.  An important skill to develop in communication is the control of the design and presentation of your Study.

Unit 5 – Creative Problem-Solving

15% of the A-level   

You will be required to identify a ‘problem’, in art or in society.  You must then present your thoughts and your suggested solutions to this problem.  This will include both visual and written or spoken evaluations to chart your progress towards the solution. 

Unit 6 – Independent Study

20% of the A-level

The Externally Set Assignment will represent the culmination of the Advanced GCE in Art and Design.

You will be given a six week preparatory period for the controlled test and will be required to submit for assessment unaided work produced under examination conditions in a period of twelve hours. This assignment will provide you with an opportunity to show the extent to which you can use the language of the subject, the formal elements, the processes and the practices, to communicate your own ideas, thoughts and feelings.

Where might this subject take me?

There are many careers in art, craft and design.  Most of these require further study at an art school, further education college or university.  If you are unsure about whether to make a career of the subject, the best thing to do is to speak to your art teacher who will know about the courses on offer in your area or elsewhere.

At present most students wishing to take art, craft or design further will go on to do a one year ‘Foundation’ course at an art college or college of further education before applying to degree courses in more specialist areas of art and design.

You may wish to do an art AS or A-level for its own sake, perhaps to form the basis of a future interest or as part of a range of other subjects.  Or you might wish to go into a job where it is useful to have had experience of art, craft and design, or where you will need to use some of the skills developed during this course.  These might include careers in such fields as advertising, marketing, design, architecture, publishing and the media.  The study of Art can also help you develop transferable skills you can take into any career or job.