GCSE Art and Design (Fine Art)

How is the course externally examined?

Component 1 – Portfolio (internally set coursework) = 60%

Component 2 – Externally Set Assignment (set by exam board) = 40%

All work is assessed against 4 Assessment Objectives (AO): AO1 – Develop ideas, A02 – Refine ideas, A03 – Record A04 – Personal response.

Component 1 Portfolio (60% of final grade marked out of 96)

• Cake Fest – The first weeks consist of a project design to readdress and further develop traditional art skills. Using cakes as a theme, students will practice, explore and experiment with a number of paintings, drawing, mixed media and sculptural techniques. Students will study the artists Wayne Theibaud and Ksenia Selianko as sources of inspiration.
• Organic Sculpture – using contemporary ceramicists and the natural world for inspiration, students will develop a range of drawing, designs, research pages, samples sculptures with clay and a final clay sculpture.
• Hybrids – students are given a range of contemporary artists which explore the theme of Hybrids. Drawings, paintings, mixed media and low relief materials can be used to develop a body of work culminating in a final outcome.

Component 2 Externally set assignment (40% of final grade marked out of 96)

• Students will receive the AQA exam paper from which they will select a starting point. They will develop a body of work which will culminate in a 10 hour exam. All preparation work must be handed in at the start of the exam and cannot be added to.

Students will receive their final grade at the end of the 2 year course in August.

The course is graded with GCSE grades 1 to 9.

How is the course internally assessed?

GCSE Art will be assessed each term using Assessment Objectives 1, 2, 3 and 4. All of the work for component 1 that has been completed up until the time of assessment, will be collected in and moderated by all 3 Art teachers. Component 1 is worth 60% for the final grade.

Students will submit all their work for Component 1 and 2 after the externally set assignment is completed for a final moderation by all 3 Art teachers. Both component 1 (60% of grade) and component 2 (40% of final grade) will be assessed and raw marks will be communicated with students.

The AQA exam board will then select a sample for external moderation.

Students will receive their final grade at the end of the 2-year course in August.

The course is graded with GCSE grades 1 to 9.