AS Art

This subject may be offered at more than one Southern Consortium school site. The teaching of this subject may be at any one of the sites listed below.

The information on this webpage is a guide only. Topics, units and course content may vary from those listed below.

AS Art @ SRS

The AS course is made up of 2 units:

a) coursework (carrying 60% of marks)

b) an external set assignment (carrying 40% of marks)

Both these 2 units are delivered through coursework over the year and will be allocated a proportionate amount of time to complete.

Students will be encouraged to produce creative responses, which express their personal thoughts, observations, feelings and ideas. These outcomes should reflect a sensitive and thoughtful handling of visual language.

The coursework is designed to enable students to explore a range of 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional approaches to support their studies, which can include a variety of print-making, ICT manipulated imagery, mixed media, painting and drawing, graphic design, textiles, ceramics and sculpture.

There is a mandatory requirement that candidates keep a work journal for each of the units. The journals should contain evidence of the personal development of the student’s ideas, including reference to the work of a variety of artists and cultures and show an understanding of meanings and context. It should also reflect the candidate’s ability to make skilled and sensitive judgements using imagery and notation.

For further advice, prospective candidates should speak to Mr. Grant (Studio 1) after school.

 

AS Art @ JRCS

Outline of the course

Art is a form of communication and expression: a visual language, which deals with the construction and interpretation of both personal and cultural meanings. Attainment in art is achieved through the creative development of process, production, reflection and evaluation, leading towards skills, knowledge and understanding. You will be working in at least two of the following areas: Fine Art, Graphic Design, 3D Design, Textiles, Photography and Critical/Contextual Studies.

Skills you will develop include:

You will learn to:

  • record observations, experiences, ideas, information and insights in visual and other forms, appropriate to intentions;
  • analyse and evaluate critically sources such as images, objects, artefacts and texts, showing understanding of purposes, meanings and contexts;
  • develop ideas through sustained investigations and exploration, selecting and using relevant materials, processes and resources, identifying and interpreting relationships and analysing methods and outcomes;
  • present a personal, coherent and informed response, realising intentions, articulating and explaining connections with the work of others.  

Assessment

Candidates must take an initial research project with mixed areas of study.  Candidates then complete another two units from specialist areas for AS level and then another three units for Advanced level. Both AS and Advanced level have controlled assignments.

 

AS level

Name

Details

Unit 1

Research project

15%

 

Two projects, no size

restrictions; at least one

planning sheet per piece or a

sketchbook.

 

Unit 2

Personal Investigation

15%

 

One piece of analytical

research on artists’ ideas,

techniques and processes.

 

Unit 3

Controlled Assignment

20%

 

Question paper, 5 hours

duration. One piece of

research for an outcome plus

no more than 2 sides A1 or

equivalent planning sheets or

a sketchbook

 

 

 

A2 level

Name

Details

Unit 4

Specialist project

15%

 

One project from chosen

endorsed Area of Study, plus

at least two planning sheets,

A1 size or equivalent or a

sketchbook.

 

Unit 5

Personal Study

15%

 

One piece which is an in-depth

critical study containing written

and/or visual research,

presented in any appropriate

format.

 

Unit 6

Controlled Test

20%

 

Externally set question paper

15 hours’ duration; one final

piece plus between 2 and 4

planning sheets, A1

equivalent, or a sketchbook

 

Careers and further study

The specifications are constructed in such a way as to clarify and encourage progression routes for candidates. These routes are organised though six different Areas of Study which mirror Further and Higher Education institution courses and employment patterns.

 

AS Art @ EB

Art is suitable for students with an interest in furthering their studies in Art and is taken by many students alongside AS Photography.

Advanced Art GCE is suitable for student with an interest in furthering their studies in any art media. In the unendorsed course the flexible nature of the specification structure allow students to build up diversity of experience through materials and processes.

Students may choose to go on to the second year to complete the full ‘A’ level or opt for the one-year A/S qualification.

This AS course consists of three different units.

Unit 1: Research Projects: Two projects, no size restrictions on the final piece and at least one planning sheet per piece or a sketchbook.

Unit 2: Personal investigation: One piece of analytical research on artists’ ideas, techniques and processes. This will be in the form of a dedicated sketchbook or folder of annotated sheets or illustrated essay.

Unit 3: Question paper, 5 hours duration. Students will need to produce one piece of research for an outcome plus no more than 2 sides A1 or equivalent planning sheets or a sketchbook.

To complete the ‘A’ Level course students must pass the AS level and then submit work for similar modules in the second year –A2 (OCR Advanced GCE in Art: Unendorsed).

Students will be expected to contribute to an exhibition at the end of each year.

The Art A/S and ‘A’ Level qualifications are recognised by nearly all Universities and Colleges as an entry qualification for specialist Art courses at Degree Level or general degrees in a variety of subjects. However, many of the over-subscribed degree courses require a year’s Art Foundation course to be completed first.

 

AS Art @ DP

(6 lessons each week) 

The course is a single A Level. It is suitable for students who are following the traditional 3 A Level route to university, Art School, or employment.

Year 12 (AS)

Unit 1. Course Work. Weighted 30%

Unit 2. Examination. Externally Set Assignment. Weighted 20%

Unit 1

Students complete one unit of course work where they demonstrate their skill, knowledge and understanding of the concepts and projects covered in a creative individual way. The work produced will show how they have explored ideas, experimented with different media and developed their work to a meaningful conclusion. Life drawing is a compulsory part of the course and all students will be expected to attend the life class. At the end of the course students will present their work as an exhibition for the final assessment.

Unit 2

The 8 hour examination is in response to a set theme set by the examination board. Students have 4 weeks to prepare for the examination and all preparatory studies can be taken into the examination. They are then submitted alongside the final piece as evidence that the assessment objectives have been extensively covered in depth and detail.

            

Year 13 (A2)

Unit 3

Course work. Practical Work , Personal Study. Weighted 30% Unit 4. Examination. Externally Set Assignment. Weighted 20% Unit 3 Coursework follows the same route as unit 1, but with greater maturity and depth. There is a written component which takes the form of a personal study into an aspect of art or an artist that is related to the work the student is exploring. This takes the form of a 1000 word illustrated work that is presented in a 2D or 3D visual display.

Unit 4

The 12 hour examination is in response to a set theme set by the examination board. Students have 4 weeks to prepare for the examination and al preparatory studies can be taken into the examination. They are then submitted alongside the final piece as evidence that the assessment objectives have been extensively covered in depth and detail