AS Level & Full A Level Art
“The connections between personal fulfilment, wellbeing and creativity are well documented. Maslow (1943, 1968) suggests that creativity orĀ ācreativenessā is a facet of self-actualisation which itself sits at the topĀ of his well-known hierarchy of needs. Human beings, he argues, haveĀ certain basic needs such as food, water, shelter and sleep. But to beĀ truly fulfilled they need to realise their true potential, their full creativeĀ selves as adults as well as children.”Ā University of Durham. (2019) Durham Commission on Creativity and Education. Available at https://www.ism.org/images/images/Durham-Report.pdf
All students will normally study the full A Level over 2 years. However, it will be discussed with individual students whether it would be more appropriate for them to enter for the AS Level at the end of Year 12 and then progress onto the full A Level for awarding at the end of Year 13.
Exam Board : AQA
At A level all students follow a AQA Fine Art based course. Click here to see the AQA specification.
AS Level Fine Art
Component 1: Portfolio
No time limit
Portfolio: 96 marks
Weighting: 60% of total AS marks
The emphasis of this component will be on the development of understanding & skills using an appropriate range of fine art materials & processes. Students will explore the use of drawing using a variety of methods and media on a variety of scales. Students will use sketchbooks and explore relevant resources relating to a range of art, craft and design.
Areas of study
Students are required to work in one or more areas of fine art:
-Drawing & painting
-Mixed media
-Sculpture
-Ceramics
-Installation
-Printmaking
-Moving image & photography
Each student must include in their portfolio:
-A selection of work that demonstrates the breadth and depth of the fine art course
-One project based on an idea, concept, theme or issue demonstrating the studentās ability to sustain work from an initial starting point to a realisation. It should include evidence of their ability to research and develop ideas & link their work in a meaningful way to relevant critical/contextual materials.
Portfolios may also include:
-Sketchbooks or a series of related images mounted on sheets.
-Where appropriate test pieces, samples, storyboards, models etc
AS Level Art – Component 2: Externally set assignment
Preparation period + 10 hours supervised time
Externally set assignment: 96 marks
Weighting: 40% of total AS marks
Separate question papers will be provided for each title. These will consist of a choice of 5 questions to be used as starting points. Students are required to select one. Students will be given their exam papers on 1st February, or as soon as possible after that date. After receiving the paper, students should select one starting point. Prep work should be presented in any suitable format eg mounted sheets, sketchbooks etc.
Supervised time ā 10 hours
Following the prep period, students must complete 10 hours of unaided supervised time. The first 3 hours of supervised time must be consecutive.
In the 10 hours students must produce a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes informed by their prep work.
Students must stop work on their prep work as soon as the first period of supervised time starts. Students may refer to their prep work in the supervised time, but it must not be added to or amended.
Please note: The AS Award is only worth 50% of the UCAS points of the full A Level.
A Level Fine Art
Component 1: Personal Investigation
No time limit
Personal Investigation: 96 marks
Weighting: 60% of total A level marks
This is a practical investigation supported by written material.
Students are required to conduct a practical investigation supported by written material. The focus of the investigation must be identified independently by the student and lead to a finished outcome.
The investigation must show evidence of the studentās ability to research & develop ideas & relate their work to relevant critical/contextual materials.
The investigation must be informed by an aspect of contemporary or past practice of artists.
The written material must:
-be a response of between 1000 and 3000 words of continuous prose with specialist vocabulary
-include a bibliography
-show accurate use of spelling, punctuation & grammar
Students can present the written material as a single passage of continuous prose or as a series of shorter passages incorporated within the practical work.
A Level Art – Component 2: Externally set assignment
Preparation period + 15 hours supervised time
Externally set assignment: 96 marks
Weighting: 40% of total A level marks
Separate question papers will be provided for each title. These will consist of a choice of 8 questions to be used as starting points. Students are required to select one. Students will be given their exam papers on 1st February, or as soon as possible after that date. After receiving the paper, students should select one starting point. Prep work should be presented in any suitable format eg mounted sheets, sketchbooks etc.
Supervised time ā 15 hours
Following the prep period, students must complete 15 hours of unaided, supervised time.
The first 3 hours of supervised time must be consecutive.
In the 15 hours students must produce a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes informed by their prep work.Ā 
Students must stop work on their prep work as soon as the first period of supervised time starts.
Students may refer to their prep work in the supervised time, but it must not be added to or amended.
An A level Fine Art qualification could lead to a career in: art therapy, community arts work, fashion design, fine art, graphic design, printmaking, illustration etc.