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Externally set assessment - EduqasThe preparation period

There is no written exam for GCSE Art & Design – instead there is a portfolio and an externally set assignment. Learn what this assignment involves, how to prepare for it and how it is marked.

Part of Art and DesignPortfolio and External Assessment

The preparation period

There is no set guidance on the preparation period, so your teacher can tell you how your school does it. This will begin no earlier than January. Most schools will start as soon as possible to give you more time to prepare.

How long does the preparation period last?

This depends on your school but it usually runs from January to April. This is enough time for you to create all of the required work so you’re ready for the ten hours of supervised time.

What’s required in the preparation period?

°Őłó±đ°ù±đ’s no limit on the scale of work, the format (2D or 3D), the media or the materials. The preparation work can be presented in any format you feel is suitable. Many students work in a standard paper-based sketchbook - however, digital sketchbooks, mounted sheets, journals or design sheets in either digital or non-digital format are also fine to use.

There are a broad set of ‘things’ which you might expect to see in an externally set assignment project so that all the assessment objectives are met - this is a requirement of the preparation task. Evidence of drawing and written annotation is also a requirement.

Example task Description
Title page/design brief/starting point Provides the context and would include the title and description of the chosen starting point.
Mind map Thoughts, ideas or names of artists and art movements relating to the theme/topic.
Mood board Images of artwork and other relevant imagery linked to the content of the mind map.
Influence/research pages Reference the work of others. It could be other media forms (eg film, dance, architecture, advertising). Try to include at least three influences. Here's a suggested format to follow:
  • A title.
  • Relevant information about the influence.
  • Relevant images. Record the source of images used.
  • Your opinion on the chosen work and how you will be inspired by it.
  • Analysis - write in detail about a piece of work. Think about the subject, message, arrangement, medium, techniques.
Transcriptions Try to copy a work by the artist. Or do a transcription - take the style of the artist and produce a piece of work using your own photos.
Initial design ideas Initial ideas are early sketches which bring together aspects of the inspiration. They are annotated to explain your intentions and how/where you have found inspiration.
Refined design ideas Modify your ideas by taking one idea and improving it or taking parts of different ideas and combining them. The quality should be better than the initial ideas, to show progress.
Observational photography Take photographs to study the different aspects of the refined design idea.
Observational/relevant studies Practise studying everything required for your ten-hour assessment. These studies are done from the observational photography and other images collected.
Development trials (including colour and composition) Practise different media, processes and techniques, and think carefully about the colour scheme and composition.
Final design plan/statement of intent Decide on what your final piece and make your final design plan. This will often be a small-scale mock-up of your final piece with annotations.
Example task Title page/design brief/starting point
Description Provides the context and would include the title and description of the chosen starting point.
Example task Mind map
DescriptionThoughts, ideas or names of artists and art movements relating to the theme/topic.
Example task Mood board
DescriptionImages of artwork and other relevant imagery linked to the content of the mind map.
Example task Influence/research pages
Description Reference the work of others. It could be other media forms (eg film, dance, architecture, advertising). Try to include at least three influences. Here's a suggested format to follow:
  • A title.
  • Relevant information about the influence.
  • Relevant images. Record the source of images used.
  • Your opinion on the chosen work and how you will be inspired by it.
  • Analysis - write in detail about a piece of work. Think about the subject, message, arrangement, medium, techniques.
Example task Transcriptions
Description Try to copy a work by the artist. Or do a transcription - take the style of the artist and produce a piece of work using your own photos.
Example task Initial design ideas
Description Initial ideas are early sketches which bring together aspects of the inspiration. They are annotated to explain your intentions and how/where you have found inspiration.
Example task Refined design ideas
DescriptionModify your ideas by taking one idea and improving it or taking parts of different ideas and combining them. The quality should be better than the initial ideas, to show progress.
Example task Observational photography
Description Take photographs to study the different aspects of the refined design idea.
Example task Observational/relevant studies
DescriptionPractise studying everything required for your ten-hour assessment. These studies are done from the observational photography and other images collected.
Example task Development trials (including colour and composition)
Description Practise different media, processes and techniques, and think carefully about the colour scheme and composition.
Example task Final design plan/statement of intent
Description Decide on what your final piece and make your final design plan. This will often be a small-scale mock-up of your final piece with annotations.
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The ten-hour supervised time
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GCSE Art and Design Assessment

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