The AQA Art & Design: Light & Lens Based Media course promotes a wide range of skills and attributes and is suitable for anyone with a genuine interest in visual culture. The following page provides you with detailed information about all aspects of the course as it is taught at Ysgol John Bright.
Please click the link below to view the specification and grade boundary breakdown.
AQA SPECIFICATION
AS COURSE (Year 12)
What follows is a description of the structure of the AS course. The scheme of work we are currently using to
support students in compiling their Coursework Portfolio can be viewed below.
Unit 1:
Coursework Portfolio
This year, we have chosen to explore approaches to both Portraiture and The City in order to provide students
with stimulus material for their own investigations (see the documents section for further details).
Candidates may submit in their portfolio:
• A selection of thoughtfully presented work that demonstrates the breadth and depth
of the course of study.
• At least one extended collection of work, or project, based on an idea, concept, theme or issue which demonstrates the candidate’s ability to sustain work from an initial starting point to a realisation and includes evidence of their ability to research, develop ideas and link their work in a meaningful way to related critical/contextual
materials.
• Critical/contextual work which could include written materials, such as journals, reviews, reflections and evaluations, annotations and historical background material. Examples of video, film, photographs, CD Roms and Powerpoint presentations may also be submitted. Evidence may also be included from the Internet, from books and journals, as well as studies made during a residency, site or gallery/museum visit. When appropriate sources should be identified and acknowledged.
• Sketchbooks, workbooks and journals.
Alternatively, candidates may wish to present a series of related images on
mounted sheets.
• The portfolio may, when appropriate to candidates’ chosen area of study, include examples of three-dimensional work.
There is no restriction in the scale of work produced but candidates should carefully select, organise and present work to ensure that they provide evidence of meeting all four assessment objectives.
Unit 2: Externally Set Assignment
• The emphasis of this unit will be the development of ideas.
• Separate questions will be set for each AS option. These will consist of a choice of five questions to be used as
starting points. Candidates are required to select one.
• Candidates will be provided with examination papers on 1 February, or as soon as possible after that.
• Sketchbooks, workbooks and/or journals may be included; alternatively, work may be presented on mounted sheets or study sheets. When appropriate sources should be identified and acknowledged.
Supervised Time – 5 hours
• During the examination period, following a period of initial research candidates should undertake five hours of unaided, supervised time, the first two hours of which should be consecutive.
• The work produced during the five hours should be devoted to the development of ideas. It can take a variety of forms.
• Preparatory work may lead to a fully realised piece or pieces of two- or three-dimensions or to further work of a developmental nature. Candidates should be selective when deciding what to submit for this unit.
A2 COURSE ( Year 13)
We begin the Year 13 course in the summer term of Year 12 following the completion of the Externally Set
Assignment. We currently explore the theme of Surrealism to support students' initial investigations. However, we encourage all our students to develop individual responses and to extend their understanding of photographic practice using Surrealism as a starting point.
Unit 3: The Personal Investigation
• This a practical unit with written elements in which candidates are expected to develop a personal
investigation based on an idea, issue, concept or theme leading to a finished piece or pieces.
• The practical elements should be linked with some aspect of contemporary or past practice of artists, designers or craftspeople.
• Candidates should be selective when deciding what to submit for this unit.
Quality of Written Communication
As the quality of written communication is an important aspect of this unit candidates should
consider the following points:
• Written material of a critical, analytical nature can be included in a variety of forms, such as a personal study, a
journal, a log, reports on gallery visits or an evaluation and reflection on candidates’ work and that of others.
• Written material should be no less than 1000 and no more than 3000 words.
• Sources should be identified and a bibliography and list of visits should be included.
• Candidates should demonstrate that they are aware of the discipline of working within given word
counts.
Candidates must also:
• ensure that text is legible and spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate so that meaning is
clear
• select and use a form and style of writing appropriate to purpose and to complex subject matter
• organise information clearly and coherently, using specialist vocabulary when appropriate.
Unit 4: Externally Set Assignment
• Separate question papers will be set for each option. These will consist of a choice of eight questions to be
used as starting points. Candidates are required to select one.
• Candidates will be provided with examination papers on 1 February, or as soon as possible
after that.
• Preparatory work should be submitted in any appropriate form, such as mounted sheets, study-sheets, sketchbooks, workbooks, journals, models and maquettes. When appropriate, sources should be identified and acknowledged.
Supervised Time – 15 hours
Towards the end of the examination period candidates should complete 15 hours of unaided and supervised time, the first 3 hours of which should be consecutive. Candidates should produce a clearly defined selection of work that makes up a whole, leading to a finished piece or pieces.
• Candidates will be assessed on their ability to work independently within the specific time constraints, developing a
personal response, and addressing all four assessment objectives.
• Candidates should be selective when deciding what to submit for this unit.
Please click the link below to view the specification and grade boundary breakdown.
AQA SPECIFICATION
AS COURSE (Year 12)
What follows is a description of the structure of the AS course. The scheme of work we are currently using to
support students in compiling their Coursework Portfolio can be viewed below.
Unit 1:
Coursework Portfolio
This year, we have chosen to explore approaches to both Portraiture and The City in order to provide students
with stimulus material for their own investigations (see the documents section for further details).
Candidates may submit in their portfolio:
• A selection of thoughtfully presented work that demonstrates the breadth and depth
of the course of study.
• At least one extended collection of work, or project, based on an idea, concept, theme or issue which demonstrates the candidate’s ability to sustain work from an initial starting point to a realisation and includes evidence of their ability to research, develop ideas and link their work in a meaningful way to related critical/contextual
materials.
• Critical/contextual work which could include written materials, such as journals, reviews, reflections and evaluations, annotations and historical background material. Examples of video, film, photographs, CD Roms and Powerpoint presentations may also be submitted. Evidence may also be included from the Internet, from books and journals, as well as studies made during a residency, site or gallery/museum visit. When appropriate sources should be identified and acknowledged.
• Sketchbooks, workbooks and journals.
Alternatively, candidates may wish to present a series of related images on
mounted sheets.
• The portfolio may, when appropriate to candidates’ chosen area of study, include examples of three-dimensional work.
There is no restriction in the scale of work produced but candidates should carefully select, organise and present work to ensure that they provide evidence of meeting all four assessment objectives.
Unit 2: Externally Set Assignment
• The emphasis of this unit will be the development of ideas.
• Separate questions will be set for each AS option. These will consist of a choice of five questions to be used as
starting points. Candidates are required to select one.
• Candidates will be provided with examination papers on 1 February, or as soon as possible after that.
• Sketchbooks, workbooks and/or journals may be included; alternatively, work may be presented on mounted sheets or study sheets. When appropriate sources should be identified and acknowledged.
Supervised Time – 5 hours
• During the examination period, following a period of initial research candidates should undertake five hours of unaided, supervised time, the first two hours of which should be consecutive.
• The work produced during the five hours should be devoted to the development of ideas. It can take a variety of forms.
• Preparatory work may lead to a fully realised piece or pieces of two- or three-dimensions or to further work of a developmental nature. Candidates should be selective when deciding what to submit for this unit.
A2 COURSE ( Year 13)
We begin the Year 13 course in the summer term of Year 12 following the completion of the Externally Set
Assignment. We currently explore the theme of Surrealism to support students' initial investigations. However, we encourage all our students to develop individual responses and to extend their understanding of photographic practice using Surrealism as a starting point.
Unit 3: The Personal Investigation
• This a practical unit with written elements in which candidates are expected to develop a personal
investigation based on an idea, issue, concept or theme leading to a finished piece or pieces.
• The practical elements should be linked with some aspect of contemporary or past practice of artists, designers or craftspeople.
• Candidates should be selective when deciding what to submit for this unit.
Quality of Written Communication
As the quality of written communication is an important aspect of this unit candidates should
consider the following points:
• Written material of a critical, analytical nature can be included in a variety of forms, such as a personal study, a
journal, a log, reports on gallery visits or an evaluation and reflection on candidates’ work and that of others.
• Written material should be no less than 1000 and no more than 3000 words.
• Sources should be identified and a bibliography and list of visits should be included.
• Candidates should demonstrate that they are aware of the discipline of working within given word
counts.
Candidates must also:
• ensure that text is legible and spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate so that meaning is
clear
• select and use a form and style of writing appropriate to purpose and to complex subject matter
• organise information clearly and coherently, using specialist vocabulary when appropriate.
Unit 4: Externally Set Assignment
• Separate question papers will be set for each option. These will consist of a choice of eight questions to be
used as starting points. Candidates are required to select one.
• Candidates will be provided with examination papers on 1 February, or as soon as possible
after that.
• Preparatory work should be submitted in any appropriate form, such as mounted sheets, study-sheets, sketchbooks, workbooks, journals, models and maquettes. When appropriate, sources should be identified and acknowledged.
Supervised Time – 15 hours
Towards the end of the examination period candidates should complete 15 hours of unaided and supervised time, the first 3 hours of which should be consecutive. Candidates should produce a clearly defined selection of work that makes up a whole, leading to a finished piece or pieces.
• Candidates will be assessed on their ability to work independently within the specific time constraints, developing a
personal response, and addressing all four assessment objectives.
• Candidates should be selective when deciding what to submit for this unit.