← Visual Arts syllabus

EnglandVisual Arts

The creative process

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do you develop ideas through investigations informed by sources (AO1)?

Developing ideas through sustained investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding, in line with Assessment Objective 1.
A focused guide to Assessment Objective 1 for AQA A-Level Art and Design: how to develop ideas through sustained investigation informed by contextual and other sources, with analytical and critical understanding.
10 min answer →

How do you explore and select ideas using media, processes and techniques (AO2)?

Exploring and selecting appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops, in line with Assessment Objective 2.
A focused guide to Assessment Objective 2 for AQA A-Level Art and Design: how to explore and select media, materials, techniques and processes, and review and refine ideas as your work develops.
10 min answer →

How are the two AQA components weighted, and how do the four assessment objectives turn a portfolio into a grade?

How the marks and components work: how AQA weights Component 1 the Personal Investigation (96 marks, 60 percent) and Component 2 the Externally Set Assignment (96 marks, 40 percent), and applies the four equally weighted assessment objectives across a holistic mark grid.
How AQA A-Level Art and Design is marked: the two components and their weightings (Personal Investigation 96 marks at 60 percent, Externally Set Assignment 96 marks at 40 percent), how the four objectives are equally weighted at 25 percent, and how internal marking and external moderation turn a portfolio into a grade.
12 min answer →

How do you realise a personal and meaningful response that connects elements (AO4)?

Presenting a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements, in line with Assessment Objective 4.
A focused guide to Assessment Objective 4 for AQA A-Level Art and Design: how to present a personal and meaningful response that realises your intentions and connects visual and other elements.
10 min answer →

How do you record ideas, observations and insights as your work develops (AO3)?

Recording ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses, in line with Assessment Objective 3.
A focused guide to Assessment Objective 3 for AQA A-Level Art and Design: how to record ideas, observations and insights relevant to your intentions as your work progresses, using drawing, annotation and other media.
10 min answer →