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OCR A-Level Art and Design (H600 to H606): complete guide to the components, objectives and skills

A complete guide to OCR A-Level Art and Design (specifications H600 to H606). Covers the seven titles, the four assessment objectives, the two components (Personal Investigation with its related study, 60 percent, and the Externally Set Task, 40 percent), the formal elements, drawing and media skills, contextual and critical studies, and how to study for top grades.

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OCR A-Level Art and Design (specifications H600 to H606) is a practical course assessed entirely by coursework, with no written exam. All your work is judged against four assessment objectives, and the course runs across two components. This page is the index: below is a map of the titles, the objectives, the components, and how to study each area.

The seven titles

Art and Design is offered as seven titles that share the same four assessment objectives but focus on different specialist practices.

  • Art, craft and design (H600) the broad title, combining two-dimensional and three-dimensional practices from more than one discipline.
  • Fine art (H601) drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, installation and lens-based or light-based media.
  • Graphic communication (H602) visual communication, illustration, typography and design for print and screen.
  • Photography (H603) lens-based and light-based media, film, animation and digital imaging.
  • Textile design (H604) fabric, fibre, surface decoration and constructed or printed textiles.
  • Three-dimensional design (H605) form in real space, including ceramics, sculpture, product and architectural design.
  • Critical and contextual studies (H606) the study of art, craft and design through analysis and contextual research, with a practical element.

On ExamExplained we treat the subject under the visual-arts slug and teach the transferable skills and knowledge that apply across every title.

The four assessment objectives

Everything you make is marked against four equally weighted objectives (25 percent each).

  • AO1 Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
  • AO2 Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
  • AO3 Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
  • AO4 Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.

The two components

There is no sit-down exam. Assessment is two coursework components, both internally marked and externally moderated.

  • Component 01 Personal Investigation (60 percent, 120 marks). A sustained, independent practical portfolio on a theme you choose, accompanied by a related study of at least 1000 words of continuous writing exploring the context of the practical work.
  • Component 02 Externally Set Task (40 percent, 80 marks). A response to an OCR-set paper released on or after 1 February, with preparatory work and a final outcome made in 15 hours of supervised time.

How to study Art and Design

Art and Design rewards purposeful investigation, continuous recording and sustained development.

  1. Work against the four objectives at every stage; they are the marking scheme.
  2. Build core skills, especially drawing and the formal elements (line, tone, colour, shape, form, texture, pattern and composition).
  3. Study contextual sources analytically, linking every artist and movement to a next step in your own work.
  4. Record first-hand and continuously, not in a block at the start.
  5. Keep the journey visible in a well-annotated sketchbook a moderator can follow from theme to outcome.

The eight study areas

This subject is organised into eight modules, each with dot-point pages, an overview guide and a quiz.

The four assessment objectives explains AO1 to AO4, how they are weighted, and how the mark bands work. Read the overview or take the quiz.

The formal elements and visual language covers line and mark-making, tone, colour, and composition as the building blocks of meaning. Read the overview or take the quiz.

Drawing and recording skills covers observational drawing, tone and form, perspective and proportion, and recording from primary sources. Read the overview or take the quiz.

Working across media and disciplines covers painting and colour media, printmaking, three-dimensional work, and photography and digital media. Read the overview or take the quiz.

Contextual and critical studies covers analysing an artwork, art movements and periods, named artists, gathering contextual sources, and writing critically. Read the overview or take the quiz.

The personal investigation and related study covers the component overview, building a line of enquiry, the related study, and resolving the final outcome. Read the overview or take the quiz.

The externally set assignment covers the set paper and preparatory work, the 15-hour supervised period, and planning the response. Read the overview or take the quiz.

Developing a personal style covers finding a personal voice, sustaining experimentation, and presenting and curating a portfolio. Read the overview or take the quiz.

For the official specification

OCR publishes the full Art and Design specification (H600 to H606), assessment guidance and Externally Set Task materials at ocr.org.uk. Always work from the current specification and the OCR-set task, because the titles, codes and assessment format are board-specific and reviewed periodically.

Visual Arts guides

In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.

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Visual Arts practice quizzes

Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.

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Common questions about Visual Arts

How is OCR A-Level Art and Design (H600 to H606) structured?
OCR A-Level Art and Design is a practical course assessed entirely by coursework, with no written exam. It is offered as seven titles that share the same four assessment objectives: Art, craft and design (H600), Fine art (H601), Graphic communication (H602), Photography (H603), Textile design (H604), Three-dimensional design (H605) and Critical and contextual studies (H606). There are two components. Component 01, the Personal Investigation, is 120 marks (60 percent) and includes a practical portfolio plus a related study of at least 1000 words. Component 02, the Externally Set Task, is 80 marks (40 percent). Both are internally marked and externally moderated by OCR.
What are the four assessment objectives in OCR Art and Design?
There are four equally weighted objectives, each worth 25 percent. AO1 is develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding. AO2 is explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops. AO3 is record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress. AO4 is present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements. Every submission is judged against all four.
What are the two components and how are they weighted?
Component 01 is the Personal Investigation, worth 60 percent and 120 marks. It is a sustained, independent practical portfolio on a theme of your own choosing, accompanied by a related study of at least 1000 words of continuous writing that explores the context of the practical work. Component 02 is the Externally Set Task, worth 40 percent and 80 marks. OCR releases a question paper of broad starting points on or after 1 February of the final year, you develop preparatory work, and you then produce your personal response in 15 hours of supervised time. Both components are marked against all four objectives.
Is there a written exam in OCR A-Level Art and Design?
No. There is no sit-down written exam of the kind found in other subjects. The assessment is entirely practical: the Personal Investigation portfolio and related study, plus the preparatory work and final outcome of the Externally Set Task. Your evidence is the work you make and how you present your development across the four objectives. The only timed element is the 15 hours of supervised time for the Externally Set Task, and that is for making your planned personal response, not for sitting a paper. The related study is the one piece of extended writing, at least 1000 words, and it is part of the coursework rather than an exam.
How should I revise OCR A-Level Art and Design?
Work against the four assessment objectives at every stage, because all your work is judged by them. Build core skills in drawing and the formal elements, study artists and movements analytically rather than decoratively, record from first-hand observation continuously, and experiment widely with media before refining an outcome. Keep a well-organised sketchbook and journal so a moderator can follow your line of enquiry. Plan the Personal Investigation as a sustained, independent project, write the related study as genuine critical analysis tied to your practice, and use the Externally Set Task preparatory period fully so the 15 hours is for making, not deciding.
How does OCR Art and Design compare to other exam boards?
All A-Level Art and Design specifications (OCR, AQA, Edexcel, Eduqas) share the same regulated four assessment objectives and a similar two-component, portfolio plus set-task structure, so the core demands are broadly the same everywhere. OCR's distinctive features are its seven titles and codes (H600 to H606, including a separate Critical and contextual studies title H606), its component names (Personal Investigation and Externally Set Task), the requirement for a related study of at least 1000 words, the 1 February release of the set task, and the 15 hours of supervised time. Always work from the current OCR specification, because titles and details are board-specific.