What is the Externally Set Task in OCR Art and Design?

The Externally Set Task is Component 02, worth 80 marks and 40 percent. OCR releases a question paper of broad thematic starting points on or after 1 February of the final year; you choose one starting point, develop preparatory work over a centre-set period, then make a final outcome in 15 hours of supervised time. It is assessed against all four objectives, internally marked and externally moderated. The difference from the Personal Investigation is that the theme is externally set and the outcome is made under supervised conditions.

When is the Externally Set Task paper released and what does it contain?

The paper is released to centres on or after 1 February in the year of certification. It contains a number of broad thematic starting points (single words or short phrases, sometimes with suggestions), designed to be open to wide interpretation across all the endorsed titles. You choose one starting point and develop a personal response to it, so although the theme is set, how you interpret and develop it is entirely yours.

How long is the supervised period and what are its rules?

The final outcome is made in 15 hours of supervised time, which may be split into several sessions. The outcome must be produced unaided; your preparatory work may be brought in for reference but cannot be amended or further developed during or after the supervised sessions; no other new work may be brought in; and the outcome must connect to the preparatory work. In effect the preparatory work is fixed once the supervised period begins, so all development happens beforehand.

How should the preparatory work be developed?

Exactly like a compressed Personal Investigation, across all four objectives: investigate the chosen starting point through contextual sources (AO1), experiment with and refine media (AO2), record first-hand from primary sources (AO3), and plan toward a resolved response (AO4). The preparatory work should build a focused line of enquiry from the starting point and end with a clear, worked-out plan for the final piece, because the supervised time is for making, not deciding.

How do you plan a strong personal response?

Turn the preparatory work into a clear, resolvable plan: decide the composition, media and process, ensure the outcome realises the intentions the preparation built (answers the line of enquiry, drawing together AO1, AO2 and AO3), and make sure it connects to the preparation and is achievable in 15 hours. The plan should be ambitious enough to realise the intentions but scaled so it can be finished and presented within the supervised hours. The same AO4 principles apply: personal, meaningful, connected and well presented.

EnglandVisual Arts

OCR A-Level Art and Design the Externally Set Task: a complete overview

A complete overview of the OCR Externally Set Task (Component 02): the question paper released on or after 1 February, developing preparatory work across all four objectives, the 15 hours of supervised time and its rules, and planning a personal response, worth 80 marks and 40 percent.

Generated by Claude Opus 4.814 min readH600-ESTUpdated 2026-06-02

Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed

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What this module covers
The paper and preparatory work
The 15 hours of supervised time
Planning the personal response
Check your knowledge

What this module covers

The Externally Set Task is Component 02, worth 80 marks and 40 percent. It is like the Personal Investigation in being assessed against all four objectives, but the theme is set by OCR and the final outcome is made under supervised conditions. This module covers the question paper and preparatory work, the 15 hours of supervised time, and how to plan a strong personal response. This overview ties the three dot-point pages together.

The paper and preparatory work

OCR releases the question paper on or after 1 February, with several broad starting points; you choose one. You then develop preparatory work over a centre-set period, exactly like a compressed Personal Investigation, across all four objectives: investigating through contextual sources (AO1), experimenting with media (AO2), recording first-hand (AO3) and planning a response (AO4). The preparatory work should build a focused line of enquiry and end with a clear plan.

The 15 hours of supervised time

The final outcome is made in 15 hours of supervised time, which can be split into sessions. The outcome must be produced unaided; the preparatory work may be brought in for reference but cannot be amended during or after the supervised sessions; no other new work may be brought in; and the outcome must connect to the preparatory work. The preparatory work is fixed once the supervised period begins, so the time is for making, not deciding, and it must be paced to finish.

Planning the personal response

The personal response is planned in the preparatory period and made in the supervised time. A strong plan turns the preparatory work into a clear, resolvable design that realises the intentions the preparation built, connects to the preparation, and is achievable in 15 hours. It should be ambitious enough to realise the intentions but scaled so it can be finished and presented. The same AO4 principles apply: personal, meaningful, connected and well presented.

Check your knowledge

State the marks, weighting and release date of the Externally Set Task. (3 marks)
How is the preparatory work developed, and toward what? (2 marks)
How long is the supervised period, and how may it be arranged? (1 mark)
State two rules that apply during the supervised time. (2 marks)
What three things must a strong plan for the personal response do? (3 marks)
What does the whole component turn on? (1 mark)

Solutions

Q1: 80 marks, 40 percent of the A-Level; the paper is released on or after 1 February in the year of certification.
Q2: Like a compressed Personal Investigation across all four objectives (investigate through contextual sources, experiment with media, record first-hand, plan a response), building a focused line of enquiry toward a clear, worked-out plan for the final piece.
Q3: 15 hours of supervised time, which may be split into several sessions.
Q4: Any two of: the outcome must be produced unaided; the preparatory work cannot be amended or developed during or after the supervised sessions; no other new work may be brought in; the outcome must connect to the preparatory work.
Q5: Realise the intentions the preparation built (answer the line of enquiry, drawing together AO1, AO2 and AO3), connect visibly to the preparatory work, and be achievable in the 15 hours.
Q6: Entering the supervised time with a thorough preparatory portfolio and a clear, resolvable, achievable plan, so the supervised time is pure making.

Sources & how we know this

OCR A Level Art and Design (H600 to H606) specification — OCR (2016)
OCR Art and Design Externally Set Task (H600/02 to H606/02) — OCR (2020)