OCR A-Level Art and Design the Personal Investigation and related study: a complete overview

What this module covers

The Personal Investigation is Component 01, the larger component (120 marks, 60 percent), and the centrepiece of the course. It is a sustained, independent project that combines a practical portfolio with a related study of at least 1000 words. This module covers the component as a whole, the line of enquiry that is its spine, the related study, and how to resolve a final outcome. This overview ties the four dot-point pages together.

The Personal Investigation

The Personal Investigation is a student-led, sustained practical project on a theme you choose, with two linked elements: a practical portfolio and a related study of at least 1000 words. It is assessed against all four objectives, each worth 30 marks here. A strong investigation has a personal theme, a focused line of enquiry, even coverage of all four objectives, and a related study connected to the practice.

Building a line of enquiry

A line of enquiry is the visible thread connecting your theme to your outcome, the clearest evidence of AO1's "sustained and focused" investigation. Build one by narrowing a broad theme into a focused question, making each stage feed the next, and keeping the thread visible through dated, annotated work. Connection between stages is what turns activity into development.

The related study

The related study is the written element: at least 1000 words of continuous critical writing exploring the context of the practical work, with a bibliography. Build it around a focused question, support each point with analysis of specific named works (using claim-evidence-interpretation-link), and link it to your practice. It argues and analyses rather than describing or surveying.

Resolving the final outcome

The final outcome is the resolved personal response that culminates the project, the heart of AO4. Plan it from the development, so it realises intentions (answers the line of enquiry) and connects elements (the AO1 idea, AO2 process, AO3 observation). It must be personal, meaningful and well presented, and traceable back through the project, ideally converging with the related study.

Check your knowledge

1. State the marks, weighting and two linked elements of the Personal Investigation. (3 marks)
2. What three things define a strong line of enquiry? (3 marks)
3. State the requirements of the related study. (2 marks)
4. Why must the related study connect to the practical work? (2 marks)
5. Why must a final outcome be planned from the project's development? (2 marks)
6. What is the single thread that holds the whole component together? (1 mark)