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EnglandVisual Arts

The personal investigation and related study

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do you build and sustain a focused line of enquiry from a starting theme to a resolved outcome?

Building a line of enquiry: narrowing a theme into a focused question, making each stage of work feed the next, and keeping the development visible so a moderator can follow the journey from theme to outcome.
How to build and sustain a focused line of enquiry in OCR A-Level Art and Design: narrowing a theme into a question, making each stage feed the next, and keeping the development visible from theme to outcome, the spine of the Personal Investigation.
13 min answer →

How do you resolve a final outcome that realises your intentions and draws the whole project together?

Resolving the final outcome: planning a personal response from the project's development, realising intentions, drawing the threads of the enquiry together, and presenting the outcome so it does the work justice for AO4.
How to resolve a final outcome in OCR A-Level Art and Design: planning a personal response from the project's development, realising intentions, drawing the threads of the enquiry together, and presenting it well, for AO4.
13 min answer →

What is the Personal Investigation, how is it structured, and what does a strong one look like?

The Personal Investigation (Component 01): a sustained, independent practical portfolio on a self-chosen theme plus a related study of at least 1000 words, worth 120 marks and 60 percent, assessed against all four objectives.
What the OCR Personal Investigation (Component 01) requires: a sustained, independent practical portfolio on a self-chosen theme plus a related study of at least 1000 words, worth 120 marks and 60 percent, assessed against all four objectives.
13 min answer →

What is the related study, how do you structure at least 1000 words, and how do you link it to your practical work?

The related study: the written element of the Personal Investigation, at least 1000 words of continuous critical writing exploring the context of the practical work, with a structured argument, visual evidence and a bibliography.
How to write the OCR related study: the written element of the Personal Investigation, at least 1000 words of continuous critical writing exploring the context of the practical work, with a structured argument, visual evidence, links to your practice, and a bibliography.
14 min answer →