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Northern IrelandContemporary Crafts

Assessment and the making process: how CCEA GCSE Contemporary Crafts is marked

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

What is Component 1 Making, and what goes into the portfolio and learning file?

Component 1 Making, Exploring materials, techniques and processes (overview): the controlled-assessment portfolio of practical work plus a learning file, covering health and safety, the creative industries and business and employability.
A CCEA GCSE Contemporary Crafts overview of Component 1 Making, the controlled-assessment component worth the larger share of the qualification. Covers the portfolio of practical work and the learning file, exploring materials, techniques and processes, health and safety, connections to the creative industries, and business and employability, all marked against the four assessment objectives.
13 min answer →

What is Working to a Brief, and how does the externally set assignment work?

Component 2 Working to a Brief (overview): the externally set stimulus paper with a choice of briefs, the preparatory making and a final original craft or design outcome, the externally set component of the qualification.
A CCEA GCSE Contemporary Crafts overview of Component 2, Working to a Brief. Covers the externally set stimulus paper with a choice of briefs, the preparatory period of researching, designing and refining, the final original craft or design outcome, and how the four assessment objectives are met under controlled conditions.
13 min answer →

How do you turn a starting point into a finished, well-made craft outcome?

The design and making process: researching, designing and developing ideas, experimenting and refining with materials, making and evaluating, evidenced through a portfolio and learning file.
A focused CCEA GCSE Contemporary Crafts guide to the design and making process. Covers how to move from a starting point through research, design development, experimenting and refining with materials, making and evaluating, and how to evidence each stage in a portfolio and learning file that meets all four assessment objectives.
14 min answer →

What are the four assessment objectives, and what does each one reward in a craft project?

The four assessment objectives (AO1 develop, AO2 refine and experiment with materials, AO3 record, AO4 realise a craft outcome), each carrying equal weight across both components.
A focused CCEA GCSE Contemporary Crafts guide to the four assessment objectives. Covers what AO1 develop, AO2 refine, AO3 record and AO4 realise each reward, why every component is marked against all four equally, and how to evidence each objective through a craft portfolio, learning file and final made piece.
13 min answer →