WJEC A-Level Art and Design: complete guide to the three units, the four objectives and the endorsed titles

WJEC A-Level Art and Design (Wales) is a practical, portfolio-only qualification with no written exam, assessed by three non-exam units against four equally weighted objectives. This page is the index: below is a map of the three units, the four objectives, the endorsed titles, and the skills the course assesses, with how to study each.

The three WJEC Art and Design units

The specification organises the course into three units: one AS unit and two A2 units. All are non-exam assessment.

AS Unit 1 Personal Creative Enquiry (40 percent)

A broad, exploratory project on a personally meaningful theme that integrates critical, practical and theoretical work. The largest single contributor to the A level, building a wide foundation before A2.

A2 Unit 2 Personal Investigation (36 percent, 160 marks)

A sustained, candidate-led project on a self-chosen theme, including an extended written element of between 1000 and 3000 words of continuous critical prose. The unit where specialism deepens.

A2 Unit 3 Externally Set Assignment (24 percent, 100 marks)

A response to a WJEC-set starting point, worked through a preparatory period and a final outcome made in 15 hours of sustained focus under supervised conditions.

The four assessment objectives

Every unit is marked against the same four equally weighted objectives. A calculator is not relevant here; the marks come from portfolio work.

• AO1 develop - develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, with analytical and critical understanding.
• AO2 explore and refine - experiment with and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining as work develops.
• AO3 record - record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, in visual and other forms, as work progresses.
• AO4 present - present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.

Each objective carries a quarter of the marks in every unit (40 each in the 160-mark Personal Investigation; 25 each in the 100-mark Externally Set Assignment), marked by band, internally assessed and externally moderated.

The endorsed titles

The qualification is offered under endorsed titles that share the same assessment.

• Specialist titles - Fine Art, Graphic Communication, Textile Design, Three-Dimensional Design and Photography, each expecting depth in its field.
• Art, Craft and Design - the broad title, expecting work across more than one discipline.

WJEC also requires evidence of working with processes and media from more than one title; the final resolution may be drawn from a single title or a combination of disciplines.

The skills the course assesses

Behind the practical work sit three underpinning skills.

• Recording and observation (the heart of AO3) - capturing ideas and observations first-hand, relevant to intentions, with reflection.
• Analysing sources and artists (the heart of AO1) - examining how and why artworks are made and connecting that critical, contextual understanding to your own work.
• The extended written element of Unit 2 - 1000 to 3000 words of continuous critical prose exploring the contextual sources behind the practical work, integrated with it.

How to study WJEC Art and Design

Art and Design rewards genuine enquiry, even coverage of the objectives, and thorough preparation.

1. Treat the four objectives as your checklist. In every unit, point to the investigation (AO1), experimentation (AO2), recording (AO3) and resolved outcome (AO4).
2. Cover all four evenly. Equal weighting means a thin objective costs a full quarter of the marks; audit your weakest and strengthen it.
3. Record first-hand and reflect. Primary observation with annotation feeds the whole project.
4. Analyse, do not describe. Examine how and why sources work and connect each to a decision in your own work.
5. Prepare the Externally Set Assignment thoroughly. Resolve the plan before the 15 supervised hours, which are for making, not deciding.

The four modules, topic by topic

Each module has a topic-level overview with worked exam-style questions and cross-links, plus dot-point pages for each part of the specification.

• The three units overview: the Personal Creative Enquiry, Personal Investigation and Externally Set Assignment.
• The four assessment objectives overview: AO1 to AO4 and how the marks and bands work.
• Endorsements and titles overview: the endorsed titles and the more-than-one-discipline requirement.
• Recording, analysis and contextual understanding overview: the recording, analytical and written skills.

For the official specification

WJEC publishes the full specification, sample assessment materials and examiners' reports at wjec.co.uk. Always work from the current specification, because requirements and starting points are board-specific.