A-LEVEL PHOTOGRAPHY

Coursework - Weighting 60%
Exam - Weighting 40%

Coursework: Personal Investigation in three elements:

  • Supporting studies - generating ideas for practical work and personal study (presented in A2 flip file)
  • Practical work - development work and outcomes (presented in flip file, mount board and final pieces)
  • Personal study - minimum 1000 words submitted in an A3 folder with illustrations.

The Personal Study is designed to develop your contextual understanding of art, artists, graphic designers and cultures, so your essay will have historical and contemporary references. Although you will design and personalise it, you will negotiate the essay title and the development of themes with your teachers.

Exam: Externally set - two components:

  • Preparation - 10 weeks, running from end of January 2020 to May 2020.
  • Sustained focus - 15 hrs controlled test in May 2020

You will present work outcomes in an A2 size folder and you will be expected to produce 14-16 or more sides of work by responding to starting points and themes taken from the exam paper delivered by EDEXCEL exam board.

WHERE DO I GO TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION?

Visit the EDEXCEL website – Art and Design new GCE A-Level specs first teaching from 2015 first assessment
from 2017.
See Art subjects – go to the Photography pages - www.edexcel.com/subjects
Faculty Leader: Mr D Radford (d.radford@finhampark.co.uk).

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO THIS COURSE?

GCSE 5 grades 9-4, but no formal art qualifications unless taken at GCSE in which case a grade 5 minimum is required along with a keen interest in photography and creativity.

Important - If you wish to study two art options at A’ Level, (Photography can be taken with either A’ Level Fine Art or A’ Level Graphic communication). Three art A’ levels are no longer an option.

WHAT SKILLS WILL I DEVELOP?

You will develop your skills of critical analysis and interpretation of your own, and the work of others. You will develop confidence in talking about core concepts and elements of the visual arts.

You will develop skills of research, investigation, and writing annotations about art and artists.
You will engage with new media and will develop skills in photography that will prepare them for undergraduate study.

IS THERE ANY COURSEWORK OR CONTROLLED ASSESSMENTS?

The A-Level CWK weighting is 60% of the course.
(All assessments are internal and are set on key progress check points through the year)
The only major controlled assessment is the sustained focus exam sequence as explained above.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT?

You will engage in a global environment creating photographic responses and bodies of work which are personal and original. You will be guided through the course, but you will have a great sense of independence when you shape and develop your visual portfolio. You will be able to express your own ideas, and/or emotions, in many forms using many combinations of process and technique and have many opportunities to work with contemporary practitioners.

HOW MANY EXAMS DO I HAVE TO TAKE AND WHEN DO I TAKE THEM?

1 A-Level exam – The A’ Level exam component weighting totals 40% of the marks for the course.

Theexam prep period will run from January 2020 to May 2020. Students will then sit a 15 hour sustained focus controlled test early in May 2020.

WHAT MIGHT STUDYING THIS COURSE LEAD TO?

There are over 100 career routes in the field of the visual arts. This is a fast growing industry and British art students and designers are world leaders. More than 50% of our total number of A-Level students want to progress to further or higher education in the visual arts and 100% of this number are successful in accessing Foundation and degree courses throughout Britain. Many of our past students are studying fashion marketing, art and design, fine art, Fashion Photography, Photography, Forensic photography, Architecture, Graphic design, motor vehicle design, Teaching, landscape and environmental architecture, design, industrial and product design courses.