A deep dive into the three components that make up the course

This section of the site takes a closer look into each of the key course components, with exercises, activities, and support material for understanding and teaching these tasks.

The three components

1. The Comparative Study 20% (External Assessment)

2. The Process Portfolio 40 % (External Assessment)

3. The Exhibition 40% ( Internal assessment by teacher, external moderation by examiner)

The current curriculum, first exams in 2016, has three assessed components. But the cake is not evenly divided.. The Comparative Study is assessed at 20%, while the other 2 elements are 40% each of the final grade. Find out about the next Curriculum under Review here

A one page Overview of Requirements can also be found here

Part 1: Comparative Study

An independent critical and contextual investigation that explores artworks, objects and artifacts from differing cultural contexts

The CS is not an extended essay: it is an investigative comparison that should strike a balance between visual and written content . There are many forms this could take.

For examples, assessment and discussion of the CS go to these pages

Part 2: The Process Portfolio

A documentation of the students artistic experience during the course, both visual and written.

Students compile carefully selected materials which show their experimentation, exploration, manipulation and refinement of a variety of visual arts activities during the two-year course. Pages from the Visual Journal can be included here, as can unresolved pieces, documenting the development of ideas and artwork. This is submitted as a digital file and viewed on screen therefor a landscape format ( horizontal) is preferable.

For discussion, assessment and examples of the PP go to these pages

Part 3: The Exhibition

Students present a body of work accompanied by reflection showing critical understanding and awareness of context.

Students submit for assessment a selection of resolved artworks from their final exhibition. The selected pieces should show evidence of their technical accomplishment during the visual arts course and an understanding of the use of materials, ideas and practices appropriate to visual communication.

The assessed requirements are a written "curatorial rational" that explains the work chosen for the exhibit and the intentions behind the work, and a small body of artworks, appropriately documented, with exhibition texts for each piece. This is also submitted as a digital file and viewed on screen.

How is this all Assessed?

Assessment is divided into 3 parts as detailed below -follow links to site pages for each component for more detailed discussion, or go to Assessment pages

For examples, assessment and discussion of the Exhibition go to these pages

Another important aspect of the Exhibition is the emphasis on curatorial skills, see these pages

Selected Pages