Cambridge International A Level Art & Design stimulates interest, enjoyment and personal enrichment as well as introducing artistic exploration and design thinking. Students gain lifelong skills, including: communication skills, especially the ability to communicate concepts and feelings; the ability and confidence to experiment, be innovative, intuitive and imaginative and an appreciation of practical design problems and how to solve these.
The Art and Design syllabus covers a broad range of related activities, areas and approaches to study including painting and Related Media, sculpture, printmaking, textiles, graphic Design, ceramics, fashion Design and photography, Digital and Lens Media.
Candidates take four components. Component 1 is a Controlled Test. This is an externally-set assignment that is marked by Cambridge. The examination paper allows candidates to respond in various ways – for example: interpretative, design, abstract, photography, etc. Students choose one question from the examination paper from which to make studies in any suitable colour/tone, medium, process or technique. The questions set will be broad and flexible; Assessment is by a 15 hour Controlled Test that is externally marked by Cambridge. Component 2 is Coursework. Students submit: one coursework project and up to four sheets of supporting work (maximum A1 size). This will be internally assessed and will then be externally moderated by Cambridge. Component 3 is Coursework. Students submit one coursework project plus a folder of supporting work (maximum size A1, no more than ten sheets – twenty sides at most) and a sketchbook. This will be internally assessed and will then be externally moderated by Cambridge. Component 4 is a Personal Study. This is an internally set Component that will be assessed by Cambridge. Students will produce a detailed study of any aspect of the visual arts that may, but need not, relate to their work for Component 2 or Component 3: Coursework. The Study may be presented in any appropriate format in a balance of visual and written analysis and should not exceed 3500 words.
Students will be assessed on the following objectives; A. Personal Qualities - Candidates are expected to show an individual, sensitive and creative response to a stimulus; ability to develop an idea, theme or subject and independence in concept and execution. B. Manipulative, Artistic and Analytical Skills - Candidates are expected to select and control materials, processes and techniques in an informed and disciplined way to meet an objective; select and record analytically from direct observation and personal experience. C. Aesthetic Qualities - Candidates are expected to use and compose formal elements (contour, shape, colour/tone, texture, structure and the relationships between form and space) as appropriate. D. Knowledge and Critical Understanding - Candidates are expected to select and communicate information relevant to an idea, subject or theme and evaluate this in a systematic way; make critical judgments and use personal ideas and images to show they are developing appreciation and cultural awareness. Students will receive a grade outcome from between grade A*- E.