A-Level Art and Design curriculum, components and exam boards
A-Level Art and Design is a broad creative qualification, so the right tutor needs to understand both the student’s creative work and the way their exam board assesses it. As a clear official example, Pearson Edexcel A Level Art and Design has two teacher-assessed and externally moderated components: Component 1, Personal Investigation, worth 60%, and Component 2, Externally Set Assignment, worth 40%. Other boards use their own specification wording, dates and administration rules, so students should tell tutors their exact board and title.
- Pearson Edexcel’s Personal Investigation includes supporting studies, practical work and a personal study of at least 1000 words.
- Pearson Edexcel’s Externally Set Assignment includes preparatory studies and a 15-hour sustained-focus period under examination conditions.
- Assessment objectives usually matter as much as technique: students need to develop ideas, explore media, record insights and present a meaningful response.
- Specialism examples include Art, Craft and Design, Fine Art, Graphic Communication, Textile Design, Three-dimensional Design and Photography.
- Personal Investigation
- Longer independent project work. A tutor can help plan the theme, build the sketchbook journey, improve annotation and check whether practical and contextual work connect.
- Externally Set Assignment
- Set-theme preparation and timed sustained work. A tutor can help interpret the theme, plan experiments and practise decision-making before the supervised period.
- Assessment objectives
- Useful lesson structure: develop ideas, explore media and processes, record observations and insights, then present a personal and meaningful response.
- Specialisms
- A student studying Fine Art may need different tutor experience from one focused on Photography, Textiles, Graphic Communication or 3D work.
- Exam-board check
- Ask whether the tutor has worked with the student’s board and whether they can use the right terminology for that specification.