THE 'AS' ELEMENT
OF THE COURSE - LEADING TO THE AWARD OF ADVANCED SUBSIDIARY LEVEL QUALIFICATION

From September 2000 art and design examinations at advanced level changed substantially.
A new tier was introduced to the old two-year 'A' level course to fulfill two main aims.

1. To provide a final qualification after one year of study (The 'AS') which then allowed students to pause in their education to consider their favourite area of specialism.

2. To provide a point of consolidation, halfway through the advanced level course (the two-years), providing an opportunity for assessment of progress towards the final goal of the full advanced level qualification. In doing so it also provides 50% of the final qualification marks.

SOUNDS GOOD?

Well it is , but it also means that students have to work steadily throughout the course, no-one can afford to coast during the first year, as perhaps some did in the old system.

The modular system, similar to that used in Higher Education, provides regular periods of assessment and a chance for students to improve the standard of their work.

A student, or candidate, needs to be constantly working to produce a strong body of work which can be assessed at the end of each module.

Because the unit topic of study is set and marked by the centre (college) it will normally follow a subject area that will introduce the candidate to the work to come and begin with something that will develop certain necessary skill (e.g drawing skills, investigative, mark-making etc, or a combination of many of these to provide a strong foundation for the rest of the course).

Each area of study during units 1 and 2 will prepare the candidate for the final controlled test in Unit 3, and for what is to come in the 'A' level year (year two).

UNIT 3
This is the controlled test. Candidates have 5 hours (AQA board or 8 hours if following EDEXCELL) to produce a piece of work. Don't panic, they also get 4 weeks to prepare for this controlled test. The developmental work is also considered in the scheme of marking and attention must be paid to ensure it is of the highest possible standard.
SEE PRESENTATION OF WORK JOURNALS

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UNIT 1
(First module)
ACCOUNTS FOR 30% OF THE TOTAL 'AS' MARKS AND 15% TOWARDS THE TOTAL OF THE 'A' LEVEL MARKS.

COURSEWORK
At this first unit candidates must choose to study either the Endorsed option or Unendorsed option.

ENDORSED OPTION
The Endorsed option means that the students, or candidate, will follow one of the following subject options from: Fine Art; Graphic Design; Textiles; Three-dimensional Design or Photography.
So the students need to be clear early on, before starting the course, what subject they are going to specialise in.
UNENDORSED OPTION
The Unendorsed option is a general Art and Design course, which permits greater flexibility in use of materials and approaches to the problems set by the course.

The unit work is set and marked by the centre (sixth form college or college of further education), and moderated by the examining body
(AQA, EDEXCELL, etc).

UNIT 2
(Second module)

As Unit 1 - but a new area of investigation is followed.

UNIT 3
(Third module)
Accounts for 40% of the total 'AS' marks and 20% towards the total 'A' level marks.

The 'A2' element of the course

The Aims & Objectives