Nature of the Subject

IGCSE Art & Design encourages a range of skills, stimulates aesthetic awareness, knowledge and critical understanding of art, and provides opportunities for learners to develop a range of skills. 

Crucially, a personal and independent perspective is encouraged at all times. The course is designed to accommodate a wide range of abilities, materials and resources, and allows the different skills of the teaching staff to be fully used.

Syllabus & Content

Students will be encouraged to work from direct observation and to explore the use of tone, texture, shape, form, colour and composition. This can be shown through the use of processes and the use of media such as charcoal, pencil, pastels, acrylic, water colour, oil paint, inks, printmaking and digital media, in both 2D and 3D form. Students will respond to a theme of their choice. These subjects could include:

landscapes,  figure studies,  portraits, the natural or built environment, still-life, artefacts, abstract notions or feelings, personal experiences.

Assessment

Students take two components.

Component 1

Coursework 50%

Students research, develop and realise a project from one area of study from a theme set by themselves.

Component 2

Externally Set Assignment 50%

Candidates respond to one starting point set by CAIE.

Teacher Introduction

This course appeals to learners who wish to explore practical work through a range of two- and three-dimensional processes and include new media and technologies in addition to traditional media and processes.

The course helps equip learners with lifelong skills including:

Confidence and enthusiasm as they develop technical skills in two- and three-dimensional form 

The ability to identify and solve problems in visual and tactile forms

The ability to develop ideas from initial attempts to outcomes.