Graphic Communication - Higher

Vale of Leven Academy

The course develops skills in two main areas — 2D, and 3D and pictorial graphic communication. Candidates apply these skills to produce graphics with visual impact that communicate information effectively.

2D graphic communication

Candidates develop creativity and presentation skills within a 2D graphic communication context. They initiate, plan, develop and communicate ideas graphically, using 2D graphic techniques. Candidates develop skills and attributes including spatial awareness, visual literacy, and the ability to interpret given drawings, diagrams and other graphics. They evaluate the effectiveness of their own and given graphic communications to meet their purpose.

3D and pictorial graphic communication

Candidates develop creativity and presentation skills within a 3D and pictorial graphic communication context. They initiate, plan, develop and communicate ideas graphically, using 3D and pictorial graphic techniques. Candidates develop a number of skills and attributes including spatial awareness, visual literacy, and the ability to interpret given drawings, diagrams and other graphics. They evaluate the effectiveness of their own and given graphic communications to meet their purpose.

Question paper 90 marks

The question paper has a total mark allocation of 90 marks. This is 64% of the overall marks for the course assessment. It has one section, allowing for a variety of response types across the paper. The question paper gives candidates the opportunity to demonstrate skills, knowledge and understanding relating to the following:

• Computer-aided design techniques
• Interpretation of graphic items
• Digital technology in graphic communication
• Drawing standards, protocols and conventions
• Desktop-publishing features, design elements and principles

A proportion of marks are available for more challenging questions, which generally require interpretation and/or integration of more complex graphic communication techniques. This could be in complexity of the expected response, the descriptions and/or justifications of more detailed and/or complex processes, or problem solving, for example in computer-aided design techniques and processes. Candidates may include sketches to further illustrate and support their response, however, sketching is not a requirement. Candidates are not required to draw with instruments. Questions are a mixture of limited and extended responses and/or scenario-based questions, allowing for either written and/or sketched responses, and illustrations for descriptive purposes.

Assignment 50 marks

The assignment assesses candidates’ ability to apply graphic communication skills and knowledge acquired and developed during the course, in the context of defined tasks which require a response to a problem or situation. It has three areas covering preliminary, production and promotional graphics. These may, or may not, be thematically related and include various tasks that candidates complete. The assignment has a total mark allocation of 50 marks. This is 36% of the overall marks for the course assessment.

Marks are awarded for:

• Preliminary graphics
• Production graphics
• Promotional graphics

The assignment provides an opportunity for candidates to:

• demonstrate creativity when responding to realistic and contextualised graphic tasks and situations
• demonstrate skills when using graphic communication technologies to meet a purpose
• produce relevant preliminary, production and promotional graphic responses to a brief
• apply illustration and presentation techniques to create graphic responses with relevant visual impact and clear purpose
• produce 2D and 3D production drawings, applying appropriate standards, protocols and conventions (drawing includes manual or electronic production methodologies); including third-angle projection, dimensioning, line type and using scale
• produce promotional graphic publications with relevant visual impact, that are planned and designed to meet a market and purpose, with an agreed content and style
• review, evaluate and justify their decisions on the choice of graphic items and communication techniques employed