Graphic Communication - National 5

Vale of Leven Academy

The course provides opportunities for candidates to gain skills in reading, interpreting and creating graphic communications. They also learn to apply knowledge and understanding of graphic communication standards, protocols and conventions. The course is practical, exploratory and experiential in nature and combines elements of recognised professional standards for graphic communication, partnered with graphic design creativity and visual impact.

Candidates develop:

• skills in graphic communication techniques, including the use of equipment, graphics materials and software
• the ability to extend and apply knowledge and understanding of graphic communication standards, protocols and conventions
• an understanding of the impact of graphic communication technologies on our environment and society

Question paper 80 marks

The question paper has one section and gives candidates the opportunity to demonstrate skills, knowledge and understanding relating to:

• Computer-aided design techniques
• Graphic items in specific situations
• Manual and electronic methods of graphic communication
• Spatial awareness
• Drawing standards, protocols and conventions
• Use of colours, layout and presentation techniques

The question paper has 80 marks, which is 67% of the overall marks for the course assessment (120 marks).

A proportion of marks are available for more challenging questions, which generally require interpretation and/or integration of more complex graphic communications. This could be in the complexity of the expected response, the descriptions and/or justifications of more detailed and/or complex processes, or problem solving. Candidates may support their answers by sketching (if desired) to further illustrate and support their response, however, sketching is not a requirement. Candidates are not required to draw with instruments. Questions allow for a variety of response types, including short/limited responses and extended responses.

Assignment 40 marks

The assignment assesses the ability to apply graphic communication skills and knowledge developed and acquired during the course in the context of defined tasks, which require candidates to respond 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.

Marks are awarded for:

Preliminary graphics

Production graphics

Promotional graphics

The assignment provides an opportunity for candidates to:

• demonstrate graphic design skills and creativity
• use graphic communication technologies
• produce preliminary, production and promotional graphic items in response to a situation or problem
• use illustration techniques to create graphics with relevant visual impact
• produce 2D and 3D production drawings, applying appropriate standards, protocols and conventions (drawing includes manual or electronic production methodologies)
• review and evaluate their progress, giving justification for the choice of graphic items and the graphic communication techniques employed The assignment has 40 marks, which is 33% of the overall marks for the course assessment (120 marks).