A Level Course Overview

Photography is defined here as the practice of creating durable static or moving images by recording light with light-sensitive materials such as photographic film or digitally by means of an image sensor.

Learners must explore, acquire and develop skills, knowledge and understanding through the application of traditional and or digital techniques and processes specific to their chosen area(s) of study of Photography.

Learners must explore practical and relevant critical and contextual sources such as the work of historical and contemporary photographers and the different purposes, intentions and functions of photography as appropriate to their own work.

Learners must demonstrate the knowledge, skills and understanding through area(s) of study relevant to Photography

Component 01: Personal investigation

Learners should produce two elements:

• a portfolio of practical work showing your personal response to either a starting point, brief, scenario or stimulus, devised and provided by you or your staff.

• A related study: an extended response of a guided 3000 words.

Component 02: Externally set task

The early release paper will be issued to you by your staff from the exam board and will provide you with a number of themes, each with a range of written and visual starting points, briefs and stimuli. Students select one of these themes to explore and develop over three months (February to April of Year 13). Students will then sit a three-day (15 Hrs) exam to produce a final outcome for their project.

AO1 – Develop

AO2 – Refine

AO3- Record

AO4- Present


Units

Assessment Method

Personal investigation (01)

Learners should produce:

  • a portfolio of practical work showing their personal response to either a starting point, brief, scenario or stimulus, devised and provided by the learner or centre


120 marks non-exam assessment (internally assessed and externally moderated) this will be 60% of total A level

Component 02: Externally Set Task

The early release paper will be issued on 2nd January and will provide learners with a number of themes, each with a range of written and visual starting points.

A response should be based on one of these options. Preparation time and the date supervised time period is set by the centre.



January Year 11 to April/May Year 11.

Externally set task. Non-exam assessment (internally assessed and externally moderated) - 10 hours

  • 80 Marks - 40% of final grade

What can GCSE Photography help me do in my future Career?


Whether you want to go into designing, teaching or even become an artist, Art and Design at GCSE enables you to develop your creative thinking, organizational skills, problem solving and basic skills to enable you reach your goals. The possibilities are endless, and this course will open a wide array of doors for your future career.