Choose GCSE Art & Design or GCSE Photography! - Secondary - Eastbrook School (2024)

FAQs

Why choose GCSE art and design? ›

Studying art and design provides the opportunity to acquire new skills. As well as knowledge of different art forms, media and techniques you can also gain specialist skills in areas such as photography and digital technologies.

It encourages the exploration of photography as an artistic medium. It combines well with more traditional subjects, providing an outlet for creativity. Photography can be a useful addition to a student's portfolio of qualifications and can also help to secure admission to Art College or university.

Art is demanding, requires hard work and sometimes the teachers base the marks on the quantity and not the quality of your work. If you are willing to put in at least 4-6 hours of Artwork a week, I'd say you can get a pretty decent grade.

Photography is a creative and technical art form that can be both rewarding and challenging. If you are studying GCSE Photography, understanding the fundamental concepts and techniques is crucial.

GCSE Art can lead a wide range of creative careers and education opportunities in art, design, architecture, digital media, art therapy, teaching, engineering, and so on… To give you a balanced GCSE school timetable.

Studying art and design helps to create a broad and balanced curriculum, which is an excellent foundation for whatever you want to do afterwards. The transferable skills you'll gain, such as creativity, analysis and problem solving, complement a range of other subjects and careers.

Learn about the different principles and processes in photography, such as black and white photography, colour photography, digital and analogue and image editing. Find out about the different benefits and drawbacks. Photography techniques - AQA. Different techniques can be used in photography.

In GCSE photography, we learn about the different techniques that can be used to take great photos, as well as how to edit and print them.

However, if you plan to apply to a photography degree or higher education course, you need five grade 9-4 GCSEs (A*-C) (this might vary slightly depending on the institution)[viii]. These GCSEs should include Maths and English, in addition to 2 or 3 A levels (one must be in art, design or media).

What is a GCSE art exam like? ›

There is no written exam for GCSE Art & Design – instead there is a portfolio and an externally set assignment. Learn what this assignment involves, how to prepare for it and how it is marked.

The timed GCSE externally set task is 10 hours and is 40% of the total GCSE. centre. At least one session should be at least 2 hours in duration. Centres should ensure that short sessions are avoided.

You will have approximately 10-11 weeks to produce all your preparatory work, followed by a ten hour practical exam – over two days – to complete your final prints. Your exam project will account for 40% of your final GCSE grade.

Every single subject on your GCSE course allows two attempts (one general and one resit) before you have to retake the entire course again. You can, however, retake the course as many times, with as many subject combinations as you want.

How will I be assessed? One coursework project will account for 60% of the GCSE grade and runs for approximately 16 weeks. The remaining 40% is an externally set project chosen from the exam board, runs for approximately 12 weeks followed by a 10 hour exam.

The main reason to study art and design at university is because you have a genuine interest and commitment to your art and the subject more broadly. Passion is a big indication of whether you should consider studying subjects like art, performing arts or design at university.

GCSE D&T opens the door to a wide range of careers in the creative, engineering and manufacturing industries. It is also excellent preparation for careers in many other fields e.g. medicine, law and computer science.

Graphic design students make art that is commercial (to advertise or inform), whereas fine art students often make art for personal expression.

Experiences in art, craft and design enable them to learn how to reflect critically on their own and others' work. They learn to think and act as artists, makers and designers, working creatively and intelligently.