Specifications that use this resource:

Switching to AQA from OCR

To save you time and help you compare our A-level Art and Design specification with the OCR specification, we’ve created some comparison tables.

These tables highlight the content and requirements side by side, so you can make the right choice for your students.

Let us know if you’d like to hear from us, we’ll send you everything you need to get started.

For further information and resources, head to the subject pages of our new A-level Art and Design specification.

Assessment structure

AQA – A-level Art and Design

OCR – A-level Art and Design

Art, craft and design 7201

Fine art 7202

Graphic communication 7203

Textile design 7204

Three dimensional design 7205

Photography 7206

Art, craft and design H600

Fine art H601

Graphic communication H602

Photography H603

Textile design H604

Three-dimensional design H605

Critical and contextual H606

Component 1

Personal investigation

  • Practical investigation supported by written element
  • No time limit
  • Non-exam assessment (NEA) set and marked by the centre and moderated by AQA
  • 96 marks
  • 60% of A-level

Component 1

Personal investigation

  • Practical investigation and written related study
  • No time limit
  • Non-exam assessment (NEA) set and marked by the centre and moderated by OCR
  • 120 marks
  • 60% of A-level

Component 2

Externally set assignment

  • Preparatory period and 15 hours supervised time
  • Non-exam assessment (NEA) set and marked by the centre and moderated by AQA
  • 96 marks
  • 40% of A-level

Component 2

Externally set assignment

  • Preparatory period and 15 hours supervised time
  • Non-exam assessment (NEA) set and marked by the centre and moderated by OCR
  • 80 marks
  • 40% of A-level

Subject content

Component 1

AQA – A-level Art and Design

OCR – A-level Art and Design

Personal investigation

This is a practical investigation supported by written material.

Students are required to conduct a practical investigation into an idea, issue, concept or theme. The focus of the investigation must be identified independently by the student and must lead to a finished outcome or series of finished outcomes.

The investigation should be a coherent, in-depth study, which shows clear development from initial intentions to a final outcome or outcomes informed by relevant critical and contextual materials.

Component 1 must include 1,000-3,000 words in continuous prose, which supports the practical work. Notes and annotations do not form part of the word count.

Submissions must include a bibliography.

The practical work and the written element will be assessed together, as an integrated whole, against all four Assessment Objectives.

Personal investigation

This component comprises two discrete but linked elements.

A practical portfolio with supporting contextual research in which students are expected to develop a personal response based on the centre-set or student-set theme leading to a finished realisation or outcomes.

This portfolio will consist of a sustained project, theme or course of study.

Component 1 must include a related study of a minimum of 1,000 words. The aim of the related study is to enable students to develop their ability to communicate their knowledge and understanding of art historical movements, genres, practitioners and artworks. The related study should be separate and clearly identifiable from the contextual research embedded in the development of the practical portfolio.

The practical work and the related written study will be assessed separately.

Component 2

AQA – A-level Art and Design

Eduqas – A-level Art and Design

Externally set assignment

Separate question papers will be provided for each title.

Each question paper will consist of a choice of eight written starting points. Students are required to select one.

Students will be provided with exam papers on 1 February, or as soon as possible after that date.

Preparatory period

Preparatory work may be presented in any suitable format.

Supervised time – 15 hours

Following the preparatory period, students must complete 15 hours of unaided, supervised time. Students must produce a finished outcome or series of outcomes.

The first three hours must be consecutive.

Preparatory work and the work produced during the supervised time will be assessed together, as a whole, against all four Assessment Objectives.

Externally set assignment

One paper will be given for use across all of the Specialisms.

The paper will give learners a choice of seven themes, each with a choice of written and/or visual starting points, briefs or stimuli. From this paper, learners are expected to choose one option.

Students will be provided with exam papers on 1 February, or as soon as possible after that date.

Preparatory Period

Preparatory work must be used to inform the outcomes during the 15 hours supervised time.

Supervised Time – 15 hours

The 15 hours supervised time can be scheduled at any time provided that at least one session is at least 2–3 hours in duration.

During the 15 hours supervised time, students are required to demonstrate their ability to refine their ideas and produce outcomes that relate to the preparatory work.

All work produced will be assessed together, against all four assessment criteria.