How Long Is the A Level Art Exam?

Reviewed by: Liam Taft

Published

30 August 2025

Contents

An A Level Art exam is like no other. It doesn't involve sitting down with pages of equations or essay questions. Instead, it’s hands-on, creative, and completely unique. Before the exam, you’ll spend weeks exploring ideas, experimenting with materials, and building a vision - before bringing it all together in a 15-hour timed exam.

In this guide, we’ll break down how long the A Level Art exam really is, how those 15 hours are spread out, and what the exam means for your final grade.

Overview – A Level Art Exam Length by Exam Board

All three major exam boards (AQA, OCR, and Edexcel) set up their Art and Design exams similarly. You’ll get a long preparation period to explore and develop your ideas, followed by a 15-hour timed exam, also known as the Externally Set Assignment (ESA)

Here’s a breakdown by exam board:

Exam Board	Preparatory Period	Timed Exam
AQA (opens in a new tab)	8–10 weeks	15 hours
OCR (opens in a new tab)	8–10 weeks	15 hours
Edexcel (opens in a new tab)	8–10 weeks	15 hours

As you can see from the table above, all three main exam boards follow the same format. The real difference comes in how your school or college chooses to break up the 15 hours.

For example:

Some schools run it over three full school days (e.g. 5 hours each day).
Others might do five shorter sessions across a week (e.g. 3 hours each).
Occasionally, schools spread it over two long days and one shorter day, depending on timetables and space.

Whichever way it’s organised, the total is always 15 hours. Knowing the format your school uses can help you plan how to pace yourself and when to take breaks.

What Is the 15-Hour Art Exam?

The “exam” in Art & Design is a bit different from your usual written paper. It’s called the Externally Set Assignment. The exam board gives you a theme or starting point, and from there, you get to develop your own personal final piece.

Don’t worry – it’s not one huge 15-hour slog. Instead, the time is broken into 3–5 sessions across a few days, so you can think, experiment, and refine your ideas without feeling rushed.

The goal isn’t to test how fast you can work, but to give you the space to create something truly unique – whether that’s a painting, a sculpture, or a digital design. It’s your chance to show off your creativity skills and bring your ideas to life.

The Preparatory Period: What Comes Before the Exam

Before the timed exam even begins, you actually get a big prep window of around 8–10 weeks. Think of like this: the preparatory period is for planning, and the exam is for turning your vision into reality.

During this period, you’ll:

Develop ideas in your sketchbook: This is your space to jot down thoughts, doodle, and figure out what excites you.
Experiment with materials and techniques: Whether it’s paint, digital, textiles, or sculpture, this is the time to experiment and see what works best for your theme.
Research artists and styles: From big names like Van Gogh to contemporary illustrators, looking at others’ work can spark ideas and help shape your own style.
Refine your final plan: By the end of the prep time, you should have a clear direction for your final piece so you can hit the ground running once the timed exam starts.

There’s no strict time limit on how much prep you have, but it’s normally completed in your art lessons and free periods.

It’s also worth noting that your sketchbook and prep work count towards your final mark. Examiners want to see the creative process. It’s not only about the end result.

Tip: Take the prep time seriously. The more effort you put into planning and experimenting now, the less stressed you’ll feel later. By the time the 15-hour exam comes around, you’ll already know exactly what you’re doing.

What to Expect During the 15-Hour Timed Exam

Here’s what the practical side looks like:

You’ll be in your usual art room, but working under exam conditions. Don’t worry, though, you’ll have space to spread out and get creative.
Schools normally provide the materials you need (though it’s worth double-checking if you should bring any extras).
Don’t stress about the “15 hours” part; it’s split into chunks with scheduled breaks and lunch.

The main goal of the timed exam? To use the sessions to complete your final piece.

How the Art Exam Is Assessed

Your final grade in A Level Art is split into two main parts, no matter which exam board you’re with. The balance is always 60% coursework and 40% exam project, but the details vary slightly between AQA, OCR, and Edexcel.

Component 1 – Personal Investigation (60%)

This is all the work you build up over the course, like sketchbooks, projects, and final outcomes. It’s your biggest chunk of marks, so the effort you put in during over the course really counts.

AQA: You produce a practical portfolio plus a written element of 1,000–3,000 words.
Edexcel: You complete a practical portfolio with a written personal study (minimum 1,000 words).
OCR: You create a practical portfolio that also links to a personal investigation, including contextual studies.

Your teacher marks your work first, but it’s then moderated externally by the exam board. That just means someone checks the marking to make sure standards are fair across all schools and colleges.

Component 2 – Externally Set Assignment (40%)

This is the exam project (ESA) where you get a theme from the exam board, do 8–10 weeks of prep, and then complete your final piece in the timed sessions. This component is the same for all exam boards.

Within both components, all exam boards are looking at the same four key areas:

Development: How your ideas grow and evolve over time. They want to see your thought process, not just the finished piece.
Experimentation: Trying out different materials, techniques, and approaches. Show that you’ve explored, tested, and learned.
Refinement: Making decisions, improving your work, and focusing on what’s working best.
Personal Response: Your final outcome should feel original, meaningful, and connected to you.

In short: Whether you’re with AQA, OCR, or Edexcel, the structure is the same – 60% coursework, 40% exam project – with small differences in Component 1 (personal investigation).

Tips for Managing Time During the Art Exam

The A Level Art exam sounds intense when you hear “15 hours,” but remember, it’s spread out over several sessions.

The trick is to use that time wisely so you stay in control and avoid last-minute stress. Here’s how:

Break it into mini-goals. Don’t think of it as 15 hours of staring at a blank canvas. Instead, plan what you want to get done in each session. For example: Session 1 = block out your composition, Session 2 = build detail, Session 3 = refine and polish. Breaking it down makes it feel way less overwhelming.
Stick to your prep plan. You’ve already spent weeks sketching, experimenting and building ideas in your prep. Trust that work. The exam isn’t the time to suddenly chase a brand-new idea – that’s how students run out of time. Follow your plan and let all your prep pay off.
Beat creative blocks fast. Everyone hits a wall sometimes. That’s where your sketchbook becomes your safety net. Flip back through your experiments – colour tests, textures, techniques – and use them to kickstart your progress again.
Keep calm and trust yourself. It’s normal to feel pressure, but remember: a lot of the hard part (planning and prep) is already done. The exam is just your chance to bring it to life. Take a breath, focus on the process, and trust the groundwork you’ve put in.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the preparation period before the exam?

You’ll usually get about 8–10 weeks to prep, but the exact time can vary depending on your school and exam board.

What happens if I don’t finish my final piece in the time?

Don’t panic. The examiners aren’t just looking at whether your piece is “finished” in the traditional sense. They’re assessing your whole creative journey, including your sketchbooks, prep work, and how you’ve developed ideas. An unfinished piece can still earn high marks if it clearly shows strong planning, experimentation, and personal response.

Is the art exam marked the same way across all exam boards?

Pretty much, yes. Each exam board might word things a little differently, but they’re all judging you on the same core things: development, experimentation, refinement, and personal response. So. no matter your exam board, the focus is the same.

Final Thoughts

A 15-hour art exam may sound intimidating, but it’s not as scary as it seems. The time is split across several sessions. Plus, by the time you get there, you’ll already have a clear plan from your prep work.

Those weeks of preparation are where the heavy lifting happens – the sketching, experimenting, and refining of your ideas. The exam itself is just the final stage, where you bring everything together.

It’s less about racing the clock and more about showing focus, creativity, and control. Pace yourself, trust the prep you’ve done, and use the sessions to produce something you’re genuinely proud of.

And if you need some support planning for your Art A Level exam, we have plenty of A Level Art & Design revision tools to help you go in feeling confident.

Good luck!