AQA A Level Art & Design: Art, Craft & Design specification (7201)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your AQA A Level Art & Design: Art, Craft & Design exam. It lays out exactly what you need to learn, how you'll be assessed, and what skills the examiners seek. Whether you're working through the course for the first time or revising for your final exams, the specification helps you stay focused and confident in your preparation.
We've included helpful revision tools to support you in putting the specification into practice. Wherever you're starting from, you'll find everything you need to feel prepared, from the official specification to high-quality resources designed to help you succeed.
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In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official AQA A Level Art & Design: Art, Craft & Design specification, along with a breakdown of key topics, assessment structure, and useful study resources. We've also included links to topic-level guides and revision tools to help you put the specification into practice.
Contents
Disclaimer
This page includes a summary of the official AQA A Level Art & Design: Art, Craft & Design (7201) specification, provided to support your revision. While we've made every effort to ensure accuracy, Save My Exams is not affiliated with the awarding body.
For the most complete and up-to-date information, we strongly recommend consulting the official AQA specification PDF.
Specification overview
The A Level Art & Design: Art, Craft & Design course provides a broad, flexible structure that allows students to explore a diverse range of creative techniques and approaches. Through a combination of practical and critical/contextual work, learners develop investigative, analytical, and expressive skills. The course encourages personal enquiry, independent thinking, and meaningful engagement with art, craft and design practices. It supports progression to further and higher education in creative fields and nurtures lifelong interest in visual arts by allowing students to tailor their work to individual interests and strengths:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.Subject content breakdown
3.3 Art, craft and design
- Explore both 2D and 3D media, including traditional and new methods
- Develop visual responses using drawing, sketchbooks, journals, models, etc.
- Study relevant works from historical and contemporary sources, including European and non-European traditions
- Practical and critical work must demonstrate understanding of genre, style, process, and technique
- Work must span two or more of the following endorsed titles:
- Fine art (e.g. drawing, painting, sculpture, photography)
- Graphic communication (e.g. advertising, illustration, multimedia)
- Textile design (e.g. costume, digital textiles, interior design)
- Three-dimensional design (e.g. product design, jewellery, ceramics)
- Photography (e.g. portraiture, still life, documentary, moving image):contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Overarching knowledge, understanding and skills
- Develop understanding of materials, technologies and creative intent
- Study social, historical, and cultural contexts of artworks
- Use specialist vocabulary and reflect critically on personal progress
- Communicate ideas through diverse visual, tactile and digital forms
- Combine traditional and digital media where appropriate:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Assessment structure
Component 1: Personal investigation
- Practical and written investigation (1000–3000 words) into a personally selected theme
- Must reference contextual sources and demonstrate a line of reasoning to a finished outcome
- Accounts for 60% of A Level (96 marks), internally marked, externally moderated
Component 2: Externally set assignment
- Released 1 February: choose one of 8 starting points
- Includes a preparatory period and 15 hours supervised time for final outcome(s)
- Accounts for 40% of A Level (96 marks), internally marked, externally moderated
Assessment Objectives (each worth 25%)
- AO1: Develop ideas informed by sources and critical understanding
- AO2: Explore and refine media, materials and techniques
- AO3: Record observations and insights relevant to intentions
- AO4: Present personal responses that connect visual and contextual elements:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Grading and marks
- Component 1 scaled to 288 marks; Component 2 scaled to 192
- Total scaled mark: 480
- Final grades awarded on a six-point scale: A* to E:contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Key tips for success
Doing well in your AQA A Level Art & Design: Art, Craft & Design isn't just about how much you study, but how you study. Here are a few proven tips to help you stay on track
- Start with a clear plan: Break the subject into topics and create a revision schedule that allows enough time for each. Start early to avoid last-minute stress.
- Focus on understanding, not memorising: Use our revision notes to build a strong foundation in each topic, making sure you actually understand the material.
- Practise regularly: Attempt past papers to familiarise yourself with the exam format and timing. Mark your answers to see how close you are to full marks.
- Be strategic with your revision: Use exam questions by topic to focus on weaker areas, and flashcards to reinforce important facts and terminology.
- Learn from mistakes: Whether it's from mock exams or practice questions, spend time reviewing what went wrong and why. This helps prevent repeat mistakes in the real exam.
- Stay balanced: Don't forget to take regular breaks, eat well, and get enough sleep, a healthy routine makes revision much more effective.
With the right approach and consistent practice, you'll build confidence and improve your chances of exam success.
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