AQA A Level Art & Design: Photography specification (7206)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your AQA A Level Art & Design: Photography 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: Photography 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: Photography (7206) 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
AQA A-level Art & Design: Photography enables students to explore photographic media, techniques, and processes, developing critical and contextual understanding through practical work. The course fosters creative and intellectual engagement, encouraging students to investigate personal ideas and refine their practice using both traditional and digital technologies. Students learn to communicate their intentions and meanings in images, develop aesthetic judgment, and critically reflect on their creative journey. The course prepares them for higher education or creative industry pathways, deepening their knowledge of photography's role in historical, cultural, and contemporary contexts:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.Subject content breakdown
3.8 Photography
- Explore photographic media, techniques, and processes using traditional and digital technologies.
- Develop critical, contextual, and practical understanding.
Areas of Study
- Portraiture
- Landscape photography (urban, rural, coastal)
- Still life photography (objects, natural world)
- Documentary photography, photojournalism
- Fashion photography
- Experimental imagery
- Multimedia
- Photographic installation
- Moving image (video, film, animation)
Skills and Techniques
- Explore visual elements: line, form, colour, pattern, texture.
- Consider audience and purpose.
- Respond to issues, themes, concepts, ideas, briefs, or needs.
- Understand viewpoint, composition, aperture, depth of field, shutter speed, movement.
- Use cameras, lenses, filters, lighting, film, digital processes.
- Present photographic images with appropriate techniques.
Knowledge and Understanding
- Study materials, processes, technologies, resources.
- Understand historical and contemporary styles and genres.
- Relate photography to social, cultural, environmental, ethical contexts.
- Appreciate continuity and change in photography.
- Use specialist terminology confidently:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
Assessment structure
Component 1: Personal Investigation
- Practical investigation supported by a written element.
- Student-chosen theme, concept, or issue leading to a finished outcome(s).
- Must demonstrate sustained reasoning, critical/contextual understanding, development of ideas, and research.
- Written work: 1000–3000 words, coherent and well-structured with bibliography.
- Non-exam assessment (60% of A-level), assessed by the centre, moderated by AQA.
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment
- Eight starting points provided by AQA on 1 February.
- Preparatory period followed by 15 hours supervised time.
- Outcome(s) created during supervised time, assessed with preparatory work.
- Must cover all four assessment objectives.
- Non-exam assessment (40% of A-level), assessed by the centre, moderated by AQA.
Assessment Objectives (equally weighted)
- AO1: Develop ideas through focused investigations.
- AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, refine ideas.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations, and insights critically.
- AO4: Present personal and meaningful responses.
Marking and Weighting
- Each component marked out of 96, scaled (Component 1 ×3; Component 2 ×2).
- Total scaled mark out of 480.
- Quality of making underpins assessment of all objectives:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
Key tips for success
Doing well in your AQA A Level Art & Design: Photography 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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