WJEC Eduqas A Level Art & Design: Art, Craft & Design specification (A650)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your WJEC Eduqas 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 WJEC Eduqas 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 WJEC Eduqas A Level Art & Design: Art, Craft & Design (A650) 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 WJEC Eduqas specification PDF.
Specification overview
The Eduqas A Level in Art & Design: Art, Craft & Design promotes creative thinking and critical understanding through a broad and flexible course that integrates practical skills with theoretical study. It encourages learners to explore diverse disciplines and materials across art, craft, and design, with a focus on personal expression, experimentation, and contextual awareness. Students are guided to become independent thinkers who can innovate and communicate effectively through visual means. The course aims to develop imaginative, analytical, and technical skills, preparing learners for higher education or creative careers in a variety of contexts.Subject content breakdown
Art, Craft & Design
- Flexible, broad-based study across multiple disciplines.
- Explore practical and contextual areas using 2D and/or 3D media.
- Work must show breadth and depth using more than one endorsed title.
- Outcomes may be from a single or combination of disciplines.
AO1: Contextual Understanding
- Investigate historical and contemporary art, craft, and design sources.
- Understand methods, intentions, and differences in practitioner approaches.
- Analyse and evaluate own work and that of others.
AO2: Creative Making
- Purposeful experimentation with varied media and processes.
- Use rich visual/tactile resources and consider formal elements like composition.
- Document all steps with clear links between process and outcomes.
AO3: Reflective Recording
- Conduct and organise visual research, reflecting personal interests.
- Record ideas and insights using drawing, photos, annotations.
- Reflect critically on learning and how to apply it in new contexts.
AO4: Personal Presentation
- Create personal, imaginative final outcomes.
- Connect contextual, practical, and written work clearly.
- Select suitable formats to present to an audience.
Assessment structure
Component 1: Personal Investigation
- 60% of the qualification.
- Internally assessed, externally moderated.
- Includes:
- In-depth practical and theoretical project or portfolio.
- Extended written critical/contextual analysis (min. 1000 words).
- Theme or brief determined by student and teacher.
- Must address all four Assessment Objectives.
- No time limit (centre determines schedule).
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment
- 40% of the qualification.
- Internally assessed, externally moderated.
- Released 1 February of second year.
- Includes:
- Preparatory study period.
- 15-hour supervised sustained focus session.
- Work must be unaided and conducted under supervision.
Assessment Objectives (25% each)
- AO1: Develop ideas via contextual and analytical research.
- AO2: Select and refine materials, techniques, and ideas.
- AO3: Record observations and insights.
- AO4: Present meaningful, well-connected outcomes.
Key tips for success
Doing well in your WJEC Eduqas 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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