WJEC Eduqas A Level Art & Design: Fine Art specification (A651)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your WJEC Eduqas A Level Art & Design: Fine Art 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: Fine Art 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: Fine Art (A651) 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: Fine Art offers learners a diverse and expressive course that encourages the exploration of materials, techniques and contextual knowledge. It promotes aesthetic and intellectual engagement over functional design, allowing students to develop creative and personal responses through a wide variety of media. The course supports individual investigation, experimentation and refinement of ideas through drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and other visual arts practices. Students build their critical understanding and practical capabilities in preparation for higher education or creative industry pathways.
Subject content breakdown
Art and Design (Fine Art)
- Prioritises aesthetic and intellectual purposes rather than utility.
- Encourages exploration in areas such as:
- Painting and drawing
- Mixed media (collage, assemblage)
- Performance and conceptual art
- Sculpture
- Land/environmental art
- Installation
- Printmaking (relief, intaglio, screen, lithography)
- Film, video, animation, photography
- Digital media
AO1: Contextual Understanding
- Study historical and contemporary fine art alongside architecture, drama, and media.
- Understand fine art distinctions (e.g. expressive vs functional).
- Appraise work of relevant artists and critically evaluate outcomes.
AO2: Creative Making
- Select and experiment with suitable media and combinations.
- Develop ideas from rich visual/tactile sources, ensuring composition and form are considered.
- Clearly document each stage with attention to refinement and control.
AO3: Reflective Recording
- Gather, select and analyse visual/tactile references.
- Record ideas and observations through drawing, notes, and photographs.
- Reflect critically on progress to clarify meaning and deepen understanding.
AO4: Personal Presentation
- Present outcomes that effectively realise personal intentions (e.g. triptychs, mixed-media responses).
- Make clear, meaningful links between contextual, practical, and written elements.
- Choose presentational formats that best suit purpose and audience:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.
Assessment structure
Component 1: Personal Investigation
- 60% of the qualification (120 marks).
- Internally assessed, externally moderated.
- Includes:
- In-depth practical portfolio or project.
- 1000-word minimum extended written analysis.
- Content determined by learner and teacher.
- Covers all four Assessment Objectives (AO1–AO4).
- Focuses on independent work, contextual integration, and skill development.
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment
- 40% of the qualification (80 marks).
- Issued 1 February.
- Includes:
- Preparatory study period (length set by centre).
- 15-hour sustained focus session under supervision.
- Learners respond to one of several stimuli to create personal outcomes.
- Assessed on all four AOs together.
Assessment Objectives (25% each)
- AO1: Develop ideas with contextual understanding.
- AO2: Explore and refine techniques and media.
- AO3: Record observations and reflect critically.
- AO4: Present coherent and personal final outcomes:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
Key tips for success
Doing well in your WJEC Eduqas A Level Art & Design: Fine Art 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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