AQA GCSE Art & Design: Photography specification (8206)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your AQA GCSE 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 GCSE 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 GCSE Art & Design: Photography (8206) 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 GCSE Art & Design: Photography encourages students to explore creative image-making using both traditional and digital methods. The course supports the development of knowledge, understanding, and skills through direct engagement with photographic practice, enabling students to express ideas and respond to themes, issues, and contexts of personal significance. Students develop confidence in experimenting with techniques, refining their practice, and critically reflecting on their creative journey. The specification nurtures creative independence and prepares students for further study or careers in creative fields by deepening their understanding of the role of photography in contemporary and historical contexts:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.Subject content breakdown
3.9 Photography
- Focuses on creating images with light-sensitive materials or digital processes.
Areas of Study
- Portraiture
- Location photography
- Studio photography
- Experimental imagery
- Installation
- Documentary photography
- Photo-journalism
- Moving image (film, video, animation)
- Fashion photography
Knowledge and Understanding
- Explore historical, contemporary, social, cultural, and issues-based contexts.
- Understand aesthetic considerations, genres, styles, and individual perspectives.
- Communicate ideas and intentions through:
- Figurative and non-figurative forms
- Image manipulation, close-up, imaginative interpretation
- Visual and tactile elements: colour, line, form, tone, texture, shape, pattern, composition, scale, sequence, surface, contrast.
Skills
- Techniques and processes:
- Lighting, viewpoint, aperture, depth of field, shutter speed, movement
- Enlarger use, chemical and/or digital processing
- Media and materials:
- Film, photographic papers, darkroom chemicals
- Digital media, software, graphic media for storyboarding and planning:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
Assessment structure
Component 1: Portfolio
- Must include a sustained project showing development from initial engagement to realisation.
- Also includes further work like experiments, workshops, visits, independent study.
- Must evidence all four assessment objectives.
- No time limit, marked out of 96 (60% of GCSE).
- Assessed by the centre and moderated by AQA.
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment
- Students choose one of seven starting points set by AQA.
- Preparatory period starts 2 January, followed by 10 hours supervised time.
- Must evidence all four assessment objectives.
- Marked out of 96 (40% of GCSE).
- Assessed by the centre and moderated by AQA.
Assessment Objectives (equally weighted)
- AO1: Develop ideas through investigations and critical understanding of sources.
- AO2: Refine ideas through experimentation with media, materials, techniques.
- AO3: Record observations and insights with drawing and annotation.
- AO4: Present a personal, meaningful response that realises intentions.
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 all assessment objectives:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
Key tips for success
Doing well in your AQA GCSE 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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