Edexcel GCSE Art & Design: Photography specification (1PY0)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your Edexcel 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 Edexcel 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 Edexcel GCSE Art & Design: Photography (1PY0) 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 Edexcel specification PDF.
Specification overview
The GCSE in Art & Design: Photography aims to develop students’ creativity and visual literacy through practical engagement with lens- and light-based media. It encourages exploration of digital and non-digital photographic techniques, including film, video, and digital imaging. Students build critical understanding by investigating historical and contemporary sources, and refine ideas through experimentation and personal response. The course fosters independent thinking, originality, and communication skills relevant to creative industries, with strong alignment to progression into further study such as A Level Photography.Subject content breakdown
3.6 Art and Design (Photography)
- Work must use lens- and light-based media (e.g. film, video, digital imaging, light-sensitive materials).
Students must develop:
- Knowledge of formal elements in photography.
- Camera functions including depth of field, shutter speed, focal points, viewpoints.
- Observational skills to communicate ideas.
- Techniques combining two- and three-dimensional media.
- Digital and/or non-digital applications.
Areas of study (students may choose at least one):
- Documentary photography – narrative photography of events or situations.
- Photo-journalism – real-time event capture to support written content.
- Studio photography – controlled indoor environment (portraiture, still life).
- Location photography – manipulating visual elements in natural settings.
- Experimental imagery – using light and process to create non-traditional outcomes.
- Installation – photographic work presented in site-specific space.
- Moving image: film, video and animation – narrative via digital/non-digital methods.
Drawing can support development (e.g. sketching ideas, planning shots, analysing imagery).
Assessment structure
Component 1: Personal Portfolio
- Internally set and assessed; externally moderated.
- Worth 60% of total GCSE.
- Students explore ideas, experiment, and produce a personal response.
- Must include supporting studies and final outcomes.
- All four assessment objectives must be covered:
- AO1: Develop ideas
- AO2: Refine work
- AO3: Record observations
- AO4: Present a personal response
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment
- Worth 40% of total GCSE.
- Paper released 2 January each year.
- Broad theme provided by Pearson.
- Preparatory work followed by a 10-hour timed period under exam conditions.
- Students produce a personal response based on preparatory work.
- Work is internally marked and externally moderated.
- All four assessment objectives are equally weighted and assessed holistically.
Key tips for success
Doing well in your Edexcel 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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