WJEC Eduqas GCSE Art & Design: Textile Design specification (C653)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your WJEC Eduqas GCSE Art & Design: Textile 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 GCSE Art & Design: Textile 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 GCSE Art & Design: Textile Design (C653) 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 GCSE in Art & Design: Textile Design allows learners to explore the expressive and functional potential of textiles through a variety of materials, techniques, and processes. The course encourages creativity and experimentation, developing skills in designing and making textile outcomes informed by historical and contemporary sources. Learners investigate visual and tactile elements and produce personal, meaningful work across disciplines such as fashion, interior design, and constructed textiles, supporting progression into creative further study and careers.Subject content breakdown
Textile Design
- Involves designing and creating textile outcomes for decorative or functional purposes.
Areas of practice may include:
- Constructed textiles – weaving, knitting, felting, or bonding.
- Dyed fabrics – batik, tie-dye, dip-dye or digital dyeing techniques.
- Printed fabrics – screen, lino, block or digital printing.
- Fashion design and illustration – garments, styling and presentation.
- Soft furnishings – cushions, curtains, and textile items for interiors.
- Stitched and embellished textiles – embroidery, applique, beading.
- Textile installation – site-specific or conceptual textile-based artworks.
Students must:
- Explore visual elements such as texture, pattern, line and shape.
- Use traditional and/or digital methods in 2D and/or 3D.
- Investigate textile artists, designers and relevant movements.
- Record and develop ideas through practical and contextual work.
- Produce final outcomes reflecting individual ideas and intentions.
Assessment structure
Component 1: Portfolio (non-exam assessment)
- Worth 60% of total qualification.
- Set and marked by the centre; externally moderated.
- Comprises:
- One major sustained project developed in depth.
- Additional work showing breadth of textile experimentation.
- Must address all assessment objectives:
- AO1: Develop ideas informed by textile contexts.
- AO2: Refine through material and process exploration.
- AO3: Record observations and design development.
- AO4: Present a resolved and personal textile response.
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment
- Worth 40% of total qualification.
- Paper released in January of the examination year.
- Includes preparatory period and 10 hours of supervised time.
- Students create a final textile piece based on a chosen starting point.
- All assessment objectives assessed holistically.
Key tips for success
Doing well in your WJEC Eduqas GCSE Art & Design: Textile 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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