IGCSE Art & Design Topics by Exam Board: Full List

Published

20 December 2025

Contents

Choosing IGCSE Art & Design means embarking on a creative journey that builds both technical skill and personal expression. Understanding the specific topics and themes your exam board expects will help you plan your coursework effectively and make the most of this rewarding qualification.

Having spent 27 years in education in various roles including Head of GCSE, Head of Sixth Form, and classroom teacher, I know how much clarity matters. Students thrive when they understand what’s expected, and teachers feel more confident guiding them.

This guide comes from years of seeing what works - and what doesn’t -in real classrooms. It breaks down IGCSE Art & Design topics by exam board, so you can see exactly what you'll study and how you'll be assessed.

Key Takeaways

Cambridge (opens in a new tab) and Edexcel (opens in a new tab) are the two main exam boards offering IGCSE Art & Design, each with slightly different structures and emphases.
Both boards assess through two components: a personal coursework portfolio and an externally set assignment completed under timed conditions.
Edexcel offers six endorsed titles including Fine Art, Graphic Communication, Photography, and Textile Design, while Cambridge takes a broader, less specialised approach.
All students are assessed on the same four objectives: recording observations, developing ideas, exploring media and techniques, and presenting a coherent final response.

Which Exam Boards Offer IGCSE Art & Design?

Two main exam boards offer IGCSE Art & Design: Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) (opens in a new tab) and Edexcel (Pearson) (opens in a new tab).

Cambridge IGCSE Art & Design (syllabus code 0400, or 0989 for the 9-1 version) is designed to accommodate a wide range of abilities and resources. It encourages students to develop a personal response through two and three-dimensional work, including traditional and digital media. The syllabus doesn't require students to specialise in one particular area, giving schools and students flexibility to play to their strengths.

Edexcel (Pearson) International GCSE Art & Design offers more structure through six endorsed titles, allowing students to specialise if they wish. This approach can be particularly helpful if you know you want to focus on photography, textiles, or graphic design from the outset. The assessment style and objectives are similar to Cambridge, but the option to follow a specialist pathway sets it apart.

IGCSE Art & Design Topics by Exam Board

Both exam boards structure their syllabuses around creative exploration and the development of technical skills. Here's what each board covers.

Cambridge (CAIE)

Cambridge IGCSE Art & Design (opens in a new tab) doesn't prescribe specific themes or topics in the same way other subjects might. Instead, students work across two components that together demonstrate their creative development:

Component 1: Coursework (50%)

This component is a broad area or theme chosen by you or your teacher. You'll create a portfolio of work that shows your personal journey from initial research through to final pieces. Your portfolio should demonstrate:

Research into artists, designers, and craftspeople relevant to your chosen theme
Development work showing experimentation with different media, materials, and techniques
Observational drawing and recording from primary sources
Refined outcomes that demonstrate technical skill and creative thinking

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (50%)

Cambridge releases a question paper several months before the examination period. You'll select one starting point from the paper and spend time creating supporting studies.

These studies are just as important as your final piece, as they show your creative process. The examination itself lasts eight hours (usually split across two days), during which you produce your final outcome under supervised conditions.

The media you can work with in Cambridge IGCSE Art & Design is deliberately broad. You might use painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, digital media, textiles, or any combination of two-dimensional and three-dimensional approaches. This flexibility means you can genuinely develop work that interests you.

Edexcel (Pearson)

Edexcel International GCSE Art & Design (opens in a new tab)offers six endorsed titles, each with its own focus. Students can choose Art, Craft & Design (which draws from multiple areas) or specialise in one of five specific titles:

Fine Art: Drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture
Graphic Communication: Traditional and digital graphic design, typography, illustration
Textile Design: Constructed textiles, printed and dyed fabrics, fashion design
Three-Dimensional Design: Sculpture, installation, product design
Photography: Digital and film photography, image manipulation, photographic techniques

Like Cambridge, Edexcel assesses through two components:

Component 1: Personal Portfolio (50%)

You'll develop work related to your chosen endorsed title, creating a portfolio that demonstrates technical skill, creativity, and an understanding of contextual references. The work follows a theme or brief set by your teacher.

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (50%)

Edexcel releases an assignment paper with multiple starting points. After a preparation period for supporting studies, you complete 10 hours of supervised work to create your final piece. The preparatory work is assessed alongside the examination outcome.

Assessment Objectives and Components

Both Cambridge and Edexcel assess students using four core assessment objectives. These remain consistent across both boards and are weighted equally throughout your coursework and examination:

AO1: Develop ideas through investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and cultural understanding
AO2: Refine ideas through experimenting and selecting appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques, and processes
AO3: Record ideas, observations, and insights relevant to intentions in visual and other forms
AO4: Present a personal, informed, and meaningful response demonstrating critical understanding, realising intentions, and making connections between visual, written, oral, or other elements.

Here's how the two boards compare in their overall structure:

Feature	Cambridge IGCSE	Edexcel IGCSE
Number of components	2	2
Coursework weighting	50%	50%
Externally set assignment weighting	50%	50%
Supervised test duration	8 hours	10 hours
Specialisation options	General approach across all media	Six endorsed titles available

What Are the Key Differences Between Exam Boards?

The assessment structure for Cambridge and Edexcel IGCSE Art & Design is very similar, but the approach to content and specialisation differs significantly.

Specialisation: Edexcel gives you the option to follow an endorsed title from the start, which can help focus your portfolio if you already know your creative direction. Cambridge takes a broader approach, encouraging exploration across different media without requiring specialisation. This can be an advantage if you want to keep your options open or if your school has strong resources across multiple areas.

Examination duration: Edexcel's 10-hour examination gives you slightly more time to develop your final piece compared to Cambridge's 8 hours. Both allow you to bring in your preparatory studies, so the time difference may not be as significant as it first appears.

Assessment focus: Both boards look for the same four assessment objectives, but Edexcel's endorsed titles mean the assessment criteria are interpreted within specific contexts. For example, if you're following Photography, examiners will expect to see photographic techniques demonstrated clearly.

How To Find Out Which Exam Board You're Studying

Not sure which IGCSE Art & Design exam board your school uses? Here's how to find out:

Ask your art teacher directly: This is the quickest route. Your teacher will know immediately whether you're following Cambridge or Edexcel.
Check your course materials: Your syllabus booklet, coursework handbook, or any official documents from your department should state the exam board.
Look at past papers: If your teacher has given you practice materials, check the header. Cambridge papers (opens in a new tab) will show 0400 or 0989 as the syllabus code, while Edexcel papers (opens in a new tab)will be marked clearly with Pearson branding.
Check your school's exam board list: Many schools publish a list of exam boards used across different subjects on their website.

How To Use IGCSE Art & Design Topic Lists In Your Revision

Understanding your exam board's structure helps you plan effectively. Here's how to turn this knowledge into action:

Map out your portfolio: Look at the four assessment objectives and make sure every piece of work in your portfolio demonstrates at least one of them. Better still, aim for work that covers multiple objectives.
Research artists strategically: Rather than randomly choosing artists, select ones whose work connects directly to your theme and demonstrates the techniques you're exploring. This strengthens AO1.
Document your process: Take photographs of work in progress, keep sketches that didn't make the final cut, and write brief annotations explaining your decisions. This evidence of development is crucial for higher grades.
Practice time management: Before your examination, try creating finished pieces in the allotted time (8 or 10 hours depending on your board). This helps you pace yourself and understand what's achievable under timed conditions.

I’ve seen that success in Art & Design isn’t about being born with some special gift - it’s about commitment and planning. The students who achieve the highest grades are those who take time to organise their ideas, experiment boldly, and reflect on their progress. Treat your portfolio as a story of your creative journey, not just a collection of finished pieces.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between coursework and exams in IGCSE Art?

IGCSE Art & Design coursework (Component 1) is work you develop over an extended period, usually several months. You have time to research, experiment, refine, and create multiple pieces that demonstrate your creative journey.

The externally set assignment (Component 2) works differently. You receive a starting point months in advance and prepare supporting studies, but your final piece must be created during a supervised examination of 8 or 10 hours. Both components are weighted equally, and both require you to demonstrate the same four assessment objectives.

Can I specialise in photography or textiles for IGCSE Art?

This depends on your exam board. If you're following Edexcel International GCSE Art & Design, you can choose to specialise in Photography or Textile Design as endorsed titles, focusing all your work in these areas.

Cambridge IGCSE Art & Design takes a broader approach and doesn't offer formal specialisms, though you can certainly focus heavily on photography or textiles within your portfolio if that's where your interests lie. Check with your teacher which board you're following to understand your options.

Do I have to write an essay in IGCSE Art & Design?

No, IGCSE Art & Design does not require you to write formal essays. However, you do need to provide written annotation throughout your coursework and examination work. These annotations explain your creative decisions, analyse artists' work that has influenced you, and reflect on your development. Think of annotation as a running commentary on your creative process rather than academic essay writing. Keep it clear, relevant, and focused on demonstrating your understanding of visual concepts and techniques.

Final Thoughts

Understanding IGCSE Art & Design topics by exam board gives you a clear roadmap for your coursework and examination preparation. Whether you're following Cambridge's broad, flexible approach or Edexcel's more specialised pathways, the key to success lies in demonstrating genuine creative development across all four assessment objectives.

Use your exam board's specific structure to plan your portfolio strategically, but don't lose sight of what makes art meaningful: your personal response and creative voice. The students who succeed are those who engage fully with the process, take creative risks, and develop work that genuinely interests them. With the right preparation and a clear understanding of what's expected, you're well-positioned to produce a portfolio you can be proud of.

After nearly three decades in education, I’ve learned that the best results come when you enjoy the process. Art isn’t about ticking boxes - it’s about exploring ideas and finding your own voice and tapping into your own creativity. Approach this course with curiosity and commitment, and the grades will take care of themselves.