GCE A2 PHOTOGRAPHY

Techniques, resources and skills for improved delivery

General Information2012 - 2013

The OCR GCE Art & Design Suite

• The following slides provide general information in respect of the GCE A2 Photography Specification.

The OCR Art & Design SuiteYEAR 9 Entry Level Certificate Foundation year for GCSE

One portfolio unitOne Set work60% and 40%

YEAR 10YEAR 11

GCSE One PortfolioOne Set task60% and 40%

YEAR 12 AS One Candidate PortfolioOne Controlled Assignment60% and 40%

YEAR 13 A2 One Personal InvestigationOne Controlled Assignment60% and 40%

GCE A2 Specification: Key Points• One ‘Personal Investigation’• Centre set preparation time for the examination (Controlled

Assignment)• Assessment Criteria: ‘D.E.R.P.’

• AO1 Develop• AO2 Experiment• A03 Record• AO4 Presentwith the (mark) emphasis on AO3 and AO4

• Examination Paper including Visual Starting Points

GCE A2 Specification: Key Points

• Centre assessment for the Personal Investigation and Controlled Assignment

• Personal starting point(s) for Personal Investigation• Moderation visits• Moderation displays of work by Units and in rank order• Unit weighting: Personal Investigation 60%: Controlled

Assignment 40%• Mark weighting: total 100 marks for each Unit• Standard of work: OCR national standards

Unit Codes

F433 / F443 F4 = GCE 2nd number = 1 = Personal Investigation or 2nd number = 2 = Controlled Assignment Last number = endorsement route i.e. 3 = Photography

Personal Investigation Controlled Assignment

F431 Fine Art F441 Fine Art

F432 Graphic Comm F442 Graphic Comm

F433 Photography F443 Photography

F434 Textile Design F444 Textile Design

F435 3-D Design F445 3-D Design

F436 Critical/Context F446 Critical/Context

Personal Investigation & Controlled Assignment

Aggregation Codes

Art and Design H560

Fine Art H561

Graphic Communication H562

Photography H563

Textile Design H564

3-Dimensional Design H565

Critical and Contextual H566

Endorsements

• Art and Design – Combined Areas of Study• Fine Art• Graphic Communication• Photography – Lens and Light-based Media• Textile Design• Three-dimensional Design• Critical and Contextual Studies

Marking and Moderation

• All Units internally assessed and externally moderated• GCE mark deadline: 31st May• Moderation by visit• June assessment session only• GCE results: 15th August

Specification structure Weightings

Unit

Personal Investigation 60%

Controlled Assignment 40%

Unit 3: Personal Investigation

Focus on:• The use of personal starting points to produce a major

project• Working through a range of Photography experiences• Evidence of sustained planning and preparation• Final pieces that show a creative, engaged and informed

personal response• Candidates realising their intentions in a way that sums up

their experiences of the course as a whole

Unit 2: Controlled Assignment

• Works from early release paper containing Controlled Assignment starting points

• Same paper for all endorsements• Candidates select one starting point, theme or brief• Can be handed out to candidates from 1 February• Planning and prep time determined by the centre• Then work within 15 hours of supervised time to develop

ideas into realisation/outcome.

Unit 2: Controlled Assignment

The Paper has 5 Sections:

• Section 1 Stimuli• Section 2 Observational• Section 3 Design Brief• Section 4 Art in Context• Section 5 Visual Starting Points

Assessment – the tools(D.E.R.P)

Both units marked out of 100

AO1 Develop 20

AO2 Experiment 20

AO3 Record 30

AO4 Present 30

AO1 Develop

• Candidates develop their ideas through investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding

AO2 Experiment

• Candidates refine their ideas through experimenting and selecting appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes

AO3 Record

• Candidates record ideas, observations and insights relevant to their intentions in visual and/or other forms

AO4 Present

• Candidates present, informed and meaningful responses demonstrating critical understanding, realising intentions and where appropriate, make connections between visual, written, oral or other elements

Assessment – the tools

• Common mark grid for the Personal Investigation and Controlled Assignment

• Grids have 6 Bands:

Band 1 Partial Band 4 Coherent

Band 2 Basic Band 5 Confident

Band 3 Competent Band 6 Mature

Assessment – the marks• Total of 20 marks for Assessment Objectives 1 and 2• Total of 30 marks for Assessment Objectives 3 and 4

Band 1

AO1/2: 1-3

AO3/4: 1-5

Band 4

AO1/2: 12-14

AO3/4: 16-20

Band 2

AO1/2: 4-7

AO3/4: 6-10

Band 5

AO1/2: 15-17

AO3/4: 21-25

Band 3

AO1/2: 8-11

AO3/4: 11-15

Band 6

AO1/2: 18-20

AO3/4: 26-30

Awarding marks – ‘best fit’ approach

Where candidate’s work:convincingly meets the descriptor, the highest mark within

the band should be awardedadequately meets the descriptor, the most appropriate mark

in the middle range of the band should be awardedjust meets the descriptor, the lowest mark in the band should

be awardedfails to meet any aspect of the descriptor within the lowest

band then 0 marks should be awarded

Awarding marks – Written Communication

Quality of written communication is assessed when candidates present written evidence.When communicating in writing, candidates are expected to:

• Ensure that text is legible and that spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate so that meaning is clear

• Present information in a form that suits its purpose

• Use a suitable structure and style of writing

Controlled Assignment

Teachers must ensure that:• Candidates have at least three weeks to plan and prepare their

work• The 15 hours of supervised time is undertaken strictly under

examination conditions (no music, iPods or MP3 players, mobile ’phones)

• After the start of the supervised time both preparatory studies and outcomes are kept securely within the Centre.

Controlled Assignment

The Controlled Assignment must be conducted in a way that:•Conforms to OFQUAL guidelines•Supports authentication•Has a framework for supervision•Protects against plagiarism

Examination Regulations

OCR website – www.ocr.org.uk

Insite - Administration documents for EO’s

Administration guide for general qualifications

Support

Schemes of Work and lesson plans available on the OCR website

Teacher’s Guide is being updated and includes guidance on Units and endorsements

Exemplar work available on the website – for both Units with guidance on applying assessment criteria

Support

Jane BeagrieQualifications Manager

Email: jane.beagrie@ocr.org.ukTel: 02476 856082

Customer Contact CentreTel: 01223 553998