Students are required to work in one or more area(s) of graphic communication, such as those listed below. They may explore overlapping areas and combinations of areas:
Course Content
There is synoptic assessment in both components of the A-level that provide stretch and challenge opportunities for students as follows:
- Interactive media (including web, app and game design)
- Advertising
- Packaging design
- Design for print
- Illustration
- Communication graphics
- Branding
- Multimedia
- Motion graphics
- Design for film and television
Year 12
Y12 Assessment
Component 1
Students develop work based on an idea, issue, concept or theme leading to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes. Practical elements should make connections with some aspect of contemporary or past practice of artist(s), designer(s), photographers or craftspeople and include written work of no less than 1000 and no more than 3000 words which supports the practical work.
Half Term 1 (Sept-Nov)
Half Term 2 (Nov – Dec)
Half Term 3 (Jan – Feb)
Half Term 4 (Feb – March)
Half Term 5 (April – May)
Half Term 6 (May – July)
Half Term 1 (Sept-Nov)
Focus and Topic
- Link project: Alien poster
Core Knowledge
- CAD: Photoshop.
Core Skills
- CAD skills: Importing images, adding layers, selecting layers, editing, toolbars, blending.
Assessment
- Assessment objectives AO1/AO2/AO3/AO4 are used to assess both Components throughout the course.
- AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
- AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
Half Term 2 (Nov – Dec)
Focus and Topic
- Project 2: Promotional poster – Local Town
Core Knowledge
- CAD: Photoshop
- Primary research – photographs
- Sketching – media, materials, techniques and processes.
Core Skills
- CAD skills: Photoshop
- Primary research – photographs
- Sketching skills – pencil, fine liner, pen, mixed media.
Assessment
- Assessment objectives AO1/AO2/AO3/AO4 are used to assess both Components throughout the course.
- AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
- AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
Half Term 3 (Jan – Feb)
Focus and Topic
- Project 3: Illustration – book cover design
Core Knowledge
- CAD: Illustrator
- Primary research – photographs
- Sketching – media, materials, techniques and processes.
- Print making.
Core Skills
- CAD skills: Illustrator
- Primary research – existing designers (Saul Bass; Henri Matisse)
- Mixed media skills – sketching, ‘cut outs’, montage, print making (lino cutting, positive printing, stencil printing, textured printing, engraving).
Assessment
- Assessment objectives AO1/AO2/AO3/AO4 are used to assess both Components throughout the course.
- AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
- AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
Half Term 4 (Feb – March)
Focus and Topic
- Project 3: Illustration – book cover design
Core Knowledge
- CAD: Illustrator; Photoshop.
- Primary research – photographs
- Sketching – media, materials, techniques and processes.
- Print making.
Core Skills
- CAD skills: Illustrator; Photoshop
- Typographic design.
Assessment
- Assessment objectives AO1/AO2/AO3/AO4 are used to assess both Components throughout the course.
- AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
- AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
Half Term 5 (April – May)
Focus and Topic
- Externally set assignment (exam questions)
Core Knowledge
- Existing designer research and analysis (from exam questions).
- Critical links.
- Development of ideas.
- Experimentation with media, materials, techniques and processes.
- Reviewing, developing and refining ideas.
- Recording and reflecting on work to create a meaningful response.
Core Skills
- Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigation of existing artists and designers.
- Analytical and critical understanding.
- Exploration of appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes. Reviewing, development and refining ideas.
- Recording of ideas, observations and insights.
- Reflecting critically on work and progress.
- Presenting a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions.
Assessment
- Assessment objectives AO1/AO2/AO3/AO4 are used to assess both Components throughout the course.
- AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
- AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
Half Term 6 (May – July)
Focus and Topic
- Exam
Core Knowledge
- Existing designer research and analysis (from exam questions).
- Critical links.
- Development of ideas.
- Experimentation with media, materials, techniques and processes.
- Reviewing, developing and refining ideas.
- Recording and reflecting on work to create a meaningful response.
Core Skills
- Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigation of existing artists and designers.
- Analytical and critical understanding.
- Exploration of appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes. Reviewing, development and refining ideas.
- Recording of ideas, observations and insights.
- Reflecting critically on work and progress.
- Presenting a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions.
Assessment
- Assessment objectives AO1/AO2/AO3/AO4 are used to assess both Components throughout the course.
- AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
- AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
Year 13
Y13 Assessment
Component 2
| Assessment Objectives (AOs) | Component 1 Weightings (%) | Component 2 Weightings (%) | Overall Weightings of AOs (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO1 | 15% | 10% | 25% |
| AO2 | 15% | 10% | 25% |
| AO3 | 15% | 10% | 25% |
| AO4 | 15% | 10% | 25% |
| Overall Weightings | 60% | 40% |
Students respond to a stimulus, provided by AQA, to produce work which provides evidence of their ability to work independently within specified time constraints, developing a personal and meaningful response which addresses all the assessment objectives and leads to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes.
Half Term 1 (Sept-Nov)
Half Term 2 (Nov – Dec)
Half Term 3 (Jan – Feb)
Half Term 4 (Feb – March)
Half Term 5 (April – May)
Half Term 6 (May – July)
Half Term 1 (Sept-Nov)
Focus and Topic
- Link project: Alien poster
Core Knowledge
- CAD: Photoshop.
Core Skills
- CAD skills: Importing images, adding layers, selecting layers, editing, toolbars, blending.
Assessment
- Assessment objectives AO1/AO2/AO3/AO4 are used to assess both Components throughout the course.
- AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
- AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
Half Term 2 (Nov – Dec)
Focus and Topic
- Project 2: Promotional poster – Local Town
Core Knowledge
- CAD: Photoshop
- Primary research – photographs
- Sketching – media, materials, techniques and processes.
Core Skills
- CAD skills: Photoshop
- Primary research – photographs
- Sketching skills – pencil, fine liner, pen, mixed media.
Assessment
- Assessment objectives AO1/AO2/AO3/AO4 are used to assess both Components throughout the course.
- AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
- AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
Half Term 3 (Jan – Feb)
Focus and Topic
- Project 3: Illustration – book cover design
Core Knowledge
- CAD: Illustrator
- Primary research – photographs
- Sketching – media, materials, techniques and processes.
- Print making.
Core Skills
- CAD skills: Illustrator
- Primary research – existing designers (Saul Bass; Henri Matisse)
- Mixed media skills – sketching, ‘cut outs’, montage, print making (lino cutting, positive printing, stencil printing, textured printing, engraving).
Assessment
- Assessment objectives AO1/AO2/AO3/AO4 are used to assess both Components throughout the course.
- AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
- AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
Half Term 4 (Feb – March)
Focus and Topic
- Project 3: Illustration – book cover design
Core Knowledge
- CAD: Illustrator; Photoshop.
- Primary research – photographs
- Sketching – media, materials, techniques and processes.
- Print making.
Core Skills
- CAD skills: Illustrator; Photoshop
- Typographic design.
Assessment
- Assessment objectives AO1/AO2/AO3/AO4 are used to assess both Components throughout the course.
- AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
- AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
Half Term 5 (April – May)
Focus and Topic
- Externally set assignment (exam questions)
Core Knowledge
- Existing designer research and analysis (from exam questions).
- Critical links.
- Development of ideas.
- Experimentation with media, materials, techniques and processes.
- Reviewing, developing and refining ideas.
- Recording and reflecting on work to create a meaningful response.
Core Skills
- Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigation of existing artists and designers.
- Analytical and critical understanding.
- Exploration of appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes. Reviewing, development and refining ideas.
- Recording of ideas, observations and insights.
- Reflecting critically on work and progress.
- Presenting a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions.
Assessment
- Assessment objectives AO1/AO2/AO3/AO4 are used to assess both Components throughout the course.
- AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
- AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
Half Term 6 (May – July)
Focus and Topic
- Exam
Core Knowledge
- Existing designer research and analysis (from exam questions).
- Critical links.
- Development of ideas.
- Experimentation with media, materials, techniques and processes.
- Reviewing, developing and refining ideas.
- Recording and reflecting on work to create a meaningful response.
Core Skills
- Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigation of existing artists and designers.
- Analytical and critical understanding.
- Exploration of appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes. Reviewing, development and refining ideas.
- Recording of ideas, observations and insights.
- Reflecting critically on work and progress.
- Presenting a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions.
Assessment
- Assessment objectives AO1/AO2/AO3/AO4 are used to assess both Components throughout the course.
- AO1: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
- AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
Key Info
- Start Date: September 2026
- Awarding Body: AQA
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Course Length: 2 Years
Entry Requirements
TBC
Complementary Subjects
Other subjects that combine well with Art, Craft & Design include:
- 3D Design
- Art, Craft & Design
- Media Studies
- English Literature
- History
- Classical Civilisations
Career Opportunities
With the rise of digital media, there are so many career options available to students who study Graphic Communications. For example, an Imagineer, described often as one of the best jobs in the world. An Imagineer basically designs attractions and experiences for the Walt Disney Parks around the world.
Some other careers include: Branding designer, Advertising designer, Package design, Editorial design, Layout artist, Information graphics design, Front end web designer, Mobile designer, Motion design, Visual design, Creative director, Typographer, Exhibition designer, Print designer, Textile Designer, T-shirts designer, Poster Designer, Multimedia designer, Film title designer, Designer for a public relations firm, Photography and Broadcast designer.