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GCSE photography

Specifications

This example of a course overview from the AQA specification shows the typical division of Units (Unit 1: Portfolio, Unit 2: Externally Set Task) and % weighting of marks available (60:40).

AQA

Photography - Lens and Light-based Media (42061, 42062)

Edexcel

Photography - Lens and Light-based Media (2PY01, 3PY01)

WJEC

Photography - Lens and Light-based Media (4070)

OCR

Photography - Lens and Light-based Media (J163)
Picture
NB. Short course versions of these specifications are available.

Assessment Objectives

Picture
This example from the WJEC specification illustrates the typical set of assessment objectives and weighting for all the boards. Equal emphasis is placed on the four objectives and the language used is very similar. They can be summarised as follows:

AO1: Research & ideas
AO2: Experimentation, refinement & development
AO3: Documentation of learning
AO4: Responses and evaluations

Choosing a specification

There is very little to choose between these specifications. Each requires students to create a Portfolio of work for Unit 1 and begin the Externally Set Task for Unit 2 beginning in January of the year of examination. The only slight difference is in the stimulus material provided by each exam board. For example, AQA provide a choice of 7 themes from which candidates must choose one. These are specific to each endorsement. WJEC provide 21 starting points that mix words and images for all their endorsements as do OCR who provide a mixture of 10 written and image based starting points. Edexcel provide one over-arching theme which is then presented as a number of sub-themes.

In each case, Units 1 and 2 are marked by the centre and moderated by an external examiner.

Example Course Guide

GCSE Photography Guide handout 2015-16
File Size: 19849 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Contact

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