S3 Unit 4: Development, Second Pass
A Level Art & Design · Semester 3 Plan · Unit 4 · 2nd of 4 this semester · ← Unit 1 | Unit 5 →
What this unit does
This unit finishes the development pass, under AO3 Develop. You compose final-outcome candidates from your summer production (not from memory), carry two forward, and build both to the same standard. Targeted tests change the composition based on evidence. A structured critique and a written evaluation assemble your decision trail on the Stage 6 page. You complete research paper draft 2 section by section, teacher-marked. A self-check against the AO3 descriptors comes before the milestone. The unit closes with A1, marked against AO3.
Where this fits
This is the second pass of the development stage — Semester 2 built the first-pass compositions; Semester 3 develops the final-outcome candidates. Semester 3 has no recording or exploration units, as those are complete.
Dates & span
Weeks W2–W7 (2027-09-08 → ~2027-10-14), 22 sessions, spanning the Mid-Autumn (W3) and National Day (W5–W6) reduced weeks. These dates may shift when the school publishes the calendar for this period.
Sequence of work
| Code | Session | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| U4·L1 | Compose final outcome candidates | From the summer work, not memory |
| U4·L2–L3 | Studio: build candidate compositions (2-day session) | Far enough to judge |
| U4·L4 | Studio: candidate sequence | Two carried forward |
| U4·L5 | Research paper draft 2 opens | Structure first, section by section |
| U4·L6 | Studio: candidate development | Both to the same standard |
| U4·L7 | Draft 2 sections continue | Argument before prose |
| U4·L8 | Studio: development studies | Studies that decide things |
| U4·L9–L10 | Studio: targeted tests (2-day session) | Only what is unresolved |
| U4·L11 | Studio: act on the tests | Change because of evidence |
| U4·L12 | Structured critique of the candidates | Against intention, not effort |
| U4·L13 | Studio: draft the evaluation | In writing, against the intention |
| U4·L14 | Studio: assemble the Stage 6 page | A trail of decisions |
| U4·L15 | Studio: candidate refinement | The chosen candidate, up before the break |
| U4·L16 | Development push | Before the holiday |
| U4·L17 | Studio: development gap repair | Everything to the same standard |
| U4·L18 | Studio: finalise the evaluation | Portfolio material |
| U4·L19 | Studio: pre-milestone repair | Close the named gaps |
| U4·L20 | Self-check against AO3 | Band descriptors, honestly applied |
| U4·L21 | A1: Development milestone | Tested, rejected, decided, plus draft 2 |
| U4·L22 | Feedback and targets | Three specific actions |
Assessment
A1, Thu 2027-10-14 — development milestone plus research paper draft 2, marked against AO3; feeds the mid-term grade at the two-week minimum. CS tasks: CS2 Fri 2027-09-10 (composition studies), CS3 Fri 2027-09-17 (draft 2 sections), CS4 Fri 2027-09-24 (targeted tests). See the full register. These dates may shift when the school publishes the calendar for this period.
Key content
- Two candidates reach a judgeable standard; you choose one and write the rejection.
- Development should read as tested, rejected, decided on the Stage 6 page — not a gallery of effort.
- Draft 2 argues; the summer reading appears woven into the argument, not as summary.