Pre A Level Art & Design · S1 Assessments
Pre A Level Art & Design · Semester 1 Plan
Assessments for Grade 10 Art, Semester 1 (2026-27), graded under the BNDS A-Level Handbook categories — see BNDS Assessment Framework for the framework. Weights: Attainment 50% · Course Skills 20% · Learning Behaviour 10% · End of Term Exam 20%.
Attainments (50%) — A1–A5
| Code | Date (Wed) | Task | Marking focus | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 2026-09-30 | Final observational drawing + reflection (made in class, W4–W5) | Observation, tone, composition | U1 |
| A2 | 2026-11-04 | Photographic series + reflection — select, sequence, submit | Framing, viewpoint, light, series thinking | U2 |
| A3 | 2026-12-09 | Final collage + reflection (made in class, W14–W15) | Juxtaposition, layering, composition, meaning | U3 |
| A4 | 2026-12-23 | Final poster + reflection (handmade or digital) | Hierarchy, typography, message, audience | U4 |
| A5 | 2027-01-06 | Sketchbook submitted for assessment — the whole semester’s work | Ideas, experimentation, visual research, reflection, presentation | sketchbook (all units) |
A5 — the sketchbook
Your fifth attainment is the sketchbook itself, submitted for assessment on the last teaching session, Wed 2027-01-06 (W19), alongside the End-of-Term portfolio. It carries your whole semester’s work, so it is known from the first week. It is assessed on ideas and creativity, experimentation, visual research, critical reflection, and presentation.
Course Skills (20%) — CS1–CS4 + HW1 + SB1–SB2 (sketchbook)
| Code | Date | Task | Focus | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS1 | 2026-09-23 | Exercise-set check (contour, tonal, texture, negative-space studies) | The visual elements | U1 |
| HW1 | due 2026-10-14 | Break photo task, set 2026-09-30: ≥20 photos, one subject, varied viewpoint/light | Looking before composing | U1→U2 bridge |
| SB1 | 2026-10-21 | Sketchbook spot-check 1 — progress and upkeep | Sketchbook habit and development | sketchbook (all) |
| CS2 | 2026-10-28 | Composition practice set + contact-sheet edit | Framing and selection | U2 |
| CS3 | 2026-11-25 | Collage experiment set | Combination and meaning | U3 |
| SB2 | 2026-12-02 | Sketchbook spot-check 2 — progress and upkeep | Sketchbook habit and development | sketchbook (all) |
| CS4 | 2026-12-16 | Thumbnail set + poster analysis | Hierarchy and audience | U4 |
Sketchbook spot-checks (SB1, SB2): your sketchbook is checked twice during the semester for a Course Skills mark — Wed 2026-10-21 and Wed 2026-12-02. The focus is progress and upkeep, not a full grade against the A5 rubric.
Learning Behaviour (10%)
Post your sketchbook on MB after every session — 17 postings across the semester (W18 falls in the winter break). This carries the one-grade-per-week rule.
The sketchbook earns marks three ways: the weekly posting here (Learning Behaviour), two spot-checks during the semester (Course Skills — SB1 2026-10-21, SB2 2026-12-02), and the final submission (Attainment A5, due 2027-01-06).
End of Term (20%)
Semester portfolio due Wed 2027-01-06 (W19): the four finals + process work + reflections, reviewed during the exam window (2027-01-11 → 01-18).