National Qualifications Review
Consultation
Art and Design: suggested models for
consideration
Suggested models
This document gives details of suggested models to address the issues raised in the Subject Review Report
and in feedback. A copy of the Report is enclosed.
It is important to note that the report specifies that ‘the number of external assessment components should
be reduced to two components per Course’ and the policy guidelines used in implementing the design and
assessment criteria in National Courses state that two components of external assessment should be the
maximum. This was in response to teachers’ demands for a streamlining of assessment within National
Qualifications. The report was approved by Ministers for implementation and therefore the consultation
and development phase is expected to lead to the implementation of Courses with two external assessment
components. It is anticipated that the three Units will remain and that the content of each Course may not
change significantly.
Please consider the following models carefully (there are three for Intermediate 2 and Higher, and a further
one for Intermediate 1) before choosing and recording your preferred model in the questionnaire
accompanying this document. You may also wish to suggest other models and we would welcome such
suggestions, together with your reasons for making them. You may like some elements of a particular
model but not others – please let us know. Please record any additional comments you wish to be taken
into account in the space provided.
In considering the models, you should bear in mind that the chosen model must lead to a reduction in the
overall assessment burden and must clearly distinguish between requirements for internal assessment and
those for external assessment.
Notes on completing the questionnaire
The Scottish Qualifications Authority has been working with the Scottish Executive to review all NQ
subject areas and, in particular, to consider how best to reduce the complexity, variety and total volume of
assessment in each subject. The Review Reports for each subject are now complete and have been
considered by National Qualifications Task Group (NQTG) and National Qualifications Steering Group
(NQSG) and approved by Ministers for implementation. NQTG was set up by the Scottish Executive to
oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the report Review of the initial implementation of
new National Qualifications (June 2001) and the subject specific recommendations. The group includes
representatives of stakeholder groups such as schools, FE and unions. NQSG also includes stakeholder
representatives and monitors the implementation of new National Qualifications and gives advice to
Ministers.
As a result of the review process a number of subjects, including Art and Design, were identified as
requiring major change. The Report for Art and Design is enclosed.
The issues to be addressed when revising the content, structure and assessment of Courses in Art and
Design are summarised below:

The purpose and focus of the Courses.

The scope, nature and content of Courses and Units (reducing content to a manageable level).

The need to develop a viable model and rationale for assessment that clearly distinguish between the
evidence requirements for internal and external assessment and avoid duplication of effort, with this
being reflected in revised assessment specifications.

Preparation time for Unit assessment should be reduced to a maximum of 8 hours per 40-hour Unit and
summative Unit assessment tasks to a maximum of 1 hour 30 minutes per 40-hour Unit.

The number of external assessment components should be reduced to two components per Course. In
addition, the volume of assessment in individual external assessment components should be reduced.
The overall external assessment burden should be reduced by removing assessment duplication across
external assessment components.

The Unit structure and framework of Advanced Higher Courses.
Further consultation is now being undertaken by SQA to determine how these issues can be resolved. This
consultation has been drawn up in response to the Subject Review Report and feedback gathered in 2003
from an initial telephone consultation, national seminars about Understanding Standards and consultation
with the Subject Advisory Group, which includes practitioners and was set up to advise on issues arising
from the review. The majority of issues raised are covered in the Course models presented here.
If you have any other issues that you feel have not been addressed, please feel free to raise them in the
appropriate comments section.
By completing this questionnaire, you have the opportunity to influence the way these recommendations
will be implemented.
A number of issues are explored in this questionnaire. Please take time to consider the
models given here before giving your responses. Please do offer comment where you
wish to do so. There is additional space provided for any further comments which you
may have on each section.
Suggested Models for Intermediate 2
and Higher
The following three Course models are all made up of three 40-hour Units. The internal assessment for
each Unit is the same in each model. The suggested Units and assessment are as follows:
Model 1
This Course model is made up of three 40-hour Units with two externally assessed components:
Units
Expressive
Design
Art and Design Studies
Externally assessed components
Expressive or Design
Art and Design Studies
Internal assessment
Expressive Unit
A Unit pass will be achieved by producing a thematic investigative body of work/folio demonstrating
analytical drawing skills, media handling and compositional skills.
(Minimum of: 2 pieces of analytical drawing work, 2 pieces demonstrating media handling, and 2
demonstrating understanding of compositional issues)
Note: This folio in its entirety will not be submitted for Course assessment. It is evidence for a Unit pass
only.
Design Unit
A Unit pass will be achieved by producing research and development evidence in response to a brief
negotiated between tutor and candidate. At this stage two ideas will be required - one of these would be
fully developed clearly indicating the final solution.
Note: The research work will not be submitted for Course assessment. It is evidence for a Unit pass only.
Art and Design Studies Unit
A Unit pass will be achieved by meeting the requirements set in NABs (or equivalent centre devised tests)
demonstrating knowledge and understanding of a selected area of the visual arts and design in both
historical and contemporary contexts.
External assessment: components of Course assessment
Expressive or Design
Candidates will choose whether to undertake their external assessment in EITHER Design OR Expressive
activity and produce their final solution to the selected activity in class time under controlled conditions
(see last page) and within a set time-frame.
Requirements for submission
Either
Expressive
 Two A2 sheets of sample unit work
 Final Outcome maximum size A2 or equivalent
or
Design
 Two A2 sheets of development work
 One A2 sheet or equivalent for final solution
 One evaluation
Art & Design Studies
Candidates will respond to a question paper set by SQA.
Awards
Candidates will gain a Course award on the successful completion of all three internally assessed Units
and success in the components of Course assessment. The grade would be made up of the marks for the
two components of external Course assessment – ie Expressive or Design, and the question paper.
Model 2
This Course model is made up of three 40-hour Units with two externally assessed practical components:
Units
Expressive
Design
Art and Design Studies
Externally assessed components
Expressive
Design
Note: there will be no external written examination and only marks from the two practical external
assessments will contribute to the final Course grade.
Internal assessment
Expressive Unit
A Unit pass will be achieved by producing a thematic investigative body of work/folio, demonstrating
analytical drawing skills, media handling and compositional skills.
(Minimum of: 2 pieces of analytical drawing work, 2 pieces demonstrating media handling, and 2
demonstrating understanding of compositional issues)
Note: This folio in its entirety will not be submitted for Course assessment. It is evidence for a Unit pass
only.
Design Unit
A Unit pass will be achieved by producing research and development evidence in response to a brief
negotiated between tutor and candidate. At this stage two ideas will be required - one of these would be
fully developed clearly indicating the final solution.
Note: The research work will not be submitted for Course assessment. It is evidence for a Unit pass only.
Art and Design Studies Unit
A Unit pass will be achieved by meeting the requirements set in NABs (or equivalent centre devised tests)
demonstrating knowledge and understanding of a selected area of the visual arts and design in both
historical and contemporary contexts.
External assessment: components of Course assessment
Expressive
Candidates will produce a single piece of art work which relates to the chosen theme and folio work. This
single piece of work will be produced in a practical examination (of 3 or 5 hours) undertaken within a set
time-frame.
Design
Candidates submit a final solution to their Design Unit that has been completed in class time under
controlled conditions (see last page). The final solution, evaluation and a maximum of 2 x A2 sheets of
related development work will be subject to external assessment.
Requirements for submission
 One single piece of artwork maximum size A2 or equivalent (Expressive)
 Two A2 sheets of development work (Design)


One A2 sheet or equivalent for final solution (Design)
One evaluation
Awards
Candidates will gain a Course award on the successful completion of all three internally assessed Units
and success in the components of Course assessment. The grade would be made up of the marks for the
two components of external Course assessment – one practical examination and submission of the Design
practical folio.
Model 3
This Course model is made up of three 40-hour Units with two externally assessed components:
Units
Expressive
Design
Art and Design Studies
Externally assessed components
Practical folio
Art and Design Studies
Internal assessment
Expressive Unit
A Unit pass will be achieved by producing a thematic investigative body of work/folio, demonstrating
analytical drawing skills, media handling and compositional skills.
(Minimum of: 2 pieces of analytical drawing work, 2 pieces demonstrating media handling, and 2
demonstrating understanding of compositional issues)
Note: This folio in its entirety will not be submitted for Course assessment. It is evidence for a Unit pass
only.
Design Unit
A Unit pass will be achieved by producing research and development evidence in response to a brief
negotiated between tutor and candidate. At this stage two ideas will be required - one of these would be
fully developed clearly indicating the final solution.
Note: The research work will not be submitted for Course assessment. It is evidence for a Unit pass only.
Art and Design Studies Unit
A Unit pass will be achieved by meeting the requirements set in NABs (or equivalent centre devised tests)
demonstrating knowledge and understanding of a selected area of the visual arts and design in both
historical and contemporary contexts.
External assessment: components of Course assessment
Note: Candidates will submit a combined Expressive and Design folio for assessment.
Practical folio
Expressive
Candidates will submit a folio of a maximum of 2 x A2 sheets which samples items from the internal unit
plus one final piece of artwork which clearly relates to the chosen theme and folio work. This single piece
of art work will be produced in the classroom under controlled conditions (see last page) within a set timeframe.
Design
Candidates will submit a final solution to their design Unit that has been completed in class time under
controlled conditions (see last page). The solution, evaluation and a maximum of 2 x A2 sheets of related
development work will be submitted for external assessment.
Requirements for submission
One single practical folio containing:
Expressive
 One single piece of artwork maximum size A2 or equivalent
 Two A2 sheets of sample unit work
Design
 Two A2 sheets of development work
 One A2 sheet or equivalent for final solution
 One evaluation
Art and Design Studies
Candidates will respond to a question paper set by SQA.
Awards
Candidates will gain a Course award on the successful completion of all three internally assessed Units
and success in the components of Course assessment. The grade would be made up of the marks for the
two components of external Course assessment – a practical folio and the question paper.
Suggested Models for Intermediate 1
The questionnaire accompanying this document asks you to tell us whether you think it would be
appropriate for candidates at Intermediate 1 level to follow the Course Model you have selected for
Intermediate 2 and Higher Courses. If you do not think this would be appropriate, the following model
is proposed.
Alternative Model for Intermediate 1
This Course model is made up of three 40-hour Units with two externally assessed components:
Units
Expressive
Design
Art and Design Studies
Externally assessed components
Expressive
Design
Note: There will be no formal written essays at this level and no external assessment of written work. Only
marks from the two practical activities would contribute to the final Course grade.
Internal assessment
Expressive Unit
A Unit pass will be achieved by producing an investigative body of work/folio, demonstrating analytical
drawing, media handling and compositional skills. (There will be no restriction on the scale of work or
number of items produced.)
Note: This folio will not be submitted for Course assessment. It is evidence for a Unit pass only.
Design Unit
A Unit pass will be achieved by producing research and development evidence in response to a brief
negotiated between tutor and candidate. At this stage two ideas will be required - one of these would be
fully developed clearly indicating the final solution.
Art and Design Studies Unit
Candidates undertaking the Art and Design Studies Unit as part of a Course will research the work of artists
and designers whose practice is relevant to their own work. A Unit pass will be achieved by meeting the
requirements set in NABs (or equivalent centre devised tests).
The research should be integrated with candidates’ own practical work as far as possible. (This would be
done through notes and sketches etc.)
Candidates undertaking the Unit on its own should identify artists and designers whose work is of
particular personal interest.
External Assessment
Expressive
Candidates will undertake a practical examination (of 3 or 5 hours) undertaken within a set time-frame to
produce the final outcome to the Expressive activity.
Design
Candidates submit a final solution to their Design Unit that has been completed in class time under
controlled conditions (see next page). The solution, evaluation and a maximum of 2 x A2 sheets of related
development work will be subject to assessment.
Requirements for submission
 One single piece of artwork maximum size A2 or equivalent (Expressive)
 Two A2 sheets of development work (Design)
 One A2 sheet or equivalent for final solution (Design)
 One evaluation
Awards
Candidates will gain a Course award on the successful completion of all three internally assessed Units
and success in the components of Course assessment. The grade would be made up of the marks for the
two components of external Course assessment – Design and Expressive.
Note about controlled conditions–
The term controlled conditions refers to the arrangements which ensure that:
- each candidate has access only to the information, resources and equipment prescribed for the
assessment activity
- communication between candidates is restricted (where specified)
- the layout of the room and the duration of the assessment meets the stated requirements
- assessment activity is supervised - where it is specified that communication between candidates should
be restricted