Award Received

National 5 (Grades A-D)

Entry Level

What do I need to do it?

Students should have acquired the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and understanding through the following route: National 4 Art & Design Course and/ or equivalent qualification.

It is also important that students have a genuine interest and enthusiasm as well as a creative aptitude for Art and Design.

Course Content

What will I learn?

The learning experiences in National 5 Art & Design are flexible and adaptable, with opportunities for personalisation and choice within both Expressive and Design contexts. This makes the Course highly accessible to students, as it can be individually contextualised to suit a diverse range of learners’ needs and aspirations.

Teaching Methods

What will I do?

On completing the Course, students will have developed enhanced skills in planning, producing, presenting and evaluating high quality art and design solutions. Students will have used a range of different materials, techniques and/or technological approaches within creative frameworks whilst developing and refining initial ideas towards finished artworks. Alongside this students will also develop an understanding of artists and designers within historical, social and cultural contexts as well as revered practitioners. Throughout the course students are encouraged to be resilient and self – reflective. An ability to work independently and at times collaboratively with others is essential.

Assessment

To achieve the Course you must pass all three core course components:

Component 1: Question Paper, 50 marks

Component 2: Expressive Portfolio, 100 marks

Component 3: Design Portfolio, 100 marks

All course components are externally assessed by SQA

 

Component 1: Question Paper

The question paper adds value by requiring integration and application of skills, knowledge and understanding of art and design practice from across all areas of the Course.

The written question paper comprises two sections:

Section 1: Expressive Art Studies, 25 marks

Section 2: Design Studies, 25 marks

The final written exam lasts 1 hour 30 minutes.

Within the question paper students are expected to prepare and revise for two mandatory historical questions and also to critically respond to two unseen images with prompts. Students are expected to justify opinions on identified aspects of art and design issues.

 

Component 2: Expressive Portfolio

The practical work produced throughout Expressive Portfolio will help students to develop personal thoughts and ideas in a visual format either 2D or 3D. In relation to this students will develop critical understanding of artists’ working practices and the social/ cultural factors which influenced them. Initially, students will select stimuli from two genres e.g. Portraiture or Still Life, produce analytical drawings and studies which form investigation studies. The investigation will develop and be refined through development of composition, experimenting with and using a range of materials, techniques and/or technology. A 2D and/or 3D format for the final outcome when responding to stimuli concludes the Course. An evaluation based upon personal reflection is an integral requirement to the final Portfolio submission.

 

Component 3: Design Portfolio

The practical work produced throughout Design Portfolio will help students to integrate and apply practical design skills as well as their knowledge and understanding of design practice across the Course. In relation to this students will develop critical understanding of designers’ working practices and the social/cultural factors which influenced them. Initially, students will select a design brief from two genres e.g. Graphic Design or Head piece/ Body Adornment. Working within the constraints of a brief, students then conduct analytical drawing ideas, market and product research which form investigation studies. The investigation will then select and pursue one line of enquiry and be explored through development of refined experimentation with and using a range of materials, techniques and/or technology. A 2D and/or 3D format for the final outcome when responding the chosen design brief concludes the Course. An evaluation based upon personal reflection is an integral requirement to the final Portfolio submission.

Homework

Students are expected to complete both written and practical homework tasks. Individual and group homework will be specified by the class teacher and set within an agreed timeframe.

Progression in the Senior Phase

Successful completion of the National 5 Course may lead to Higher Art.