The CCEA GCSE Art and Design specification develops students’ understanding of how meanings, ideas and intentions can be communicated through visual and tactile language. Students learn how to use different media and technologies to realise their intentions. They develop their understanding of the creative and cultural industries, and refine their work through experimentation.

This specification places an emphasis on drawing, and on understanding and applying the design process. It encourages students to engage with the creative and cultural industries, and offers a broad and flexible content, allowing students to pursue a range of creative pathways.

Students have the opportunity to develop their critical understanding through a range of investigative, analytical and experimental skills. They then develop and refine their ideas with increasing independence.

This qualification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills developed through the Area of Learning The Arts and the Cross-Curricular Skill of Using ICT.

This specification is a linear qualification: students take all the assessment at the end of the course.

The specification has two components:

• Component 1:
  • Part A: Exploratory Portfolio
  • Part B: Understanding the Creative and Cultural Industries
• Component 2: Externally Set Assignment.