WJECAS/A Level4 resources
WJEC AS/A Level Art, Craft and Design Past Papers & Mark Schemes
Free WJEC A Level Art, Craft and Design externally set assignment papers & mark schemes. Stimulus briefs for Unit 3. 4 resources.
📅Summer series📄4 resources available✅Free to download
Download Past Papers
Type
Year
4 of 4 resources
Summer 2023
1 file📄
AS/A Level A&D (Art, Craft and Design) – Unit 3: Externally Set Assignment – Past Paper – Summer 2023
Past Paper
Winter 2019
1 file📄
AS/A Level A&D (Art, Craft and Design) – Unit 3: Externally Set Assignment – Past Paper – Winter 2019
Past Paper
Winter 2018
1 file📄
AS/A Level A&D (Art, Craft and Design) – Unit 3: Externally Set Assignment – Past Paper – Winter 2018
Past Paper
Winter 2017
1 file📄
AS/A Level A&D (Art, Craft and Design) – Unit 3: Externally Set Assignment – Past Paper – Winter 2017
Past Paper
Creative Development and Externally Set Assignments in WJEC Art, Craft and Design
WJEC AS/A Level Art, Craft and Design is predominantly portfolio-based, with the externally set assignment providing the only examination-style component. The qualification values sustained creative investigation, technical skill, and critical engagement with the work of other artists and designers.
Unit 1 (AS, Personal Creative Enquiry, NEA, 40% of AS) and Unit 2 (A2, Personal Investigation, NEA, 36% of A Level) are coursework components where candidates develop extended projects exploring personal themes through a chosen medium — painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, textiles, or digital art.
Unit 3 — Externally Set Assignment (A2, 36% of A Level) — provides a set of stimulus themes or starting points released at the beginning of the year. Candidates select one theme and develop preparatory studies over an extended period, culminating in a timed session (typically 15 hours under supervised conditions) during which they produce a final outcome. The examination paper contains the stimulus material and instructions.
The 4 resources include the externally set assignment papers that provide the stimulus themes.
Exam Paper Structure
Unit 1No calculator
Personal Creative Enquiry (AS)
⏱ NEA🎯 Varies marks📊 40% of grade
Extended creative projectTechnical skill developmentArtist research and critical analysis
Unit 2No calculator
Personal Investigation (A2)
⏱ NEA🎯 Varies marks📊 36% of grade
Sustained personal investigationWritten element: critical and contextual study
Unit 3No calculator
Externally Set Assignment
⏱ 15 hours (supervised)🎯 Varies marks📊 36% of grade
Response to stimulus themesPreparatory studiesTimed final outcome
Key Information
| Exam Board | WJEC |
| Specification Code | Eduqas (WJEC) Art and Design |
| Qualification | AS/A Level |
| Grading Scale | A*–E (A Level), A–E (AS) |
| Assessment Type | NEA coursework + externally set timed assignment |
| Tiers | No tiers |
| Number Of Papers | 3 units (1 externally set + 2 NEA) |
| Exam Duration | Unit 3: 15 hours supervised (timed outcome) |
| Total Marks | Varies |
| Calculator Status | Not applicable |
| Available Sessions | Summer series |
| Total Resources | 4 |
Key Topics in Art, Craft and Design
Topics you need to know
Creative development and personal investigationDrawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed mediaPhotography and digital art techniquesPrintmaking and textile processesCritical and contextual analysis of artworksResponse to externally set themesSketchbook development and annotationTime-managed production of final outcomes
Exam Command Words
| Command word | What the examiner expects |
|---|---|
| Explore | Investigate visual ideas and creative possibilities |
| Develop | Refine and extend initial ideas through experimentation |
| Record | Document observations, ideas, and processes visually and in writing |
| Present | Produce a final outcome that realises your creative intentions |
Typical Grade Boundaries
| Grade | Approximate mark needed |
|---|---|
| A* | 80–90% |
| A | 70–79% |
| B | 60–69% |
| C | 50–59% |
| D | 40–49% |
| E | 30–39% |
⚠️ Typical A Level boundaries. Assessment is holistic and criteria-based. Boundaries vary by session.
Developing a Personal Response to the Externally Set Assignment
The externally set assignment rewards candidates who interpret the stimulus imaginatively rather than literally. When you receive the themes, brainstorm multiple interpretations for each before committing to one. A theme such as ‘structures’ could lead to architectural forms, molecular patterns, social hierarchies, or textile weaving — the most compelling work often makes unexpected connections.
Preparatory studies should demonstrate a clear journey of investigation. Document your sources, experiments, and decision-making process thoroughly: annotate sketchbook pages with reflective comments explaining why you chose specific materials, techniques, or compositions. Examiners assess the quality of the creative process, not just the final outcome.
During the supervised timed session, work from a clear plan developed during the preparatory period. Know your materials, your scale, and your compositional structure before the session begins. Time management is critical — allocate specific hours to each stage of the final piece and monitor your progress against this plan.
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