GCSE/A Level Art and Design Exam guidance and top tips GCSE students are issued with their Externally Set Task questions in January AS students are issued with their Externally Set Assignment questions in February. After the issue and selection of a question student then have a preparatory period to explore the given theme in their selected question. Students are expected to work independently to explore their given theme through research, producing drawings and 3D experiments. They will then use all this preparatory work to plan their final piece which is then completed in a 10 hour exam (in mid to late April). Upon completion of this 10 hour examination, their GCSE course in Art & Design is completed. Exam top tips and how to support: The more initial research students can carry out into their exam theme, including photography, the stronger their exam mark will be. This work will form a large part of their initial homework activities. The exam board give suggestions of artists that students should study. I will put appropriate examples of the work of these artists on Moodle for students to select from. It is important that students use their time fully both in and out of lessons. I will also run break and lunchtime sessions for those who wish to do some additional work. Students might be nervous before such a big exam but they will have planned their timed piece before hand. Ask students to talk through their step by step plan for their timed piece, in the week before the exam, to build their confidence and get them to really think it through. Students may need some additional resources, materials etc for their exam piece.