2. Understanding Standards An overview of course assessment
Photography (Higher)
An overview of course assessment

3. What this presentation covers
This presentation provides a detailed overview of the revised Photography Higher course including:
Overview
Course structure
Component 1: Question paper
Component 2: Project

4. Overview The content of the course has not changed.
A question paper component has been introduced.
Content previously only assessed in the units is now included in the project and question paper.
The project will continue to be marked out of 100.
Marking instructions for the project have been restructured.

5. Course structure
The course structure comprises of two components and is marked out of 130
Component 1: Question paper – 30 marks (23%)
Component 2: Project – 100 marks (77%)

6. Component 1
Question paper

7. Component 1: Question paper
The question paper:
samples content from across the course and includes content previously assessed in the units.
assesses candidates’ knowledge and understanding of photographic work and practice.
will be included in the main exam diet.

8. Question Paper: Structure
The question paper has two sections:
Section 1: 10 marks
Section 2: 20 marks
The time allocated to the question paper is 1 hour
All questions are mandatory

9. Section 1
Questions 1 – 10 require candidates to select the correct response from four options.
Each question is worth 1 mark.
Questions may incorporate images or diagrams.
Marks are awarded for demonstrating knowledge and understanding of:
the properties of light and image formation
camera controls
image-making techniques and their effects

10. Section 2 Questions 11 and 12 require extended responses.
Each question will contain an unseen image.
Each question is worth 10 marks.
Images will represent different styles and genres.
These questions assess candidates’ creative and technical understanding of photography.

11. Section 2
Marks are awarded for analysing two unseen photographic images by:
applying knowledge and understanding of the properties of light, image formation and photographic practice.
drawing valid conclusions and giving explanations supported by justification.

12. Section 2: Command words
identify
explain
discuss

13. Question 11 This question is based on an unseen image.
It is broken down into parts which require candidates to respond on specific creative and technical elements of the given image.
Each part will have an allocation of between 2 and 4 marks (10 marks in total).

14. Question 12 This is an open-ended question based on an unseen image.
Candidates will be required to discuss the technical and creative factors the photographer would have considered when setting up the shot.
This question is worth 10 marks.

15. Question Paper: Preparing candidates
The course specification document contains:
information on course content which will be sampled in the question paper.
The specimen question paper and marking instructions will be published by September 2018.

16. Component 2
Project

17. Project
The removal of unit assessment has led to the Project Assessment task being reviewed.
Marking instructions have been restructured.
Marks have been redistributed within the project to place more emphasis on practical photographic skills.
Knowledge and understanding of social, cultural, historical and scientific influences on photographers’ work is now assessed within the project.

18. Project Assessment task
The Project Assessment task is designed to allow candidates:
an open and flexible approach.
personalisation and choice.
to work independently.
to demonstrate their technical and creative photographic skills.

19. Project Assessment task
The project requires candidates to:
agree a suitable topic.
plan and research their project.
develop a body of photographic work relevant to their topic.
produce 12 final prints.
evaluate their photographic work and practice.

20. Project: Marking instructions
The marking instructions for the project have been revised to reflect the changes to the course assessment
The project is split into three sections:
Section 1 – Planning, research and investigation – 20 marks
Section 2 – Development and production – 70 marks
Section 3 – Evaluation – 10 marks

21. Project: Planning, research and investigation
Candidates will be assessed on their ability to:
plan a project in response to a selected topic.
(10 marks)
produce and compile relevant investigative research.
(5 marks)
explain the impact of external influences on selected photographers’ work and practice (5 marks)

22. Project: Development and production
Candidates will be assessed on their ability to:
produce a sustained and creative line of photographic development work. (20 marks)
demonstrate ongoing creative decision-making and refinement (10 marks)
produce 12 photographic prints which show:
technically competence. (20 marks)
creative response to their topic. (20 marks)

23. Project: Evaluation
Candidates will be assessed on their ability to evaluate:
the effectiveness of their photographic practice (5 marks)
the effectiveness of their final prints (5 marks)
The evaluation has a 500 word limit.

24. Project: Preparing candidates
The Project Assessment task is published on the SQA website. This contains:
instructions for teachers and lecturers.
marking instructions.
instructions for candidates.

25. Project: Submission Projects can be submitted in a variety of formats.
The 12 final prints must be a minimum of A5 and a maximum of A4, or equivalent area.

26. Useful links
Important information and documents can be accessed through the Photography subject page as they are published:
Course specification
Course support notes
Specimen question paper and marking instructions
Project Assessment task
Understanding standards materials