Unit 1 Exam Preparation

Advice

  • Complete the practice examination. Examine feedback and improve answers (rewrite your responses).
  • Read the requirements of each question carefully and underline the key instructions to ensure all parts of the question are addressed in the answer.
  • Pay close attention to command terms that tell you how to focus and construct your response.
  • Use specific descriptive art language and vocabulary.
  • Practise applying the vocabulary associated with specific art elements and art principles to unstudied artworks. You will never be asked to define these terms in an examination but you must demonstrate your knowledge of them through your use of them in your responses.
  • Practise responding to questions within time limits and use the mark allocation as a guide to the amount of time required to respond to the question. In most cases this is 1 mark per minute once you reach your final exams in Unit 4.
  • Always use specific evidence from the artwork to justify and consolidate your responses, whether the artwork is provided in the examination or it is one of the artworks you have memorised to support your study of your chosen artists.
  • Do not rely on previously prepared responses. Prepare to apply the key knowledge and skills to a range of question types.
  • You will be asked to write about artworks you have not seen before as well as artworks you have studied.
  • You will not have visual references to the artists and artworks you have studied during the examination.
  • You need to be able to analyse any artwork through the Personal and Structural Lenses.

Marking structure – examples

Unseen artwork Elements/Principles

0 marks: Irrelevant response.

1 mark: Identifies an art element/principle within the artwork.

2 marks: Describes an art element/principle used in the artwork.

3 marks: Describes one art element/principle used in the artwork with correct terminology.

4 marks: Describes the use of one art element/principle within the artwork, supported with links to visual evidence and correct art terminology

5 marks: Comprehensively describes the use of one art element/principle within the artwork, consistently supported with links to visual evidence and correct art terminology.

Unseen artwork Structural Lens

0 marks: Irrelevant response.

1 mark: Identifies aspects of the structural lens or symbols used in the artwork.

2 to 4 marks: Applies aspects of the structural lens with description of some symbols used in the artwork.

4 to 5 marks: Applies aspects of the structural lens to discuss symbols, supported with links to visual evidence and art terminology.

6 to 7 marks: Applies the structural lens to interpret two symbols, supported with links to visual evidence and correct art terminology.

8 to 9 marks: Applies the structural lens to interpret two symbols, consistently supported with links to visual evidence and correct art terminology.

10 marks: Applies the structural lens to comprehensively interpret two symbols in the artwork, consistently supported with links to visual evidence and correct art terminology.

Note: The structural lens comprises of art elements and art principles, principles, materials, techniques and processes, symbols and metaphors, style and compositional devices.

Visual Language

0 marks: Irrelevant response.

1 mark: Identifies aspects of visual language, art elements or art principles.

2 to 3 marks: Describes aspects of visual language, art elements or art principles.

4 to 5 marks: Describes visual language, art elements and art principles with some links to visual evidence and correct art terminology.

6 to 7 marks: Discusses visual language in connection with art elements and art principles, with some links to visual evidence and correct art terminology.

8 to 9 marks: Interprets the use of visual language to communicate ideas through the use of art elements and art principles, supported with links to visual evidence and correct art terminology.

10 marks: Comprehensively interprets the use of visual language to communicate ideas through the use of art elements and art principles, consistently supported with links to visual evidence and correct art terminology.

Note: Visual language refers to the communication of ideas and meanings in an artwork, through the use of art elements and art principles, and materials, techniques and processes.

Personal Lens

0 marks: Irrelevant response.

1 mark: Identifies aspects of the artwork or ideas.

2 to 3 marks: Describes aspects of the artwork or ideas.

4 to 5 marks: Applies aspects of the personal lens to discuss the artwork with links to visual evidence and correct art terminology.

6 to 7 marks: Applies the personal lens to interpret the artwork, with links to the source information, visual evidence and correct art terminology.

8 to 9 marks: Applies the personal lens to interpret the artwork, supported with references to the source information, links to visual evidence and correct art terminology.

10 marks: Applies the personal lens to comprehensively interpret the artwork, consistently supported with references to the source information, links to visual evidence and correct art terminology.

Note: The personal lens refers to the way that the life experiences, personal feelings and beliefs of the artist or the viewer can inform the interpretation of an artwork.

Command Terms

Analyse: Consider a concept, statement, or situation, identify the different components it is made up of, and describe how the components relate to each other. Your answer should be methodical and logically organised.

I.e. This contributes/relates to this…then describe what, where, how and why. Or this and this contribute/relate to this… then describe what, where, how.

Compare (or Compare and Contrast): Set the two items side by side and discuss their similarities and differences.

Contrast: Point out only the differences (not the similarities) between two or more topics.

Describe: Identify and outline the attributes or characteristics of the focus; a concept, artwork, subject matter, composition, approach to materials and techniques and/or effects created with aesthetic qualities.

Discuss: Explain the focus or concept and then give details about it with supporting information, examples, explanations for the facts put forward and from evidence in artworks.

Evaluate (Assess): Consider how true, appropriate or beneficial are the idea(s) or approaches in this practice or artwork. You can address both positive and negative but in visual arts, questions will be predominantly about addressing what is seen in the artwork. Discussing what is not evident is usually counterproductive.

Explain: Offer a detailed and exact rationale behind an idea or approach, or a set of reasons for a situation attitude or approach. This is what you need to do in response to a ‘why’ or ’how’ question. The explanation should increase the reader’s understanding of a topic or idea.

Identify: Express the relevant points briefly and clearly without lengthy discussion or minor details. This is a purely descriptive task, so you are not expected to evaluate or give your opinion on the points you make. Be concise and use effective adjectives that respond directly to visual attributes or practices.

Interpret: Relates to meaning. Draw meaning from an argument, point of view, description or diagram, text, image or artwork and determine significance within context. Context could relate to one of the Interpretive lenses.