2. A2 Photography
UNIT 1 - PERSONAL INVESTIGATION
(60%) 120 Marks
UNIT 2 - EXAM
(40%) 80 Marks
Paper given on 1st February.
A number of 7 theme to choose from (you select one)
15hr exam
Two parts:
PART 1. portfolio of practical work
showing their personal response to either a starting point, brief, scenario or
stimulus, devised and provided by the learner or centre
PART 2. related study:
developing a deeper understanding
(min1000 max 3000 words)
3. YR12 work does not
count towards your
final grade
It was a stand alone unit of work, designed to
develop your photography skills and for you to find
a focus for your personal investigation
Fresh start
Everything you did well
(photographs, research, planning)
can be used here
4. YR12
End of YR12
YR12
You have learnt all the Photography Skills & Knowledge ready to apply them in A2
Process
Developing & Exploring
You have little Photography skills
5. YR13
End of YR13
Start of YR13
Recording & Presenting
Product
You have all the Photography Skills & Knowledge from AS
You will PRESENT a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating critical
understanding, realising intentions and, where appropriate, making connections between visual,
written, oral or other elements.
8. PI
PORTFOLIO
a portfolio of practical work showing a personal
response to a theme.
(either a starting point, brief, scenario or stimulus)
Personal Investigation
What is a Personal Investigation portfolio?
9. PI
PORTFOLIO
• This portfolio will consist of a sustained project, theme or course of study
- pages will include photoshoots where you will explore techniques/processes
- investigative work on photographers, artist and other sources relevant to your
area of study (gallery trips, film, books…)
• Presented as a Digital Portfolio
You must carefully select, organise and present your work to ensure that you
provide evidence of meeting all four assessment objectives.
• What will be marked?
1. Digital Portfolio (recording of your research and experimentation)
2. Related Study
3. Final Outcome
4. Evaluation
Personal Investigation
What does it look like?
10. PI
PORTFOLIO
Personal Investigation
What you need to do...
• independently developed ideas through sustained and focused
investigations in response to a given starting point
• produce photographs informed by contextual and other sources that informs the
development of practical work
• explore ideas, techniques or processes
• record observations from sources relevant to intentions
• critically review and refine work as it progresses
• Produce a personal and meaningful outcome, informed by area of study .
13. PI
RELATED STUDY
Personal Investigation
What does it look like?
THE RELATED STUDY IS PRESENTED
SEPARATELY ALONG SIDED YOUR PORTFOLIO
Formats might include
Illustrated essay (handwritten or word)
PowerPoint
Mini website / Sway
Magazine
Book or journal
Information panels
Video
Timeline or sequence
The presentation of your
related study could employ a
magazine style format where
the use of specialist language
and visuals are combined to
produce a succinct and
relevant outcome.
1000
WORDS
!!!
14. PI
RELATED STUDY
Personal Investigation
What could it be about?
This is entirely down to your personal investigation.
•Historical and Art Movement
In order to establish the broader context of the theme the students could identify key historical
events and art movements relevant to their intention.
- Historical Context
Time and place, (pre/post war fashion)
- Art Movements + other photographers
Surrealism, modernism, Pictorialist, Constructivism, Bauhaus, Dada, Performance Art
•Photographic Genres
Still life, fashion (Haute couture, street fashion, fashion portrait), documentary (reportage/
photojournalism, street photography,
•Links to Wider Issues
Social and cultural, current affairs, local/global issues, mental health, race, environment
feminism, race, LGBT…
15. UNIT 1 PERSONAL INVESTIGATION
Grading and
assessment
Click here to navigate to
the website and find out
more about how your work
is graded
16. Assessment Objectives shouldn’t be seen as separate stages but should relate to
each other and are not necessarily linear; research could lead into development of
ideas, testing and then back to further research or more focused investigation
PI
/ 24
/ 24
/ 24
/ 24
RELATED
STUDY
/ 24
PERSONAL INVESTIGATION TOTAL / 120
ASSESSMEMT OBJECTIVES
PORTFOLIO
Personal Investigation
17. Level Key words
Level
1
Simplistic; minimal;
unfocused;
superficial
Level
2
Basic; limited; some
ability; some
refinement
Level
3
Relevant; effective;
appropriate;
Level
4
Well-developed;
focused; detailed;
informed; purposeful
Level
5
Fully developed; in-
depth; focused;
insightful; well-
considered
Level
6
Sophisticated;
mature; sustained
16 16 14 12 12
71/120 = D
PI
21. UNIT 2
EXAM / 80
COMBINED
TOTAL = 200
UNIT 1
PERSONAL
INVESTIGATION / 120
22. MODERATION
FEEDBACK
WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE
‘Go beyond, we want to see
a mind at work’
How are you showing this?
‘The work is meaningful and
has substance’
How are you showing this?
Ask yourself, is this the best
you can do?
Select relevant work
then refine it
Master a technique
Create a strong final image
Does your Related Study
extended your
understanding of the the
themes of your portfolio?
What impact is your
analytical work having on
your practical work?
LO Ability to record ideas and reflect critically on work and progress.
PI
