OCR AS Level Art and Design Past Papers

OCR AS Level Art and Design (H200) is assessed through two components: a personal portfolio developed throughout the year and the externally set task (EST) taken in the examination period. Unlike most AS Level subjects, Art and Design does not use traditional written examination papers — the assessed work is practical and creative, supported by visual and written annotations that demonstrate the student's contextual awareness and critical thinking. The Externally Set Task (40% of the AS Level grade) is released by OCR at the start of the spring term. It presents a series of thematic starting points — broad visual, conceptual, or material prompts — from which students select one to develop. The preparatory period (typically 10 to 12 weeks) allows students to conduct research, develop their ideas through sketchbooks and preparatory studies, and refine their approach. The supervised examination period (10 hours, typically taken over two or three days) is the culmination of this preparation, during which students produce a sustained and resolved piece of creative work in response to their chosen starting point. The Personal Portfolio (60% of the AS Level grade) is developed independently throughout the year and submitted at the end of the course. It demonstrates a sustained process of creative investigation: personal starting points, research into relevant artists and movements, experimentation with materials and techniques, the development and refinement of ideas, and a final resolved outcome. The portfolio is externally moderated, with OCR moderators visiting centres to sample assessed work. The moderators' report, available in the archived resources, provides guidance on the standards expected across different mark bands.