About the examDos and Don'ts

The National 5 exam involves answering questions on artists and designers previously studied and also unseen works. Your answers need to show an understanding of how artists and designers are influenced and the elements and techniques they use.

Part ofArt and DesignExam assessment

Dos and Don'ts

Questions 1 and 7

dos
  • select and name one specific art or design work by an artist or designer you have studied.
  • answer the question asked – this sounds obvious, but many students stray from the question and lose marks by writing about things which were not asked for.
  • consider making a structured response using sub-headings of the question prompts if you find it difficult to stay on track.
  • ensure that information you give is factually correct – it should show evidence that you have studied the artwork and design.
  • use appropriate art and design terminology.
  • adapt your knowledge to the question asked. For example, if colour is an important aspect of an artwork you have studied, but you are not asked about this, your knowledge can be applied to other areas. If you are asked about materials and techniques, you could write about how colour was applied using particular materials and techniques, and the effect this gives. If you are asked about mood and atmosphere, you could write about how colour contributes to this.
  • explain the impact of social and cultural influences by relating these to specific examples of the artist or designer’s work or practice.
Don'ts
  • confuse your artist and designer – learn their names and the names of the artwork and design you will write about.
  • write about the artist and designer in general terms – your answer must focus on the artwork and design selected.
  • give biographical information on the artist or designer unless this is related to an aspect of the work, for example, if an event in their life influenced the work you are writing about.
  • use a sentence you've memorised if it doesn’t answer the question.
  • repeat earlier comments when asked for an opinion – you must make new points to gain marks.
  • give general biographical facts which are not related to specific examples of work or practice.

Questions 2-6 and 8-12

dos
  • select one question from the Expressive Art Studies section and one question from the Design Studies section.
  • look at all of the questions carefully before making your selection.
  • stick to the question asked.
  • make justified comments in response to the question asked – give clear explanations.
  • use appropriate art and design terminology.
Don'ts
  • make general, unjustified comments which lack detail. For example, ‘this painting has light and dark colours’ could apply to most paintings.
  • repeat previous comments in response to the last part of the question which ask for an opinion – you need to add different comments to gain marks.
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