Visual Arts

Home > Visual Arts > Course Requirements > Strategies for Examination preparation: Body of Work, Art Criticism and Art History > Writing for Section 1 and Section 2, Ideas for developing responses

Writing for the Art Criticism and Art History Examination

Please note changes to the written examination in Visual Arts.

From 2010, students are to select ONE question from a choice of SIX questions in Section 11. For further information regarding the HSC examination for Visual Arts go to the Board of Studies website .

The written examination in Visual Arts is composed of two sections:

Section I contains three compulsory questions to be completed by all students.
Section II contains six essay questions from which you select one question.

Section 1

Section I provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the key areas of content from the syllabus.

Read the questions carefully - consider which area of content each question is addressing. Each question will target one area: practice, the conceptual framework or the frames.

Read all of the supporting material, such as the citation under the plates and any additional text.

Ask yourself the following questions as you look at Section 1:

Is the question about Practice?

Look at the words in the question:

Is it asking you about an artist’s practice, or the practice of critics and historians, or both?
Does it ask you about what artists do? why or how they do it?
Does it identify material & conceptual practice as the focus for the question?
Identify the focus for the question and then address the question, the image/s and any other supporting material through your understanding of Artmaking or Critical and Historical Practice.

Is the question about the Conceptual Framework?

Look at the words in the question:

Do they identify the agencies of the artworld, the Artist, Artworks, the World, or the Audience as the focus for the question?
Identify the focus of the question and then address the question, the image/s and any other supporting material through your understanding of the conceptual framework.

Is the question about one of the Frames?

Look at the words in the question:

Do they fit within the description of any of the frames?
Identify the appropriate frame and then address the question, the image/s and any other supporting material through your understanding of that frame.

When answering questions from Section I

Always refer to the image/s and other source material in your answer.
Follow the recommended times for each question.
Note the marking value for each question.

Section II

Section II provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate what you have studied in your case studies. It is recommended that you undertake a minimum of 5 Case Studies in your HSC course.

In your answer you will be required to:

present a well-reasoned and informed point of view
apply your understandings of the different aspects of content (Practice, the Conceptual Framework and the Frames
use relevant examples.

A strong examination response should include:

a coherent, sustained and well-reasoned argument
all the relevant aspects of the selected area of content which are comprehensively explained and interpreted in relation to the question
the significance of examples which are explained and used to support arguments
points of view that are complex and logical and reveal a highly developed understanding of the visual arts

Section II comprises six questions divided into three headings:

Two questions address Practice.
Two questions address the Conceptual Framework.
Two questions address the Frames

You are to select one question.

Read the questions carefully and select the most appropriate question from one of the content areas to answer for your essay response.

Remember Section II requires an essay response and to follow the recommended time of 45 minutes. Practise writing within the timeframe before the exam

Ideas for structuring your essay response.

In your opening paragraph:

Reveal your understanding of the key concepts in the question including how key words such as discuss or describe, frame what you are required to do. Are you being asked to discuss (identify issues and provide points for and/or against), describe (provide characteristics and features) or evaluate ( make a judgement based on criteria or determine the value of)?Ensure you understand the requirements of the key words and their implications for your response.
Acknowledge which area of content you are focusing on.
Outline who the artists/critics/historians are, that you will be writing about.

Set the scene in your next paragraph:

Establish your stance or position
Address aspects of the content area in relation to the question. For example if the question relates to an artist’s practice, provide information about the artist’s world and experiences that may have contributed to their artmaking practice.

The main body of your essay:

Elaborate and develop your position.
Present a well-reasoned and informed point of view.
Refer to artists, craftspeople, designers, architects, art historians or art critics that support your position.
Refer to significant artworks that support the focus requirements of the question
Use quotes to emphasise an important point you are making to support your position.

Depending on the requirements of the question, you may include:

How the artworks evolved from the artists conceptual and material practice.
How audiences interact with the artworks.

For the conclusion:

Depending on the question requirements, summarise or critically evaluate the position you have taken in addressing the question.

Remember:

Every subject has its own vocabulary. The Visual Arts has a long tradition of specific terms to describe processes, periods, styles, meanings and events. Refer to different art glossaries to create your own word banks to enhance your understanding and application of appropriate art terms.

Using specific Visual Arts terms will enhance your written response and your understanding of the artworld.