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Please talk to me about art GCSE

30 replies

WestMuncher · 23/06/2025 20:26

DD is due to start this in September but is getting cold feet as, although she really enjoys art, she fears she’s not currently very good at it. How much does this matter? Can an averagely talented student get a top grade if they put in the work?

What happens during the lessons? I gather they have one single and one double a week. Will somebody who is nothing special at drawing be taught to ‘properly’ draw? And to paint? The art she’s done so far at school was a rotation of pottery, drawing and painting.

And the homework? I gather it’s 60% coursework. Is that literally just working on your sketchbook all the time?

OP posts:
WestMuncher · 23/06/2025 20:33

hyggetyggedotorg · 23/06/2025 20:28

Do you know which Art course she’s doing? DD is also taking Art GCSE & had a choice between Fine Art & Textiles.

Good question. Sorry I should have said that it’s ’Art & Design’ officially.

OP posts:
Rayna37 · 23/06/2025 20:32

Art is one of the hardest GCSEs because there’s no shortcut: talented or average you have to create the body of work which is very time consuming. Bright students can do well at other stuff just by picking it up quickly and then remembering/revising, but with art you really have to do the work. I put more hours into my C than all my other, higher, grades. I enjoyed it but could have picked a different option for an easier better grade I think.

Chickenhorse · 23/06/2025 20:30

Art GCSE is one of the heaviest workloads of all the GCSE’s. My DD did not take it because of this. Many of her friends took it and hated it (workload mainly), all of them advised younger Sibling's not to take it.

I’m sure there will be more knowledgeable people whose DC are taking it now, but that was our experience.

Sirzy · 23/06/2025 20:30

Have you not had an options evening to discuss things with the teachers? They would be able to give you an idea of whether she would cope and what is involved.

hyggetyggedotorg · 23/06/2025 20:28

Do you know which Art course she’s doing? DD is also taking Art GCSE & had a choice between Fine Art & Textiles.