A level History of Art - GCE History of Art 2017 Mapping Document

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver

GCE History of Art 2017 mapping document outlining how the new Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE (9HT0) updates and refines the Legacy AQA specification content and assessment. It explains Paper 1 Section A Visual Analysis skills and format, including three compulsory image-based unseen questions and mark/time expectations. It then details Paper 1 Section B Themes, including narrative umbrella topics, teaching volume, theme study structure, and assessment timings, plus guidance on reusing legacy works and aligning legacy themes to new key topics.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Overview

Paper 1, Section A: Visual Analysis

Overview

Paper 1, Section B: Themes

Overview

Assessment

Works of art and architecture

Reusing content and works from the Legacy AQA specification

Paper 2: Periods

Overview

Date and place ranges

Compulsory questions replace choice of questions

Assessment

Reusing content and works from the Legacy AQA specification

Mapping Document A level History of Art Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in History of Art (9HT0) GCE History of Art 2017 Mapping Document Contents Introduction 2 Overview 2 Paper 1, Section A: Visual Analysis 3 Paper 1, Section B: Themes 4 Overview 4 Assessment 4 Works of art and architecture 4 Reusing content and works from the Legacy AQA specification 5 Paper 2: Periods 7 Overview 7 Date and place ranges 7 Compulsory questions replace choice of questions 8 Assessment 8 Reusing content and works from the Legacy AQA specification 8 GCE History of Art 2017 Introduction Overview The new 2017 Pearson specification updates and refines the content and delivery of the Legacy AQA specification. It ensures that teachers can continue to use existing materials and resources and to benefit from the significant support of British museums and galleries for this new A Level. Students will develop a thorough and inspiring understanding of past cultures in relation to their own, and explore and understand the range of ways and purposes for which art and architecture has been produced. All students will develop the skills of visual literacy, analysis and reasoned debate that are so vital in the global, visual world in which we live today. Paper 1, Section A: Visual Analysis Paper 1, Section A: Visual Analysis The skills, layout and scope of the new Visual Analysis module are similar to HART1 of the AQA Legacy specification. Students are required to analyse or interpret works of art and to create a critical argument in response to a question . As before, three compulsory questions will be asked, based on three images provided in high quality and in colour. All examples will be taken from within the‘European tradition’ of art and be dated between 500 BC and the present day. The three questions will explore the three types of art – painting, sculpture and architecture – with one example of each. Clearer expectations of content and teaching have been set out in the 2017 Pearson specification, but experienced teachers will find that these are similar to the AQA Legacy specification. As before, the emphasis on this part of the assessment is on unseen analysis and therefore no credit will be given for prior knowledge of the artworks or their contexts. In the new 2017 Pearson specification, the maximum number of marks for each question is 12, but the anticipated time allocation in the examination remains at 20 minutes per example. | | AQA GCE Legacy specification | 2017 Pearson GCEA Level | | --- | --- | --- | | Unseen’ analysis of one painting | 􀀹 | 􀀹 | | ‘Unseen’ analysis of one sculpture | 􀀹 | 􀀹 | | ‘Unseen’ analysis of one building | 􀀹 | 􀀹 | | Key terminology and concepts | 􀀹 | 􀀹 | | Subject matter of paintings and sculpture and links to meaning | 􀀹 | 􀀹 | | Architectural functions and links to meaning | 􀀹 | 􀀹 | | General understanding of materials, techniques and processes and links to meaning | 􀀹 | 􀀹 | | Formal features and links to meaning | 􀀹 | 􀀹 | GCE History of Art 2017 Paper 1, Section B: Themes Overview This is the area of greatest difference between the AQA Legacy specification and the new 2017 Pearson A Level. However, most teachers taught a minimum of 25 works for HART2 and this premise has been retained by the new 2017 Pearson specification with a minimum of 12 works to be taught for each new Theme, giving a minimum total of 24 works. The clear, new, narrative focus should make the exploration of change and continuity more interesting, and increase validity across time and place. It also allows the new 2017 Pearson specification to integrate works from beyond the‘European tradition’, which is entirely appropriate and has been a consistent and popular request from many teachers and students. The generic study of eight ‘Themes’ has been replaced by a choice of three narrative‘umbrella’ topics from which teachers will select two. These are: ● Nature in Ar

FAQs

What are the narrative umbrella topics in Paper 1 Section B Themes and how are they selected?

Students select two narrative themes from three options: Nature in Art and Architecture, War in Art and Architecture, and Identities in Art and Architecture, replacing the previous generic study of eight themes.

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver