Experimental

OCR

GCSE

Candidates must demonstrate rigorous exploration of media, materials, techniques, and processes (AO2), moving beyond superficial testing to purposeful refinement. Credit responses that evidence a cyclical process of risk-taking and evaluation, where 'happy accidents' are analyzed and integrated into the developing visual language. High-scoring work links experimental material choices directly to conceptual intentions (AO4), referencing relevant avant-garde or contemporary practitioners (AO1) to validate the investigative journey. The portfolio must show that experimentation is not an end in itself, but a mechanism for refining ideas towards a resolved conclusion.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Credit evidence of purposeful risk-taking where media is manipulated to achieve specific visual or tactile effects (AO2).
Award marks for the explicit connection between experimental techniques and the stylistic qualities of investigated sources (AO1/AO2).
Assess the quality of critical annotation that evaluates the success or failure of specific experiments to inform subsequent development (AO3).
Look for a clear trajectory of refinement where initial experiments are modified and improved upon, leading to a resolved conclusion (AO4).

Example Examiner Feedback

Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

"Your experimentation with [Media X] is technically competent; now annotate *why* this medium suits your theme better than [Media Y]."
"To access higher mark bands, move beyond replicating the artist's style; combine their technique with your own primary photography."
"You have recorded the process well, but the evaluation is weak. Explicitly state what you learned from this trial and how it changes your next step."
"Demonstrate more rigorous refinement; show three variations of this composition before selecting the final layout."

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Credit evidence of purposeful risk-taking where media is manipulated to achieve specific visual or tactile effects (AO2).
Award marks for the explicit connection between experimental techniques and the stylistic qualities of investigated sources (AO1/AO2).
Assess the quality of critical annotation that evaluates the success or failure of specific experiments to inform subsequent development (AO3).
Look for a clear trajectory of refinement where initial experiments are modified and improved upon, leading to a resolved conclusion (AO4).

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Annotate experimental pages with 'What, Why, and So What' to demonstrate critical understanding (AO3).
💡Ensure every experiment clearly links back to a specific artist or cultural source investigated in AO1.
💡Use the 'Review, Refine, Select' cycle: explicitly state which technique is being carried forward to the final piece and why.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Presenting a series of disconnected techniques ('media sampling') without a cohesive thematic or conceptual link.
Failing to annotate the 'why' behind an experiment, describing the process (e.g., 'I used paint') rather than the intent or outcome.
Discarding 'failed' experiments from the portfolio; examiners require evidence of the problem-solving process.
Copying a source image using different media without adapting the composition or adding personal interpretation.

Study Guide Available

Comprehensive revision notes & examples

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Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Iterative Refinement (AO2)

Material Properties and Manipulation

Risk-Taking and Controlled Accident

Cross-Disciplinary Synthesis

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Develop

Refine

Explore

Record

Realise

Investigate

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