leaving cert art coursework brief

Art - Higher

Unlike most other subjects, only 30% of your final grade is based on a written exam in June.

The Art History course is huge and covers many topics but there is lots of choice on the paper, so hone in on the sections that you enjoy or are good at. The remaining marks are given based on a practical coursework exam in May, which includes life sketching, still life or abstract composition and design or craftwork. 

Higher Level Art History Course Content

• Appreciation - Architecture and Renovation
• Appreciation - Fashion/Clothing & Jewelry Design
• Appreciation - Film Studies
• Appreciation - Gallery Visit
• Appreciation - Graphic Design
• Appreciation - Product Design
• Appreciation - Public/Street art
• Early Christian Ireland - Manuscripts
• Early Christian Ireland - Metalwork
• Early Christian Ireland - Stonework
• Europe - Gothic & Romanesque Architecture
• Europe - Impressionist
• Europe - Medieval
• Europe - Post Impressionism
• Europe - Renaissance
• Europe - Romantic Period
• Europe - Surrealism/Cubism
• Generic Qs - Categories
• Generic Qs - Movements
• Ireland - Georgian Architecture and Arts
• Ireland - Modern Artists and Designers
• Ireland - Romantic Period
• Pre Christian - Bronze Age
• Pre Christian - Iron Age
• Pre-Christian - Burial and monastic sites

Ordinary Level Course Content:

• Europe - Gothic Architecture
• Europe - Neoclassical
• Europe - Post Impressionists
• Europe - Surrealism / Cubism
• Pre Christian - Burial and monastic sites

How is Art Assessed?

The Art assessment is made up of three components; the written exam (30%), the practical exam (20%), and the practical coursework (50%)

The written exam for art is 2 and a half hours long, and tests your ability to critically and creatively analyse artwork and your understanding of Visual Studies.

The practical examination takes place within 5 hours of a single day. Students will have to create a second realised work, based on the same ideas and work of their overall coursework project.

The practical coursework is the largest component of the assessment. Students are required to produce a realised work from a stimulus. This is done over an extended period of time. In this time students produce one piece of work and plan for the realisation of their second piece that is done during the practical examination. Students should focus on skills such as life drawing, drawing from imagination and use of primary sources.

Future Careers with Leaving Certificate Art

Design, Architecture, Interior Design, Web Design, Animation, Graphic Design, Photography

Download the Leaving Cert Art Syllabus 

Download the Leaving Cert Art Chief Examiner's Report (2013) 

Download Advice for teachers and students

Past Papers

Community activity.

Subject Choice

Leaving certificate, career zone.

The Art course for Leaving Cert is about developing the student's ability in a range of artistic fields and disciplines. The syllabus permits a huge number of media, from the fine arts such as sculpture, drawing, and painting, to puppet-making, embroidery, calligraphy, metalwork, and pottery.

Students are expected to spend the duration of the course practicing and developing their skills in several of these areas.

Why Study Art

If you want to study more in an artistic area, you can continue in Fine Art and specialise in painting, sculpting or printmaking. Alternatively, you could go into the design area and specialise in areas such as fashion, graphic, interior or furniture design. Studying art, as the title suggests, allows students to be creative and explore their desire for self-expression and develop an appreciation for artistic work of others, including the work of famous artists and the history of art.

What kind of Student would Art suit?

• Students who have shown an aptitude for art, such as by getting high grades in Junior Cert Art.
• Anyone considering a career in a creative discipline such as Architecture, Marketing, Film and Entertainment, Web Design, Fashion, Game Design, or Advertising.
• Students who are weak in other areas, such as languages or mathematics, may find it easier to achieve points in Art.
• Students who enjoy expressing themselves through art and like to sketch and doodle. 
• Students who are prepared to work hard at developing their artistic talent.
• Students who are looking for a break from intensive memory-work in their other subjects, or to reduce pressure on themselves in June by having a subject with exams in April/May.
• For most third level art and design courses, a portfolio is required as well as the Leaving Cert.

Subject Group: Artistic

These subjects involve developing creativity and the appreciation of the work of others. This involves learning the methods and techniques of the subject and producing your own work using these skills.

• Career Sectors

This subject builds skills and knowledge that are particularly useful for careers in the following Career Sectors:

• Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations
• Art, Craft & Design
• Education & Teaching
• Music & Performing Arts
• Fashion & Beauty
• History, Culture & Languages

Grades Awarded

Explore marks distribution for all subjects:.

Course Overview

The Leaving Certificate Art syllabus is a broadly based course, which is made up of four units. These units link together and are based on the everyday visual experience of the student's own environment.

This subject requires a lot of work and study for the Leaving Certificate and students need to be creative and/or be able to interpret the creative work of others.

Note : that the Leaving Cert Art course has nothing to do with the portfolio submissions which art and design colleges often require. The course does not aim to build a portfolio. All marks are given for work done on the day. However, it is common to take Art while preparing a portfolio, and much of the practice work done in class can be included.

Art is examined in three ways:

• Practical Coursework – brief distributed in term 2 of final year. The SEC will outline the time period given. This is worth 50% of marks
• Practical Examination – examined shortly after completion of Practical Coursework and within 5 hours of a single day. Worth 20% of marks
• Written Examination   – 2.5 hour exam to be examined in June, worth 30% of marks

Course Content

All students, both ordinary and higher level, follow a common course. The practical work can include Life Sketching, Still Life, Imaginative Composition, Design and Craftwork.

The History of Art and Appreciation is a broad course covering Irish and European Art, and also Art Appreciation. It requires looking at artworks through the use of reproductions, slides and art galleries, reading books and writing essays on different subjects.

Exam Structure

The exam structure is the same at higher and ordinary level

The coursework assessment includes two related but separate components – Practical Coursework and a Practical Examination – which will be completed in the final year of study. Both pieces of work will be based on the same stimulus, which will be chosen by the learner from a coursework brief issued by the SEC. All practical coursework must be the learner’s own work.

Practical Coursework (50%)

The practical coursework component is designed to test the learner’s ability to use the knowledge, concepts and skills developed in their study of Art to produce a realised work, from a stimulus, over an extended time period. The use of primary sources, including observational drawings, life drawing and drawing from the imagination are important.

Learners will receive the SEC coursework brief at the beginning of Term 2 (Year 2). In the brief, the SEC will outline the time period in which the practical coursework must be completed.

During this period, learners will be required to realise one piece of work and plan and develop work for the realisation of a second piece of work during the practical examination. They will include an artist’s statement to explain what they have created, how it was created and why was it created.

The work completed in the school will be monitored by the teacher as the learner’s own work and must be included with the realised work. Authentication procedures will be put in place by the SEC to ensure compliance.

Practical Exam (20%)

The practical examination component will take place as soon after the completion of the practical coursework component as possible, and within 5 hours of a single day. Information on the examination will be included in the coursework brief issued by the SEC. Learners will create a second realised work for this examination, based on the same stimulus and the ideas and work they researched and developed during their overall coursework project.

They will include an artist’s statement to explain what they have created, how it was created and why was it created.

Written Exam (30%)

The written examination will have a range and balance of question types suited to Visual Studies and the application of practical knowledge. The questions will focus on a broad understanding of Visual Studies and will require learners to demonstrate knowledge and understanding, and an ability to apply, analyse, evaluate and respond as appropriate.

All questions will rely on the learner’s understanding of Visual Studies and their critical and creative use of visual language to analyse artwork. The written examination paper will be 2.5 hours long.

Note for Students taking Art outside of School

The changes to examinations arrangements are especially pertinent to students who intend to take Art as an additional subject outside of the normal school setting, either on their own or with private tuition outside of a school or centre.  Practical Coursework must be conducted under the supervision of a class teacher with the work authenticated by the teacher and principal. As it is not possible to meet the authentication requirements outside of a formal educational setting, coursework cannot be accepted from external candidates. If you intend on taking Art outside of school ensure that your coursework can be authenticated otherwise you will forfeit 50% of your Art grade.

Career Possibilities

Art is useful for careers in animation, art teaching, computer design, architecture, fashion design, interior design, graphic design, painting and decorating, photography and art therapy.

3rd Level Requirements

Required for 3rd level.

For most level art and design courses, a portfolio is required as well as the Leaving Cert. Note: Each college has its own date for submission of a portfolio and you will not be notified by the college or the CAO, you will need to research the deadline yourself.

Portfolios take a lot of time to complete and some students take night classes, summer courses to complete them. There are also a number of portfolio preparation courses offered through PLC colleges.

This subject is not an essential requirement for any courses in the CAO system.

Guide to Subject Choice

Exam papers, marking schemes, full curriculum.

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Searching for...

Students taking the leaving Certificate examination in 2023 will be following the new revised course. The course requires students to research, create and respond to their own art and the work of other artists.

Exam Structure

Practical coursework Project 50%

Practical invigilated examination 20%

Visual Studies Written examination 30%

The Art course for Leaving Certificate consists of two parts. The Coursework (practical) and Visual Studies (Art History). 

Imaginative composition/Still life and the craft. Students will complete a coursework project. They will explore a theme, document their research, produce a range of drawings made from primary sources, produce development (planning) pages for two finished pieces. They will realise one finished piece during this body of time and the second finished piece will be completed during a 5 hour invigilated examination.  

Visual Studies

Students will complete a written examination on Visual studies based on their thoughts, knowledge, and observations of work by professional artists and imagery in wider visual media.   This subject would suit a student who is experimental, enthusiastic, resilient, independent, imaginative, and organised. Time management, listening skills and communication skills are extremely important for this subject.

Assessment and results and other points

The number of students receiving H1 and H2’s has increased in recent years. The art history will be assessed with all other written papers during the LC exams. All the practical work will be assessed by a visiting examiner. The time frame for the practical work is 10 weeks from Jan onwards in 6th year. It clearly states on the circulars from the Department that all the work should be done in school and parents and students should not be concerned that the project will eat into the other subjects time.   It is also a much better system for students who work slowly of have great difficulty performing under pressure as now the work is progressive rather than exam based. Students who are preparing a portfolio for Art College will find that the new revised syllabus will benefit and work in their favour, and some of their classwork may be viable in their portfolio. For pupils who are studying architecture or related courses -  Art and DCG is an excellent combination. Overall the new course encourages greater individuality and creativity.

Further Progression

Art can be great preparation for any career that requires fine motor skills, presentation skills, an eye for aesthetics and creative thinking. There are many diverse possibilities –  Artist, , architect, product designer, interior designer, packaging designer urban designer/town planner, set designer, industrial designer, illustrator, art therapist, fashion designer/dressmaker, surgeon, teacher, advertising director, photographer, animator, concept artist, web designer, television/film producer, editor, museum curator, special effects makeup, photo journalist, curriculum writer, art critic, arts administrator, arts and cultural planner, courtroom artist, stylist, art dealer, art supplies retailer.

Leaving Cert Papers, News, Notes, Tips and Resources

Higher Level Exam Papers

2019 – Source 2019 – History 2018 – Source 2018 – History 2017 – Source 2017 – History 2016 – Source 2016 – History 2015 – Source 2015 – History 2014 – Source 2014 – History 2013 – Source 2013 – History 2012 – Source 2012 – History 2011 – Source 2011 – History 2010 – Exam 2010 – Source 2009 – Exam 2009 – Source 2009 – Craftwork 2008 – Exam 2008 – Source

Ordinary Level Exam Papers

2019 – Source 2019 – History 2018 – Source 2018 – History 2017 – Source 2017 – History 2016 – Source 2016 – History 2015 – Source 2015 – History 2014 – Source 2014 – History 2013 – Source 2013 – History 2012 – Source 2012 – History 2011 – Source 2011 – History 2010 – Source 2010 – Exam 2009 – Exam 2009 – Source 2009 – Design 2008 – Exam 2008 – Source 2007 – Exam 2007 – Source

Higher Level Marking Schemes

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

Ordinary Level Marking Schemes

Learn & Explore

Leaving cert art resources.

Click here to download an interactive PDF file with lots of online art resources from Crawford Art Gallery for Leaving Certs.

We are keen to support teachers and students, if you have a specific question about an exhibition please feel free to contact us.

(0)21 490 7857 [email protected]

Emmett Place, Cork, Ireland T12 TNE6 Tel: 021 480 5042 [email protected]

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LC Art 2023 - Important Information

Important information in relation to Art for Leaving Certificate 2023, have been released.

The documents have been published on the SEC Website @  www.examinations.ie

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Senior Cycle Art

Welcome to the Curriculum section for Senior Cycle Art. 

Please find the Link to the Leaving Certificate Art Syllabus below:

Art Curriculum Syllabus (until 2022)  

https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/ca08dbe2-98aa-499e-b0f8-cd8446302f96/SCSEC06_Art_Syllabus_Eng.pdf

Please find links to the new Leaving Certificate Art Specification below:

• Leaving Certificate Art Specification
• https://curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/d809df63-51e4-43dc-b091-3c5f18a8312d/Leaving-Certificate-Art-Specification_EN.pdf
• Leaving Certificate Art Specification (Gaeilge)
• https://curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/1eb9c70b-89fb-486e-9035-20c35e3543bc/Leaving-Certificate-Art-Specification_GA.pdf

The ‘Advice for teachers and students’ section of the new Leaving Certificate Art Specification can be found below:

https://www.curriculumonline.ie/Senior-cycle/Senior-Cycle-Subjects/Art/Advice-for-teachers-and-students/

S93/19 Leaving Certificate Art (Including Crafts) 2020 – Arrangements for Coursework 

0061/2019 Curriculum-related developments at Senior Cycle with particular reference to school years 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22

S81/16 Leaving Certificate Art (Including Crafts) – Revised Assessment Framework – Arrangements for Coursework Component from 2018 Onwards

Please click here to access this webinar .  You may also wish to access the following documents before viewing the webinar:

Click here to download the Draft Leaving Certificate Art Coursework Workbook

Click here to download the Draft Leaving Certificate Art exam paper for webinar

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SENIOR CYCLE ART

Teacher: Maria Curtin

Brief Overview of Subject:

The current Leaving Certificate Art Examination includes three components: Practical Coursework, Life Drawing, and History and Appreciation of Art.

Practical Coursework: (50%)

Students complete a project over 10 weeks after a brief is issued by State Examinations Commission in January of Year 2. The project requires students to research themes and develop a Still Life or Imaginative Composition from a theme. Students also develop and complete one Craft from their chosen theme.

Life Drawing Examination: (12.5%)

Students complete two life drawings in one hour, in May of Year 2.

History and Appreciation of Art: (37.5%)

Students write three essays, one essay from Irish Art, one essay from European Art, and one essay from Appreciation of Art. This is a 2.5 hour examination in June after Year 2.

The revised Leaving Certificate Art Assessment will be examined for the first time in June 2023. The following is a brief overview of the subject:

Art is both creative and expressive and it provides an opportunity for the development of the skills necessary for creative engagement with the world. Senior Cycle Art incorporates three inter-related and inter-dependent strands: Research, Create and Respond. Studying Art gives the learner diverse knowledge, skills and values by experiencing a wide variety of ideas, practices and media. Art enables learners to develop many skills that are conceptual and practical. It promotes creative and critical thinking, and supports the development of problem-solving skills.

Research Strand

Learners learn by and through looking, using primary sources or examples of significant works of Visual Studies; by Recording and documenting their thoughts, ideas, findings and observations in their sketchpads; through Experimenting and interpretation of what they observe and the work and ideas they then develop; by being cognisant of the evolving world around them through Contextual enquiries and by explicitly following a Process. Some of the learning outcomes in the Research Strand can also apply to both the practical making of work and to Visual Studies.

Create Strand

In learning to create work, the learning outcomes describe and capture the Making involved; the use of Contextual enquiries, especially in learning to understand and use the art elements and design principles; the Process involved in following lines of enquiry and deciding on the realised work; the knowledge, skills and understanding required to communicate through the Realisation/Presentation of their work. Some of the learning outcomes in the Create Strand can apply to both the practical making of work and to Visual Studies.

Respond Strand

The learning outcomes related to Responding involve the use of Analysis; the making of Contextual enquiries to further understanding and knowledge; looking at ways to judge Impact and value; employing Critical and personal reflection; and learning to think about and rationalise their Process. Some of the learning outcomes in the Respond Strand can also apply to practical making of work and to Visual Studies.

Coursework Assessment

The coursework assessment includes two related but separate components – practical coursework and a practical examination – which will be completed in the final year of study. Both pieces of work will be based on the same stimulus, which will be chosen by the learner from a coursework brief issued by the SEC.

PRACTICAL COURSEWORK (50%) The practical coursework component is designed to test the learner’s ability to use the knowledge, concepts and skills developed in their study of Art to produce a realised work, from a stimulus, over an extended time period. The use of primary sources, including observational drawings, life drawing and drawing from the imagination are important. Learners will receive the SEC coursework brief at the beginning of Term 2 (Year 2). In the brief, the SEC will outline the time period in which the practical coursework must be completed. During this period, learners will be required to realise one piece of work and plan and develop work for the realisation of a second piece of work during the practical examination.

THE PRACTICAL EXAMINATION (20%) The practical examination component will take place as soon after the completion of the practical coursework component as possible, and within 5 hours of a single day. Information on the examination will be included in the coursework brief issued by the SEC. Learners will create a second realised work for this examination, based on the same stimulus and the ideas and work they researched and developed during their overall coursework project.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION (30%) The written examination will have a range and balance of question types suited to Visual Studies and the application of practical knowledge. The questions will focus on a broad understanding of Visual Studies and will require learners to demonstrate knowledge and understanding, and an ability to apply, analyse, evaluate and respond as appropriate. The written examination paper will assess:  recall, knowledge and understanding of art and Visual Studies, application of practice, knowledge and understanding from different areas of the specification to familiar and unfamiliar situations, critical thinking, the ability to analyse and evaluate information and to form reasonable and logical arguments based on evidence, problem-solving skills in relation to Visual Studies and the practical application of art, the ability to process information and articulate a personal understanding. All questions will rely on the learner’s understanding of Visual Studies and their critical and creative use of visual language to analyse artwork. It is envisaged that the written examination paper will be 2.5 hours long.

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JUNIOR CYCLE VISUAL ART Visual Art is a subject that promotes teaching and learning through art, craft and design. This involves becoming familiar with and applying the elements of art and principles of design, and the knowledge and skills associated with these processes, their histories and their contemporary practices. Visual Art also recognises and rewards a number of different forms of intelligence, including emotional intelligence; it develops personal qualities of expression and empathy.

Visual Art encompasses art, craft and design and involves practical work in a wide range of media leading to a specific outcome, e.g. an artwork, a design, architectural study, an installation or an event. Making art develops the learner’s imagination through developing an idea or concept and allows them to exercise personal responsibility for specific tasks.

Visual Art promotes divergent thinking and develops the learner’s ability to interpret, make judgements and express opinions on a work. It also promotes respect for the work and the opinions of others.

Visual Art is concerned with the personal, cognitive and physical fulfilment of the learner in both the present moment – producing work that gives personal pleasure and reward in the short-term, as well as in preparation for longer-term, more distant goals.

The qualities that Visual Art develops are crucial components of the rounded general education that all young people should experience. These personal characteristics and attributes include creativity, critical judgement, working with others or working individually, providing and receiving constructive criticism, and respecting differences.

Visual Art provides the learner with a space within which it is safe to experiment, to fail and to learn. It allows learners to collaborate on ideas and work. It facilitates and encourages the questions a learner may raise in travelling a path that may not lead to an anticipated outcome or that may produce a different outcome to what was planned. It gives them the capacity to understand and to express ideas, feelings and opinions: both their own and those of others.

Contemporary culture is highly visual. Visual literacy is an essential requirement of active citizenship. It enhances the young person’s ability to interpret, critique and decode visual messages. The capacity to engage in critical thinking in the art class fosters the young person’s competence and confidence in responding to and engaging with the visual culture of the contemporary world and with the natural and built environments. It opens their minds to the traditions and values of other cultures and influences. Visual literacy and the ability to appreciate visual culture adds to the wealth of learning available through historical artefacts and to an understanding of the evolution of works of art, craft or design across the development of human society.

In Visual Art, students build on the progress and skills they have already achieved in primary school in order to help them further improve. Students of the subject will develop the transversal skills, such as creativity, collaboration, ability to question, risk- assessment, problem identification, problem-solving and management of their own emotions; skills that form a natural learning mechanism that can enhance their own development. Students learn how best to use traditional and contemporary technologies for both creative and operational purposes. All these skills and dispositions are key to future learning in senior cycle, higher education, and also in the world of work.

In Junior Cycle Visual Art in Gort Community school, students get the opportunity to study a wide range of artistic disciplines, for example; drawing, painting, graphic design, mask making, puppetry, construction, modelling, textiles, embroidery, bookcraft, digital art, printmaking, photography and animation.

ASSESSMENT IN JUNIOR CYCLE VISUAL ART

Junior Cycle art is assessed at a common level

• Classroom based assessment 1 (Jan-May, 2nd year) – common level In January of 2nd year, students do CBA 1 ‘From Process to Realisation’ for 6-8 weeks.
•  Classroom based assessment 2 (September- December, 3rd year) – common level In September of 3rd year, students do CBA 2 ‘Communicate and Reflect’ for 6-8 weeks.
•  Final SEC Assessment (January– May, 3rd year) The work from CBA1 is realised through one of the three visual art strands – Art, Craft or Design. The work for CBA2 and the final assessment is realised through the two remaining strands and on is 3-dimensional.
• What will students be doing in the two Classroom Based Assessments?
• In CBA1 , students will: Choose their initial theme and appropriate primary source Research and explore their ideas Develop their ideas for their realised work Record all work and annotations in their Visual Art sketchpad Incorporate the elements of Visual Art throughout their work Complete their realised work Reflect on their decisions, process and realised work
• In CBA2 , students will: Interpret the themes Indicate the two Visual Art strands through which they will generate their realised works research and explore their initial ideas engage with the elements of Visual Art Record all their work and annotations in their Visual Art sketchpad Curate and present their initial ideas to their teacher and peers Record and reflect on the feedback received from their teacher and peers.
• What will students be doing in the Final Assessment in 3rd year? As part of the SEC Final Assessment, students will complete the following: Decide on one theme for Final Assessment from the brief issued in September (the same themes as CBA2) Reflect on CBA2 using the Communicate and Reflect Form Influences sheets for artefact 1 and artefact 2, Development sheets showing drawing from primary sources two finished artefacts, Reflection and evaluation form.
• TRANSITION YEAR ART In Transition year, all students have the opportunity to study an Art module. The aim of the Transition Year Art course is to enable all TY students to appreciate art and to encourage students to develop practical problem solving skills, think creatively, experiment with their artwork and to acquire and develop new skills in a range of art disciplines. The Transition Year Art course in Gort CS offers a range of artistic disciplines. Students explore drawing from memory, imagination, photographs and observation. They experiment with blind drawing, continuous line drawing, gesture drawing, upside-down drawing, tonal studies and they learn how to scale up a photograph. Students study typography, printmaking and acrylic painting. Students in Transition Year also have the opportunity to design and make the sets and props for the school musical.

THE PRACTICAL EXAMINATION (20%) The practical examination component will take place as soon after the completion of the practical coursework component as possible, and within 5 hours of a single day. Learners will create a second realised work for this examination, based on the same stimulus and the ideas and work they researched and developed during their overall coursework project. They will include an artist’s statement to explain what they have created, how it was created and why was it created.

•  Final SEC Assessment (January– May, 3rd year) The work from CBA1 is realised through one of the three visual art strands – Art, Craft or Design. The work for CBA2 and the final assessment is realised through the two remaining strands and on is 3-dimensional. What will students be doing in the two Classroom Based Assessments? In CBA1 , students will: Choose their initial theme and appropriate primary source Research and explore their ideas Develop their ideas for their realised work Record all work and annotations in their Visual Art sketchpad Incorporate the elements of Visual Art throughout their work Complete their realised work Reflect on their decisions, process and realised work
•  Final SEC Assessment (January– May, 3rd year) The work from CBA1 is realised through one of the three visual art strands – Art, Craft or Design. The work for CBA2 and the final assessment is realised through the two remaining strands and on is 3-dimensional. What will students be doing in the two Classroom Based Assessments? I n CBA1 , students will: Choose their initial theme and appropriate primary source Research and explore their ideas Develop their ideas for their realised work Record all work and annotations in their Visual Art sketchpad Incorporate the elements of Visual Art throughout their work Complete their realised work Reflect on their decisions, process and realised work

CAREERS IN ART ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution’ – Albert Einstein Students who study Art in Gort Community school are encouraged to be innovators not imitators. From first year through to sixth year students experience bringing an idea from concept to realisation. In Art class, students develop 21st century skills of creative thinking, critical thinking, problem solving, innovation and visual literacy.

Career opportunities include, but are not limited to:

• Animation • Special Effects and Make up • Gaming design • Graphic Design • Medical Devices Design • Web and App design • Film Art Director • Set/ Stage Designer • Television/ Film producer • Marketing • Illustrator • Architecture • Costume design

• Model Making • Industrial Design • Fashion Design • Jewellery Design • Photographer • Teacher• Fashion Designer • Ceramicist • Art historian/critic • Visual merchandiser • Textile designer • Puppet designer • Gallery / Museum • Art curator • Art Restorer • Tattoo artist • Sculptor • Painter

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Draft Leaving Certificate Art Specification

• Creator: NCCA
• Subject: specification, leaving certificate, art, senior cycle, post primary, craft, design
• Publisher: NCCA
• Type: Draft Specifications
• Rights: © National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. All Rights Reserved.
• Draft Leaving Certificate Art Specification EN

Leaving Cert Coursework – Circulars

Here are links to Circulars sent out to schools regarding the Leaving Certificate Coursework Examination. We have bulleted some points (including quotes) from these circulars that we feel should be brought to your attention, however, we advise that you read all Circulars in full. 

Circular S93/17, Arrangements for Coursework;

https://www.examinations.ie/misc-doc/EN-EX-95844141.pdf

• “…the tamper evident envelopes and other materials required for the secure storage of the completed artwork in the school will be provided to you by the SEC as we near the completion date of 23 March.”
• “The Department of Education and Skills has previously advised schools of its expectation that, in line with normal timetabling, students would have approximately 30 hours of supervised class time over the ten-week period for carrying out the coursework.”
• As this is not a change to the syllabus, but a change in the examination format, “…the SEC wishes to reiterate our previous assurance that the standard of work that candidates are expected to produce in creating their final artefacts remains unchanged from that expected under the previous arrangements. As candidates previously produced this work during two comparatively short invigilated examinations following a two-week preparatory period, teachers are asked to bear this in mind when conveying expectations to candidates”
• The original pilot was carried out over 6 weeks. As expressed in the following quote, the additional 4 weeks has been added, taking into consideration the various disruptions that may occur in schools during the examination period; “This quantum of time, 30 hours of supervised class time over the ten-week period, was arrived at following feedback from schools involved in the piloting of these arrangements that the original quantum of time allocated in the pilot was insufficient. It is considered this substantially increased amount of time will be beneficial to teachers and students, will relieve any possible time pressure and will allow for flexibility in continuing with other work over the coursework period and/or allowing for occasional school closures or other unanticipated loss of class time.”
• If a candidate misses time due to exceptional circumstances, the procedure is similar to that of the previous examination format;  “…additional supervised time outside of normally timetabled class time should not be made available unless some exceptional circumstance applies. Such exceptional circumstance might involve, for example, an illness that prevents a candidate from attending school for a significant part or all of the ten-week period. An application for an extension on medical grounds must be made to the SEC and each candidate will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The candidate may be afforded the time to make up the coursework hours, provided that the school is in a position to facilitate the direct supervision of this work by the teacher and for the work to be duly authenticated. The candidate’s absence due to illness must be supported by medical evidence (e.g. medical certificate) and the proposed alternative arrangements must be agreed in advance between the SEC and the school authority. In these circumstances, the coursework must be completed at the earliest possible opportunity and in any event not later than the commencement date of the Life Sketching practical in May.”
• The coursework workbooks will be sealed on March 23 rd into a tamper evident envelope. A separate tamper evident envelope will be provided to contain the life drawing component in May. These envelopes will both remain in the school for examination.
• As is SEC policy for all subjects, marking schemes are not published until after the examination period. However, the SEC have provided the following breakdown; “…40% of the marks awarded will be based on the evidence presented in the candidate’s workbook, with the remaining 60% being based on the realised artefacts produced.”
• As was the procedure for the previous examination format, and similar to that of the current Junior Certificate examination, completed exam work must be stored securely in the school until the SEC examiners visits in June 2018, and must continue to be stored securely until the appeals processes have finished.

Circular S81/16, Revised Assessment Framework

https://www.examinations.ie/misc-doc/EN-EX-90496486.pdf

• “Candidates will be required to nominate their level of entry (Higher or Ordinary) at the time they carry out their coursework as the coursework will be graded to a standard appropriate to the selected level, and the Life Sketching component will continue to involve different poses at Ordinary and Higher Level. The History and Appreciation of Art examination will continue to be held as a written examination at separate levels as part of the June.”
• “The second of the two DES circulars mentioned above recommended that 30 hours of class time be made available to candidates over the course of the ten-week period to facilitate completion of the coursework. Please note that it is not envisaged that candidates be provided with further time significantly above that  amount.”

The subject must be formally timetabled (with timetable available to Commission personnel)

T he school/centre must be available for monitoring by Commission personnel

The Practical Coursework must be completed under the required conditions as set out for individual subjects

Practical Coursework must be conducted under the supervision of a class teacher with the work authenticated by the teacher and principal in accordance with this circular. (Circular letter S69/04)”

• “It is vital to note immediately the implications of the changed examination arrangements for any students who might have intended to take Art as an additional subject outside of the normal school setting, either on their own or with private tuition outside of a school or centre. As it is not possible to meet the authentication requirements in these circumstances, coursework cannot be accepted from such candidates. Since they will forfeit the coursework marks, the maximum number of marks that they can achieve is effectively capped at 50% of the marks available for the subject (these being the marks for the invigilated Life Sketching examination and the written paper on History and Appreciation of Art).”