Experimenting With Media, Materials and Techniques

What AO2 really rewards

AO2 is the "refining" objective. It rewards how you experiment with media, materials and techniques to develop your ideas as the work grows. Here is the surprise that catches people out: a single beautiful, polished piece can score badly for AO2 if it shows no trail of trials. AO2 wants to see the journey, not just the destination.

Four words to know

These words come up again and again in AO2. Learn what each one means.

Match the medium to its effect

Which one is refining?

Which of these is an example of refining your ideas?

• Trying an idea in three different media, then choosing the strongest
• Making one neat final drawing and stopping there
• Copying a photograph exactly as it looks
• Rushing straight to a finished piece

What the evidence looks like

Two sketchbooks can hold the same final image and score very differently. The difference is the visible experimenting.

Match intention to medium

The grade 9 rule

AO2 marks the experimentation itself. A highly finished final outcome with no visible trail of trials and refinement under-evidences AO2, no matter how skilful the final piece looks. Always show what you tried and how you decided.

Complete the idea

AO2 is about how you _____ your ideas as the work progresses. You explore a range of _____ and techniques, review the results, and then _____ the most successful ones. A visible _____ of your trials matters more than a single polished _____.

Good AO2 practice

Which of these show good AO2 practice? Choose all that apply.

• Trying the same subject in charcoal, ink and collage
• Writing a note on what each experiment taught you
• Selecting the strongest technique to develop further
• Going straight to a final piece with no trials
• Using only one medium from start to finish

Spot the experimenting

A student is developing a drawing of a leaf. Tap the two sentences that show experimenting and refining.

• She tried the leaf in pencil, then ink, then paper collage.
• She noted which medium captured the veins best.
• She handed in one neat final drawing only.
• She chose the leaf because it was quick to draw.

Order the cycle

Put the experiment and refine cycle into a sensible order.

• Choose a starting idea or intention
• Experiment with a range of media and techniques
• Review which results work best
• Refine the most promising approach
• Select the strongest outcome to develop

The polished trap

A student hands in a beautiful, highly finished painting but shows no trials, experiments or notes. How does this score for AO2?

• Poorly, because AO2 needs visible experimentation
• Top marks, because the final piece is skilful
• It cannot be marked at all
• Full marks for AO2 automatically

In the sketchbook

You are developing a page in your sketchbook. Choose the best next step at each stage.

• You want a soft, atmospheric mood. Which is the best first experiment?
• Your first charcoal trial is promising but looks muddy. What is the best next step?
• You now have three good experiments. What should your sketchbook show?

Experiment with your media

Describe how you would experiment with media to develop one idea. Explain which media you would try and how you would decide which to take forward.

• Name at least two media or techniques you would try
• Say what effect each medium gives
• Explain how you would choose the best one to develop