Skip to content
askel
GCSE and A Level · NEA · 100%

GCSE and A Level Art and Design coursework

Askel keeps track of supervised hours, artefacts and the moderation display for Art and Design. NEA (non-exam assessment) is coursework marked in school, then checked by the exam board.

Register interest in Art and Design How it works
Where it is in the build order
Planned Stop 3 of the build order

Planned order, not dates. Pilot schools can move a subject up.

See the build order
What the boards ask

All four boards, two components each.

Component 1 is the portfolio, 60%. Component 2 is the externally set assignment (ESA), 40%: a task set by the exam board, finished in supervised time.

Art and Design NEA rules by exam board
Board and codesMarksSupervised time (ESA)Paper releasedKey deadline
AQA · GCSE 8201 to 8206, A Level 7201 to 720696 for each componentGCSE 10 hours, A Level 15 hours. The first 2 or 3 hours in one sessionGCSE 2 January, A Level 1 FebruaryMarks by 31 May 2027
OCR · GCSE J170 to J176, A Level H600 to H606Portfolio 120, ESA 80GCSE 10 hours, A Level up to 15 hours. At least one session of 2 to 3 hoursA Level 1 February, GCSE 2 JanuaryA Level 31 May 2027, GCSE 15 May 2027
Pearson · GCSE 1AD0, A Level 9AD0, and endorsed titlesGCSE 72 each. A Level 90 and 72GCSE 10 hours, A Level 15 hours, in at most five sessions within three weeksGCSE 2 January, A Level 1 FebruaryMarks at least 48 hours before the moderator’s visit
Eduqas · GCSE C650 to C656, A Level A650 to A656Portfolio 120, ESA 80GCSE 10 hours, A Level 15 hoursGCSE 2 January, A Level 1 February from 7.30amMarks by 31 May 2027

AQA · GCSE 8201 to 8206, A Level 7201 to 7206

Marks
96 for each component
Supervised time (ESA)
GCSE 10 hours, A Level 15 hours. The first 2 or 3 hours in one session
Paper released
GCSE 2 January, A Level 1 February
Key deadline
Marks by 31 May 2027

OCR · GCSE J170 to J176, A Level H600 to H606

Marks
Portfolio 120, ESA 80
Supervised time (ESA)
GCSE 10 hours, A Level up to 15 hours. At least one session of 2 to 3 hours
Paper released
A Level 1 February, GCSE 2 January
Key deadline
A Level 31 May 2027, GCSE 15 May 2027

Pearson · GCSE 1AD0, A Level 9AD0, and endorsed titles

Marks
GCSE 72 each. A Level 90 and 72
Supervised time (ESA)
GCSE 10 hours, A Level 15 hours, in at most five sessions within three weeks
Paper released
GCSE 2 January, A Level 1 February
Key deadline
Marks at least 48 hours before the moderator’s visit

Eduqas · GCSE C650 to C656, A Level A650 to A656

Marks
Portfolio 120, ESA 80
Supervised time (ESA)
GCSE 10 hours, A Level 15 hours
Paper released
GCSE 2 January, A Level 1 February from 7.30am
Key deadline
Marks by 31 May 2027

31 May 2027 is a bank holiday. Askel suggests Friday 28 May 2027 as your school’s target.

Checked on 1 Nov 2026AQA 7201 and 8201OCR H600 and J170Pearson 9AD0 and 1AD0Eduqas A650 and C650
Where the admin piles up

Art has the most to organise.

01

Supervised hours, and the first-session rule

Exact hours for every student, and at AQA the first session must be in one go.

02

Storing and labelling artefacts

Sketchbooks, canvases and models in cupboards, each needing a label and a place.

03

The moderation display

A sample in rank order, laid out for a visiting moderator, who checks the school’s marks.

What Askel records

Built for physical work.

There are no Art screens yet, so these are line drawings.

Prepare

ESA phases, with an hours bar

From the paper’s release to the outcome, with the hours used so far.

Show

A log of supervised sessions

Who was there, for how long, and what doesn’t count, like drying and firing.

Show

A list of artefacts

Where each piece is, its label, and a fingerprint of its photo.

Prove

A plan for the moderation display

The sample in rank order, the room plan and the labels.

Show

An AI record for each piece

Which AI tool was used, what it gave, and how the student changed it.

What stays where it is

Sketchbooks, boards, canvases and models stay in the art room. Askel keeps where each piece is, its label and a fingerprint of its photo.

Key dates 2026-27

June 2027 exams.

All dates here are the exam boards’ own.

  1. 10 Oct 2026AQA estimated entries close. Eduqas early ESA entries dueExam board · Passed
  2. 2 Jan 2027GCSE ESA papers releasedExam board · Next date
  3. 1 Feb 2027A Level ESA papers releasedExam board
  4. 5 Apr 2027AQA marks submission opensExam board
  5. 31 May 2027AQA and Eduqas marks deadlineExam board
  6. June 2027Moderators visitExam board
AI rules for Art and Design

What each board adds.

AI tools, like ChatGPT, can write or change text for you. JCQ’s rules apply to every board: students say which AI tools they used, and keep their prompts and what the tool gave them. Each board adds its own notes.

AQAAI can help with research and ideas. Any AI image must be changed and developed by the student.AQA Art AI guidance
OCRStudents say how AI informed their ideas, and keep the evidence.OCR guidance
PearsonAI can’t replace the student’s ideas or skill. They record how they used it and what they changed.Pearson Art AI guidance
EduqasNo art-specific guidance yet. JCQ’s rules apply.JCQ guidance

Askel has no AI in it, and never sends students’ work to AI companies.

Register interest

Register interest in Art and Design.

We’ll tell you when Art and Design reaches pilot, and ask what you need first. Pilot schools can move a subject up the order.

So we know who to write to.
We only use it to tell you about this subject.
Subject Art and Design is picked. Add any others you need.
Exam board So we set up the right forms.
A rough number is fine.

We use your details only for this. No tracking cookies. Privacy notice

We check for spam without tracking you. There’s no puzzle to solve.

Related guides

Guides for Art and Design.

GuideArt ESA supervised hours by boardChecked against JCQ documents effective 1 September 2026Read the guide GuideHow students should acknowledge AIChecked against JCQ documents effective 1 September 2026Read the guide GuideStoring coursework until reviews endChecked against JCQ documents effective 1 September 2026Read the guide
All guidesSee the build order
Sources
  • AQA GCSE and A Level Art and Design specifications
  • OCR GCSE and A Level Art and Design specifications
  • Pearson Edexcel GCSE and A Level Art and Design specifications
  • Eduqas GCSE and A Level Art and Design specifications
  • AQA Art and Design AI guidance, October 2025
  • Pearson Art and Design AI guidance, November 2024
  • JCQ Instructions for conducting non-examination assessments 2026-27
Checked on 1 Nov 2026

We check these again each September, when the JCQ documents change. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

From first idea to hand-in, on the record.

Apply to pilot Book a call