IB Visual Arts HL flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Comparative study length

The comparative study is submitted as 10–15 screens and is externally assessed at 20% of the final grade.

Minimum comparison set

Compare at least three artworks by at least two artists from different cultural contexts, choosing works that permit meaningful formal and contextual connections.

Criterion A formal qualities

Criterion A, worth 6 marks, assesses analysis of formal qualities such as composition, color, space, scale, materials, and technique.

Criterion B function purpose

Criterion B, worth 6 marks, assesses interpretation of function and purpose by linking formal choices to use, audience, and context.

Criterion C cultural significance

Criterion C, worth 6 marks, evaluates cultural significance through traditions, beliefs, institutions, historical conditions, and power relationships.

Criterion D comparisons connections

Criterion D, worth 6 marks, assesses making comparisons and connections: similarities, differences, and the significance of those relationships.

Criterion E presentation language

Criterion E, worth 6 marks, assesses coherent presentation and accurate subject-specific language, including captions, citations, and legible screen design.

Comparative study mark total

The comparative study totals 30 marks across criteria A–E, each worth 6 marks, for both SL and HL.

Artwork caption contents

Each reproduced artwork should be captioned with artist, title, date, medium, dimensions, and source so the screen is self-contained.

Cultural context scope

Cultural context includes the social, historical, political, religious, economic, and institutional conditions in which an artwork is made, circulated, and interpreted.

Process portfolio screen range

SL submits 9–18 screens; HL submits 13–25 screens; the portfolio is externally assessed and contributes 40% of the final grade.

Process criterion A

Criterion A, worth 12 marks, assesses skills, techniques, and processes through evidence of sustained experimentation with media, materials, and methods.

Process criterion B

Criterion B, worth 12 marks, assesses critical investigation of artists, artworks, cultures, and contexts, linked to the student's own art-making decisions.

Process criterion C

Criterion C, worth 6 marks, assesses communication of ideas and intentions, including stated aims, choices, and unresolved questions.

Process criterion D

Criterion D, worth 6 marks, assesses reviewing, refining, and reflecting through evidence of testing, rejecting, revising, and improving work.

Process criterion E

Criterion E, worth 6 marks, assesses presentation and subject-specific language, including sequencing, legibility, captions, and source citations.

Process portfolio mark total

The process portfolio totals 42 marks: criterion A 12, criterion B 12, criterion C 6, criterion D 6, and criterion E 6.

Critical investigation focus

Critical investigation goes beyond biography: it examines form, function, context, and reception, then connects findings to the student's own experiments.

Portfolio evidence types

Evidence may include annotated sketches, material tests, technical notes, failed attempts, photographs of experiments, and reflective commentary, not only finished works.

HL portfolio depth rule

HL's larger screen range requires greater depth and breadth; repeating the same experiment across more screens without new insight does not meet the requirement.

Portfolio citation requirement

All borrowed images, texts, and artist references must be cited so the portfolio can be authenticated and readers can locate sources.

Exhibition artwork range

SL exhibits 4–7 artworks; HL exhibits 8–11 artworks; the exhibition is internally assessed and contributes 40% of the final grade.

Exhibition criterion A

Criterion A, worth 12 marks, assesses a coherent body of works that shows sustained inquiry and meaningful relationships among the selected artworks.

Exhibition criterion B

Criterion B, worth 12 marks, assesses technical competence: control of media, materials, processes, and resolution appropriate to the stated intentions.

Exhibition criterion C

Criterion C, worth 6 marks, assesses curatorial practice: selection, sequencing, spacing, lighting, labeling, and consideration of the viewer.

Exhibition criterion D

Criterion D, worth 6 marks, assesses evaluation: critical reflection on the exhibition's strengths, problems, and possible future directions.

Exhibition mark total

The exhibition totals 36 marks for both SL and HL: criterion A 12, criterion B 12, criterion C 6, and criterion D 6.

Curatorial rationale purpose

The curatorial rationale explains the exhibition's concept, selection, sequencing, and intended viewer experience; it must match what is actually installed.

Exhibition text role

Exhibition text provides concise information and context for viewers; it should identify works and support interpretation without replacing the artworks themselves.

Exhibition moderation rule

The exhibition is marked by the teacher using IB criteria and moderated by the IB; schools must retain evidence for moderation.

Originality authentication rule

All exhibited artworks must be the student's own work; teachers must authenticate originality and document any collaborative or borrowed elements.

Site-specific curation factors

Curation decisions include wall height, sightlines, traffic flow, lighting, and label placement; these choices are assessed under curatorial practice.