MATSEC AM Art

It is administered by the MATSEC Examinations Board, the examinations body of L-Università ta' Malta. The Board's contact details are published as [email protected], telephone +356 2340 2814/5/6, and the address MATSEC Examinations Board, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta. Always confirm subject-specific detail on the Board's own pages rather than relying on third-party summaries.

The MATSEC section of the University of Malta website lists Regulations, Guidelines and policies, Syllabi, Current Session Information, Applications, Past Papers, and Marking Schemes and Exemplars. The syllabus is the document that defines what the Art examination requires, so download it from there and check that you are reading the version for your session before you plan any work.

Advanced level Art is assessed on studio practice and on the critical and contextual understanding that supports it. Expect to be judged on sustained practical investigation, the quality of your visual research and development, and your ability to analyse and write about art with reference to relevant examples. The precise components and weightings are set out in the current syllabus, which you should read in full.

Work backwards from the syllabus requirements. Build a continuous body of practical work rather than a set of disconnected final pieces, keep a record of your research and decisions, and practise analytical writing about artworks and movements. Use the Board's past papers and marking schemes to understand how evidence is rewarded, and rehearse timed conditions so that your output is realistic.

Yes. The MATSEC website provides Past Papers together with Marking Schemes and Exemplars. These are the most dependable guide to the standard expected, because they show how marks are actually allocated rather than how they are described in general terms. Study several sessions, note recurring demands, and compare your own work against the exemplars to identify gaps.

The MATSEC website lists Applications and Current Session Information, and these are the pages that govern resits and entry deadlines for each session. Retake rules, entry windows and any restrictions are set by the Board and can change between sessions, so check the current session pages and contact the Board directly rather than assuming a previous arrangement still applies.

Three recurrences stand out: producing finished pieces without visible research and development; writing about art in vague generalities without specific works, dates or contexts; and ignoring the syllabus's stated requirements in favour of what feels comfortable. A fourth is poor time management, leaving too little room for the sustained investigation that advanced-level assessment rewards. Read the marking criteria early and audit your work against them.

Start with the syllabus and marking schemes, then establish a regular practical routine so your portfolio grows steadily. Layer in contextual and critical study alongside the studio work rather than leaving it to the end, since the two inform each other. Finish with timed practice under exam conditions and a review of past papers to close any remaining gaps.

The MATSEC Examinations Board publishes [email protected], telephone +356 2340 2814/5/6, and the postal address MATSEC Examinations Board, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta. For general University enquiries the published details are [email protected] and +356 2340 2340. Contact the Board directly for anything affecting your entry, deadlines or special arrangements.