How to Nail HSC Visual Arts Section 1 by Using a Scaffold

Students often go intoVisual ArtsSection 1 entirely unprepared, when they could just learn a Visual Arts scaffold!

“But we haven’t seen the images!” I hear you say, “how can I prepare for something I haven’t seen?”

Well no need to fear! The answer, my friend, is a Visual Arts scaffold!

With a scaffold, you are able to go into an exam, with no knowledge of the questions, but being 100% assured you can achieve the marks you need.

如果你有一个总精神blank in the exam, falling back on a scaffold will make you feel confident about your answer.

A scaffold means the markers will have to give you marks, even if your information sounds more like you’re trying to interpret a pile of rocks than an artwork.

5 Marker scaffold

8 Marker Scaffold

12 Marker Scaffold

5 Marker Scaffold

1. Answer the Question– identify whether the question is referring to Practice, Conceptual Framework or The Frames. Have a specific answer to the question, rather than just repeating it.
2. Include citation material– try to include this in a relevant way rather than just dropping it in.
3. IncludethreeSEE (statement, example, explain) points to support your argument.
4. Link back to the question.

Let’s take a look at this question from a past HSC Visual Arts paper and a Band 6 five marker response.

Looking at the above response, note how I have included all of the above dot points necessary to create a well structured response.

8 Marker Scaffold

1. Answer the question– identify whether the question is referring to Practice, Conceptual Framework or The Frames.
2. Have a thesiswhich links the plates together (there may be 2 or 3 plates for an 8 marker).
3. Include citation material– try to include this in a relevant way rather than just dropping it in.
4. Plate 1: includeone ortwoSEE (statement, example, explain) points to support your argument.
5. Plate 2: includeone ortwoSEE points to support your argument.
6. Plate 3: includeone ortwoSEE points to support your argument.
7. Link back to the question.

Note: use the text extract if available to help you with your analysis.

Here is an example 8 marker question from the 2017 HSC Visual Arts exam paper:

You can find a band 5/6 example responsehere.

Now have a try to do this yourself! You can use the practice exams foundhere.

12 Marker Scaffold

1. Introduction –Answer the question, have a thesis, include citation material.
2. Paragraph 1:use2 or 3SEE (statement, example, explain) points to compare the plates.
3. Paragraph 2:use2 or 3SEE points to compare the plates.
4. Paragraph 3: use2 or 3SEE points to compare the plates.
5. Make a judgement/evaluation.
6. Link back to the question.

Note: It is super important for this question that firstly, you identify whether it relates to practice, conceptual framework or the frames. Secondly, you must make an evaluation regarding the question.

Here is an example 12 marker question from the 2017 HSC Visual Arts exam paper:

You can find the criteria and possible points included in a band 5/6 example responsehere.

Now have a try to do this yourself! You can use the practice exams foundhere

And there you have it! The unseen question scaffold that paired with good analysis, will guarantee you a band 6 in Visual Arts Section 1.

Click herefor more information on how to analyse unseen images for section 1 in Visual Arts.

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Brooklyn Arnotis currently studying Philosophy, History and English at The University of Sydney. In her spare time she enjoys drawing mythical landscapes, flowers, trees, and artsy signs for her cafe during long train rides and basically any time there is a pen and paper around. Her incredible high school English teachers gave her a passion for literature and education, leading to her extreme enthusiasm for the HSC English syllabus and her dream to go to Scandinavia to study old viking literature.