Record of changes for Visual Arts
All changes made to the Visual Arts syllabus are recorded here. Learn about these updates.
About the record of changes
This record details amendments to the syllabus, school-based assessment and exams for the course.
When amendments are published, they are also communicated via NESA official notices in the NESA News.
Stage 6 Assessment and Reporting webpage changes
(Official Notice NESA 33/20)
The Visual Arts Stage 6 Assessment and Reporting webpage has been reformatted and clarified in a single webpage that includes all information from the previous Assessment and Reporting document and its corresponding HSC performance and submitted works requirements webpage.
New Stage 6 school-based assessment requirements
(Official Notice NESA 29/17)
New school-based assessment requirements are to be implemented from Term 1, 2018 for Year 11 and Term 4, 2018 for Year 12. Course-specific assessment requirements are included in the Assessment and reporting materials. Sample assessment schedules for Year 11 and Year 12 are available.
Implementation of the amended Visual Arts Stage 6 Syllabus in NSW
(BOSTES 41/16)
Implementation of the amended syllabus will commence with the Preliminary Course in 2017 and the HSC Course from 2018.
Consultation on the Visual Arts Stage 6 Draft Syllabus Amendments was held in Term 2, 2016. Read the consultation report.
Summary of syllabus changes
The amendments provide teachers with clarity and guidance in:
- the content areas Practice, the Conceptual Framework, and the Frames
- the intended relationships and connections between the content areas Practice, the Conceptual Framework, and the Frames
- content statements that, within the scope of minor amendments, reflect changes in artworld practices.
There have been no changes to syllabus outcomes, objectives, structure of the course content, requirements or specifications in either the Preliminary or the HSC courses. The minor amendments to the syllabus have no impact on the design or conduct of the HSC exam in Visual Arts.
Current resources will continue to be useful and relevant in implementing the amended syllabus.
| Syllabus elements | Changes |
|---|---|
| Syllabus elements | Changes |
| 1. The Higher School Certificate Program of Study | No change |
| 2. Rationale | No change |
| 3. Continuum of Learning for Visual Arts Stage 6 Students | No change |
| 4. Aim | No change |
| 5. Objective | No change |
| 6. Course Structure | No change |
| 7. Objectives and outcomes | No change |
| 8. Content: Visual Arts Preliminary and HSC Courses | No change |
| 8.1 Purpose and Focus of Preliminary Course | No change |
| 8.2 Purpose and Focus HSC Course | No change |
| 8.3 Practice in Artmaking Art Criticism and Art History | Amendments to syllabus content |
| 8.4 The Conceptual Framework – Agencies in the Artworld | Amendments to syllabus content |
| 8.5 The Frames | Amendments to syllabus content |
| 9. Course Requirements | No change |
| 10. Post-school Opportunities | No change |
| 11. Assessment and Reporting | No change |
Changes from current exam specifications
Section I will consist of three short-answer questions (instead of the current one question with three parts). Section II will contain six questions (instead of the current nine) from which students will attempt one question. The expected length for the response is included as a guide. It is presented as the approximate number of exam writing booklet pages (based on average-sized handwriting), and/or an approximate number of words. Students will not be penalised for responses of excess length: they may write less than or more than what is expected, and their responses will be marked on their merits.