Welcome to ib visual arts 

The IB Diploma Programme Visual Arts is taught at Standard and Higher level, and will suit students who are highly motivated and who can work independently.  

The course is designed for students who want to go on to study visual arts in higher education as well as for those who are seeking lifelong enrichment through a variety of creative fields.

The course encourages students to challenge their own creative and cultural expectations and boundaries. It is a thought-provoking course in which students develop analytical skills in problem-solving and divergent thinking while working towards technical proficiency and confidence as art-makers. In addition to exploring and comparing visual arts from different perspectives and in different contexts, students are expected to engage in, experiment with and critically reflect upon a wide range of contemporary practices and media. The course is designed for students who want to go on to study visual arts in higher education, as well as for those who are seeking lifelong enrichment through visual arts.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be expected to do throughout the course, whether you're taking Standard level (SL) or Higher level (HL):

Task 1: ART-MAKING INQUIRIES PORTFOLIO (sl AND HL) 

This task is the same for both SL and HL students. You'll need to create an art-making inquiries portfolio, where you explore personal lines of inquiry and demonstrate how your artistic intentions guide your creative process. This is your chance to show how you develop your ideas and visual language across a range of art forms.

(SL students must submit two mandatory files) 40%

1. One PDF file of up to 15 screens including visual evidence accompanied by written materials. (The total word count must not exceed 3,000 words).

2. One separate text file listing the sources.

(HL students must submit three mandatory files) 30%

1. One PDF file of up to 15 screens including visual evidence accompanied by written materials. (The total word count must not exceed 3,000 words).

2. One separate text file listing the sources.

Task 2: SL AND HL DIFFERENTIATION 

The second task is different for SL and HL to reflect the time you have in the course:

• SL (Connections Study): You will complete a connections study, where you research and show how your artwork links to other artists' works and cultural contexts. You don’t need to create new art for this task—just connect what you’ve already made to a broader cultural or artistic context.

(SL students must submit six mandatory files) 20%

1. One PDF file of up to 10 screens including visual evidence and supporting written materials. The total word count must not exceed 2,500 words.

2. One separate text file listing the sources.

• HL (Artist Project): You will work on an artist project, where you will create and curate a stand-alone artwork, inspired by connections with other artists. You have more autonomy to develop this project, deciding what and how you want to communicate to your audience. For this project, you will have to show how you have developed your connections through written and visual elements.

(HL students must submit six mandatory files) 30%

• One PDF file of up to 12 screens including visual evidence and supporting written materials. The total word count must not exceed 2,500 words and the student must comply with the exact word counts set for each section.

• One video file up to three minutes long presenting the project artwork realised in the chosen context. The video is submitted accompanied by the artwork details and a short text with the finalised artistic intentions (100 words maximum).

• One separate text file listing the sources.

Task 3: INTERNAL ASSESSMENT (IA) - SL AND HL

For the internal assessment, both SL and HL students need to create a coherent body of work consisting of five resolved artworks. However, the requirements are slightly different:

SL: You submit five artworks with a focus on their coherence and conceptual development.

(SL students must submit six mandatory files). 40%

• Five image or video files (each up to three minutes long) of artwork—each

accompanied by a title and details on medium and size. 

• Two optional supporting image files per artwork can be submitted to show details or additional views.

• One PDF file of up to two screens for the rationale (which must not exceed 700 words).

HL: Along with the five artworks, you will also need to provide images of three additional non-selected artworks and explain why they were not chosen. You’ll also need to critically analyse your work and how it fits into a wider context.

(HL students must submit six mandatory files). 40%

• Five image or video files (each up to three minutes long) of artwork—each accompanied by a title and details on medium and size. 

• Two optional supporting image files per artwork can be submitted to show details or additional views.

• One PDF file of up to eight screens including the rationale (which must not exceed 700 words) and 

          five artwork texts (with a total word count not exceeding 1,000 words).

Assessment Task 

Your work will be assessed based on specific criteria, using level descriptors to award marks. For your final assessment, you’ll need to show evidence of your ability to create, connect, and communicate as a visual artist. There are seven assessment objectives, common to both SL and HL, that will help guide your learning and measure your success throughout the course.

Remember, the visual arts objectives are designed to help you grow as an artist, supporting authentic learning and ensuring that your assessment is fair, reliable, and manageable.