How to get feedback on your Art portfolio
The Portfolio to A Star feedback service allows you to choose exactly which parts of your GCSE or A Level Art portfolio you would like reviewed. You can get feedback on Fine Art, Photography or Graphic Communication work and select one, several or all four Assessment Objectives.
The purpose of the review is to help you recognise what is working, identify areas that may need further attention and decide upon practical next steps. The feedback is personalised to the evidence you submit and the areas selected by you or your parent or guardian.
Step 1: get feedback for the right qualification
Begin by selecting either GCSE or A Level. This is important because the expectations, depth of investigation and degree of independence differ between the two qualifications. Your feedback will be written with the appropriate level of study in mind.
Step 2: get feedback on the areas you choose
Select Fine Art, Photography or Graphic Communication and then choose the Assessment Objectives you want reviewed. You can request feedback on one Assessment Objective, a combination of objectives or all four:
- AO1: developing ideas, investigating sources and showing critical understanding.
- AO2: experimenting with media, materials, techniques and processes while refining ideas.
- AO3: recording observations, ideas, insights and intentions as the project progresses.
- AO4: presenting a personal and meaningful response that realises your intentions.
The review concentrates on the areas you select. For example, if you choose AO2, the feedback will focus particularly on experimentation, media choices, refinement and evidence of purposeful decision-making. Selecting all four Assessment Objectives provides a broader review of how the complete project connects.
Step 3: confirm your choices and pay securely
The order summary shows your selected qualification, subject and number of Assessment Objectives. Check these details carefully before continuing. You will also need to confirm that you have read and accepted the Terms and Conditions. Payment is completed through the secure checkout shown on the page.
Step 4: upload the work you want reviewed
After successful payment, you will be directed to a secure upload page. You can submit sketchbook pages, portfolio sheets, photographs, resolved outcomes, annotations or relevant written work in JPG, JPEG, PNG, PDF, DOC or DOCX format.
You may upload up to 20 files, with a maximum size of 15 MB for each file. Select pages that clearly show the evidence you would like considered. Images should be correctly oriented, in focus and sufficiently large for details and written annotation to be read. You will receive an email confirming that the upload has been completed.
When will you get feedback?
Get feedback after the cancellation period
Your portfolio review begins after the 14-day cancellation period has ended. Feedback is normally provided around 14 days after the end of that cancellation period. This allows sufficient time for the submitted evidence to be considered carefully and for constructive, personalised feedback to be prepared.
The review is not produced automatically. The work is examined in relation to the qualification, subject and Assessment Objectives you selected. If an uploaded file cannot be opened or is too unclear to assess, you may be contacted and asked to provide a replacement.
Get feedback in complete confidence
Get feedback without your work being made public
Your submitted portfolio and completed feedback are treated as confidential. Artwork is not published, sold, used as exemplar material or used to train artificial-intelligence systems. Uploaded portfolio files and working copies are deleted within 28 days after the completed feedback has been sent.
Before uploading, remove unnecessary personal information such as your address, school details, candidate number or other identifying information. Full details about how files and personal information are handled can be found in the Portfolio to A Star Privacy Policy.
How to use the feedback
Read the feedback alongside your portfolio and turn the recommendations into a realistic action plan. You might need to strengthen a connection with an artist, add more first-hand recording, compare experiments more critically, refine a composition or explain your intentions more clearly.
The feedback is intended to support your learning and help you make informed decisions. It cannot guarantee a particular mark or grade, and the requirements communicated by your teacher, school and examination board must always take priority.
Portfolio to A Star
Purchase a Review
Choose GCSE or A Level.
Select the assessment objectives you would like to be reviewed.
Pay securely with PayPal.