Overview
The Connections Study (CS) is a core assessment task for SL students in the new IB DP Visual Arts course. It carries 20% of the final grade and provides students with the opportunity to situate one of their own resolved artworks in context—both personal and historical—through meaningful research and visual storytelling.
🔹At Art-Ed Hub, we recommend flipping the traditional process.
Instead of beginning with a resolved artwork and tracing backward, students begin with research: selecting two artworks by different artists that speak to them, exploring their significance, and allowing this inquiry to lead into their own artistic response.
The result is a study rooted in curiosity, layered understanding, and creative integrity whilst still aligning fully with IB expectations.
Understanding the Assessment Objectives
The CS is assessed using three assessment objectives: Situate, Investigate, and Curate. These guide both the structure of the final submission and the learning that leads up to it. From early research to final editing, students should engage with these objectives intentionally and reflectively.
| Assessment Objective | What It Looks Like in Practice |
|---|---|
|
Situate |
Students provide visual and written evidence that situates their resolved artwork: • In relation to their own context(s) (personal, cultural, social, geographical) • In relation to at least two artworks by different artists Focus: How does your work connect—conceptually, stylistically, or technically—to these artworks and to your life? Prompt: “What makes these connections meaningful to you and to your practice?” |
|
Investigate |
Students research and analyse the cultural significance of the two artworks they’ve selected, both in their original contexts and across time/place.
Focus: What makes these artworks significant beyond their surface?
Prompt: “How were these works understood in their original context—and what meaning do they carry now?” |
|
Curate |
Students select, organize, and present visual and written materials that clearly communicate their inquiry. This includes visuals from their own process and artworks, plus relevant visual and textual evidence from their research.
Focus: How do your choices of layout, language, and visuals support clarity, coherence, and insight?
Prompt: “How can you present your findings in a way that shows thoughtfulness and intention?” |
What’s Included in This Sample
This CS sample includes:
- A complete student submission aligned with Art-Ed Hub’s research-led approach
- Annotated feedback on each assessment objective
- A student-friendly assessment sheet for classroom use
- A visual breakdown of the CS rubric to guide planning and self-assessment
This is not a comparative study. It’s a situated study and when done well, it becomes a powerful, inquiry-driven bridge between student practice and the wider artistic world.
Sample
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Assessment
This content is for Art-Ed Hub members
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More IB Samples
AIP (Art-Making Inquiries Portfolio)
AP (Artist Project)
RA (Resolved Artworks)
