A Visual Arts Teacher,
Photographer and Practitioner Researcher
Connections Study
Analyzing and Connecting Artworks - SL Only
Objective:
Help students develop their critical thinking and art analysis skills by exploring different cultures, artistic movements, and themes.
Understanding Conections Study in Visual Arts
What is a Connections Study?
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An investigation of meaningful connections between artworks, artists, cultures, contexts, and your own art-making.
Why is it important?
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Focus on making thoughtful, well-supported connections that deepen your understanding of visual arts.
What is required?
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Submit 1 PDF (maximum 10 screens, 2,500 words) and 1 separate list of sources. Analyze one of your resolved artworks, connect it to at least two artworks by two different artists, investigate their cultural significance, and support your ideas with clear visual and written evidence.
Connections Study Assessment Criteria
Understanding the Assessment Criteria
Criterion A: Connections with context(s) (8 marks)
💡 Key Question:
To what level do the submitted visual and written materials evidence:
• How the student’s chosen resolved artwork connects to their own context(s)?
IBDP Visual Arts Requirements for Criterion A
Evidence: Curated visual and written materials across the whole study
Assessment objective: Situate
Examples of screens responding to Criteria A:
Source: IBDP Visual Arts Guide New Syllabus - Firts Assessment 2026/2027
Criterion B: Connections with artworks (8 marks)
💡 Key Question:
To what level do the submitted visual and written materials evidence:
• the connections between the student’s chosen resolved artwork and at least two artworks by different
artists?
IBDP Visual Arts Requirements for Criterion B
Evidence: Curated written and visual materials across the whole study
Assessment objective: Situate
Examples of screens responding to Criteria B:
Source: IBDP Visual Arts Guide New Syllabus - Firts Assessment 2026/2027
Criterion C: Investigation of cultural significance
(8 marks)
💡 Key Question:
To what level do the submitted visual and written materials evidence:
• understanding of the cultural significance of the two artworks by different artists, selected in
connection with the student’s own chosen resolved artwork?
IBDP Visual Arts Requirements for Criterion C
Evidence: Curated visual and written materials across the whole study.
Assessment objective: Investigate
Examples of screens responding to Criteria C:
Source: IBDP Visual Arts Guide New Syllabus - Firts Assessment 2026/2027
Using Feldman's Art Critique Analysis
Edmund Feldman's 4 step art critiquing process.
Final Takeaways for Success in the Connections Study
→ Connect to your context: Explain how your chosen resolved artwork relates to your personal, social, cultural, historical, or geographical context.
→ Connect to other artworks: Analyze and compare your resolved artwork with at least two artworks by two different artists, using clear visual evidence.
→ Investigate cultural significance: Explain the cultural meaning, purpose, and importance of the two selected artworks within their original contexts.
→ Reflect on the connections: Show how these comparisons and cultural investigations deepen the understanding of your own artwork.
→ Support your ideas: Use critical thinking, formal art vocabulary, reliable sources, citations, and clearly labelled images.
Practical Activities & Projects
Practice with a series of exercises that will help you to improve your Connections Study and obtain a high mark
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