Question 1

What is NCEA AS 91395 about?

Accepted Answer

AS 91395 is a 4-credit Level 3 (Year 13) exam standard where students write an essay analysing a piece of classical art — such as a Greek vase, a Roman building, or a sculpture — and explain why it matters. Students pick one question from four in the exam and use their knowledge of a specific artwork to discuss its features, meaning, and historical context. The focus is on genuine analysis, not just describing what the artwork looks like.

Question 2

What do students need to do for AS 91395?

Accepted Answer

1. Choose one question from four in the exam — questions focus on things like style, purpose, narrative, or function of classical artworks 2. Write an extended essay response about a classical artwork (e.g. the Colosseum, Ara Pacis, Augustus of Prima Porta, Exekias Amphora, or Greek vase paintings) 3. Describe specific visual features of the artwork using correct art terminology 4. Explain the historical and cultural context in which the artwork was made 5. Link the artwork's features to its broader significance — why it mattered then and why it matters to us now 6. Support your argument with evidence from the artwork itself and, where possible, quotes from ancient authors or classicists 7. Address both parts of the question (e.g. if asked about extent, you must actually argue how far or how much)

Question 3

What's the difference between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence for AS 91395?

Accepted Answer

Achieved: You answer part of the question and show you understand the artwork reasonably well. You describe specific features and mention some context, but you don't quite connect the two together. You might use more than one artwork without going into enough depth on either, or miss part of what the question is actually asking. Merit: You understand the artwork in detail and describe a range of relevant features with specific evidence. You show knowledge of the context the artwork was created in, and your analysis goes into depth — but your links between the artwork's features and the question might be uneven or not fully developed throughout. Excellence: You make strong, well-supported connections between the artwork's features and its historical/cultural context. You address every part of the question with relevant evidence and quotes, use art terminology precisely, write in a logical structure, and show genuine insight and sophistication in your ideas. Comparisons to other works or contexts are used effectively.

Question 4

What mistakes do students typically make in AS 91395?

Accepted Answer

1. Using more than one artwork and only covering each one superficially — depth matters more than breadth 2. Not writing down which question number you are answering, making it hard for the examiner to assess your response 3. Failing to use art-specific terminology correctly (e.g. not explaining what 'idealism' means in the context of style) 4. Focusing too much on historical background and not enough on the actual features of the artwork itself 5. Misreading the question — for example, describing an artwork's story/narrative instead of discussing why narrative is significant as a feature 6. Including quotes that aren't relevant or explained — quotes alone don't earn marks 7. Only covering one aspect of an artwork (e.g. writing only about gladiators when asked about the Colosseum as a structure) 8. Preparing a response in advance and trying to force it to fit the actual exam question — this does not meet the standard 9. Using artworks that are not from the classical world (e.g. Michelangelo's David) 10. Giving a mostly descriptive account of the artwork rather than analysing its significance

Classical art significance

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