Does anyone have tips how to get a grade 8 or 9 for art gcse??

PLEASE HELP
Im currently in year 10 and so far art is a pain in the ass..
I have no idea how to get good grades in art
I asked some other people who took art and they all told me that the annotations are just as important
Is this true??
I'm confident with all my other subjects but idk what to do with art
I take edexcel gcse art and design btw!!
also are there good ways to fill up blank space in your sketchbook?

PLEASE HELP
Im currently in year 10 and so far art is a pain in the ass..
I have no idea how to get good grades in art
I asked some other people who took art and they all told me that the annotations are just as important
Is this true??
I'm confident with all my other subjects but idk what to do with art
I take edexcel gcse art and design btw!!
also are there good ways to fill up blank space in your sketchbook?

other comment is right lmaoo and im saying this as an art student (i js did my gcse and it was NOT funny omfg) annotations are super duper important. ANY decision you make linking to your final piece HAS to be explained, it can't just be random yk??? wait omg i js saw you take edexcel so did I! check the specification as well, literally just search it up on google or smth, that will help.
ALWAYS refer back to your Assessment Objectives (my teacher yapped about it so so much but never properly explained so this is REALLY important). One issue a lot of people struggle with is the Refining of their work (i think ao3??? i can't remember lowk) so it's best to NEVER (and i say this as a victim) consolidate your ideas too early. That will lead to losing marks because there is nawwwt enough development. if you have an initial idea, sketch it down somewhere else first, not your book. make it look as simple and different enough as possible so that when it DOES come to development, you can at least change something in your later pages and say what you didn't like about the (fake) initial idea. EXPERIMENT with the composition (sorry for all the caps im not mad i swear i just yapped so much i feel like you might just skim it atp lmaoo) like change anything you can. Even the shape of the canvas or whatver you are working on. make it a square or a circle idc, but explain WHY please!!!! and especially with colour, different colour combinations. If you are lazy like me, literally just sketch it on a drawing app like ibispaintx (i'm broke guys) and use the paint fill thingy to just choose different colours and composition, print that out and stick it in. please annotate that it is so so important but never forget that too much writing after writing is going to bore your teacher and the examiners, so you have to put it like a cute picture or two to keep them focused (they are like 5 year olds istg).
Recording is also really important too! any pictures you take are really good, and recording also means of your skills. Drawings and sketches, anything refining your skills. I had a whole page working on shadows and highlights and my teacher loved it lmaoo.
Presentation is smth they do take into consideration but that doesn't mean fancy lettering for titles! sometimes the writing and artwork explains itself, so they mean more about legible writing and just nice layouts. I like to refer to pinterest for this one, it is an absolute lifesaver. That doesn't mean sticking newpaper on corners of pages though loll.
Also your work doesn't have to be perfect!!! I mean yes it can't suck like that much is obvious but if you don't like your work too bad don't rip it out. keep it in and do it again, stick the better one in and COMPARE
When it comes to artist research, never mention anything about their childhood or basic history unless it is relevant to their art. Grayson Perry, for example has a relevant childhood that links towards the art they produce today. Edouard Manet, not so much. Always discuss why you don't and do like their work, what it makes you feel and the symbolism behind their choices. I know some people like to wing it on the page (like me lmaoo) but some people prefer to plan it out! whatever you do please add pictures because i know some that don't??? idk how or why they thought that was like cool to do but oh well.
Never do just one artist research, or even 2 if i can push. 3 is a good number i like to think. Because there is almost always one of them you will not be using the techniques off, and its better to be spoiled for choice.
Also you'll fill up your book quicker that way
this is not a method you should be using nor should i be encouraging lmaoo but try sucking up to the teacher subtly!!!! because in the end they do mark your exams and if they are a tinnyyyyy bit ****ed off w you good luck!!! even if there are other examiners they will not as closely scrutinise it as much as the teacher does and they know you better too. I have seen so many people get grades they (respectfully) dont deserve.
Also when it comes to filling up blank space in your book, it does help to look at the page next to it. If you did more practical work on a page for example about collage, what i like to do is stick a sheet of paper on the blank page next to it, (usually like a light colour so you can still see writing lol) but slightly smaller than the actualy size of the page, to create a visual border and make less space for you to write. Then i cut out smaller rectangles and write in them to stick down on the page. It usually helps especially if you do extra research, so you look like you know what you're doing, and are taking the time to explore the topic. When you write, try to slant it (as in don't write straight) i mean if you can't then you can't ig but like it does fill in space.
ALSO pictures are lovely!!! teachers love a good reference or mini moodboard (AS LONG AS YOU DAY WHERE YOU GOT IT FROM and yes you literally can say "from pinterest"). Even basic sketches are appreciated by teachers, and its even better if you do it from direct observation. Go to a park or smth and sketch flowers for a topic, or the beach even. and if you can't do that, just get a reference from pinterest and say it's direct observation (i say this bc sometimes you don't have the time to go out and do that).
DO random media testing. Everything helps. Ink, mixed media, watercolour, oil pastel, chalks, hell even kids paint sets ig if you want.
With mindmaps draw stuff, and make it look detailed, (by that i mean just have contrast, don't just stick to 2b and 3b, make sure to have a range of tones even 8b is really good) not just outlines of sketches.
Remember to stay on top of your art work, if you miss one assignment it DOES start to pile up and soon you will be stressed trust ((
Don't be afraid to ask your teacher for extra time on hwk if you do need it, most of the time they will be understanding and do appreciate that you reach out to them.
When you come to an idea for an outcome for your topic, think about what you are trying to convey, and link back to that in your evaluation page for your final outcome. Did you achieve what you wanted to express through your work??? if not, how do you think you could improve??? if you don't know show it to others to get their opinion, and maybe even your art teacher if they're nice. Also it's important at the start to express why you are doing what you are doing. Why did you choose this media and these colours???
I lowk feel like you won't really understand what i'm sayingg lmaoo ( could you tell i yap a lot ???) but i hope you do!!! and if you want to like reach out idk man ig js reply to this. Also i'm so sorry for my awful grammar ( and good luck with art! try to have fun with it and don't stress too much, especially if you don't plan to go anywhere with it in the future. If you do though that's another conversation lol. Have a good day ❤️

I do photography, but the way these subjects are assesed is very similar. Annotations are VERY important, be through and explain why you have chosen certain materials, or medias. What is the purpose behind your art. Make sure Your ideas and techniques are cohesive, but try new things- don't copy the artists work directly. If something goes wrong and you don't like the outcome, write about it. For all your pieces state what was done well and what could be improved.

PLEASE HELP
Im currently in year 10 and so far art is a pain in the ass..
I have no idea how to get good grades in art
I asked some other people who took art and they all told me that the annotations are just as important
Is this true??
I'm confident with all my other subjects but idk what to do with art
I take edexcel gcse art and design btw!!
also are there good ways to fill up blank space in your sketchbook?

YESSS HII so im in year 11 and just finished art gcse (for reference im guaranteed an 8 or 9 and in my last sketchbooks i got 8 9 9)
annotations are mega important genuinely write and waffle ab anything and everything if you can ok write tons- it works trust me it shows that you have clear links and that you are passionate etc
this one may be controversial but lay your book out nicely etc cool designs w lots of annotations- it shows the examiner that you care and that you're willing to put effort in
try and find personal links this is so important (eg your religion, sexuality, gender) its easier to be creative and write tons ab and be passionate about something you care about. eg i chose the theme icons for my final exam piece and i focused on religion and religious icons and how they impact people
JUSTIFY EVERYTHING, even saying i chose this colour because is connotes this this and this and i find that it may be like this ART IS NOT SUBJECTIVE interpret it anyway u want- thats the whole point of it, it really helps when doing artist research alot
THIS IS IMPORTANT before you work on final pieces have a chat w ur teacher and explain your ideas- they give advice eg oh thats good or u might wanna show this in a diff way
im edexcel so idk how we're diff but reference images are a great way to fill space, little random doodles fill small gaps
ALSO (weird question) but are you good at art, and if you know ur weaknesses write ab them. eg i hated chalk and charcoal and i'd say oh i was stepping out of my comfort zone etc
BE CRITICAL OF EVERYTHING - as someone who likes complaining, thats all i did. critisize your own work and say i would change this, it shows that you're thinking ahead and know what u wanna do. also critisize in artist research
OK SORRY THIS IS SO LONG BUT GOOD LUCK LEMME KNOW IF U NEED ADVICE X

AHH TYSM!! I also take edexcel btwww! Random questions sry 😭 but when you critisise the aritst research dym like state what I don't like and what they could have done to make it better? ALSOO how many artists did you do?? our teacher told us that for the componant 1 (portofolio) we will only do 2 but I dont think its enough? Should I do more during the summer in my own time!?

HEYYY ok so yeah critisise their work say if i were to replicate this style i would change this this and this.
ARTISTS my school tells us to do three artists over the course of a sketchbook, in my exam final i managed to link all three (but dont feel the need to, one strong link is also really good)
yesss go ahead and do more itll really help your ao marks and it shows that you're making an effort to include links

How many artists did you do in total? Like component 1 + component 2 bc we do two seperate sketchbooks and then like 4 artist in total
Also is it important to use a range of media? so far ive dont watercolour, pen, colour pencils, pencil. acrylics, marbling and beads (3D)! what else can i use that can be cool

ohh i think its diff cuz i was aqa but we were advised to study three and i did three also yes range of media is really good, maybe clay, etching, carbon paper, oil paints

OMG i just saw this so sorryy for the late reply. But THANK YOU SO MUCH!! i honestly think this helped a lot as I was quite strugling and got predicted a 5 😭. Alsoo my teacher says that if I want to draw something I always need an artist to refer to. But is it okay if I do any experiment/ drawing I want and then add like a random page for that? tysm thoo!