History of art is now among the most popular subjects at A Level and in higher education. But why choose the subject? How do you decide which course is best for you? And having taken the first steps, how do you go about studying the subject, and, more importantly, passing the exam? This guide seeks to help students following any advanced level art secondary course - from choosing the right place to study, to selecting the best books; from tried-and-tested study techniques to taking and passing exams. It explains how to go about choosing the right certificate or diploma to suit individual needs, and how to select papers, write dissertations and take exams, with sample questions and model answers. It also outlines how to interpret works of art, introducing the essential critical language and illustrating and examining over 100 key examples from more than 4000 years of history. In addition, this guide shows how to get the most from art books and galleries.