Media Studies
GCSE Media
In Year 10 students can opt to take GCSE Media and develop their understanding introduced in Key Stage 3. This is a two year course which encourages students to study texts across three platforms – Broadcast, Print and E-Media. The course has a 30% coursework and 70% external exam balance and is based on the four key concepts of Language, Audience, Institution and Representation.
Media One
What's assessed
Section A will focus on Media Language and Media Representations. Questions in this section
can test any two of the following forms:
magazines
any two of the following forms:
How it's assessed
Media Two
What's assessed
Section A will be based on a screening from an extract of one of the television Close Study
Products and can test any area of the theoretical framework.
Section B will be based on either newspapers or online, social and participatory media and video
games and can test any area of the framework.
How it's assessed
Non-exam assessment: creating a media product
What's assessed
How it's assessed
Tasks
Students produce:
What's assessed
Section A will focus on Media Language and Media Representations. Questions in this section
can test any two of the following forms:
magazines
- advertising and marketing
- newspapers
- online, social and participatory media and video games.
any two of the following forms:
- radio
- music video
- newspapers
- online, social and participatory media and video games
- film (industries only).
How it's assessed
- Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 84 marks
- 35% of GCSE
Media Two
What's assessed
Section A will be based on a screening from an extract of one of the television Close Study
Products and can test any area of the theoretical framework.
Section B will be based on either newspapers or online, social and participatory media and video
games and can test any area of the framework.
How it's assessed
- Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 84 marks
- 35% of GCSE
Non-exam assessment: creating a media product
What's assessed
- Application of knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework.
- Ability to create media products.
How it's assessed
- A choice of one of five annually changing briefs, set by AQA.
- 72 marks
- 30% of GCSE
- Assessed by teachers
- Moderated by AQA.
Tasks
Students produce:
- a statement of intent for a media product for an intended audience.
A Level Media Studies
This is a two year course structured around the 4 key concepts of Language, Industries, Representation and Audience. There are two exams worth 35% each and a coursework unit worth 30%.
Paper 1
What's assessed
Questions will focus on issues and debates in the media. A topic will be released in advance of the exam. Students will be expected to use any relevant elements of the theoretical framework in order to explore the ideas in the paper.
How it's assessed
Questions
Paper 2
What's assessed
Questions will focus on the analysis of media products, through the lens of the theoretical framework. Students will be expected to refer to the Close Study Products (CSPs) provided by AQA and other products they have studied. They will also be expected to demonstrate understanding of the contexts in which the products were created.
How it's assessed
Questions
Paper 1
What's assessed
Questions will focus on issues and debates in the media. A topic will be released in advance of the exam. Students will be expected to use any relevant elements of the theoretical framework in order to explore the ideas in the paper.
How it's assessed
- Written exam: 2 hours
- 84 marks
- 35% of A-level
Questions
- An argument relating to the theme.
- Short answer questions relating to the theme.
- 2x15 mark questions testing in depth knowledge of two areas of the theoretical framework.
- 2x25 mark questions assessing in depth knowledge of the two remaining areas of the theoretical framework.
Paper 2
What's assessed
Questions will focus on the analysis of media products, through the lens of the theoretical framework. Students will be expected to refer to the Close Study Products (CSPs) provided by AQA and other products they have studied. They will also be expected to demonstrate understanding of the contexts in which the products were created.
How it's assessed
- Written exam: 2 hours
- 84 marks
- 35% of A-level
Questions
- Contrasting points of view relating to a particular CSP.
- Short answer questions assessing breadth and depth of knowledge of aspects of the theoretical framework in relation to particular media products.
- 2x30 mark questions assessing depth of knowledge of the theoretical framework and/or contexts in relation to media products.
Produced by the Media Department
