Media Studies A-Level
“The media are not about entertaining the masses. It's about holding the attention of the masses.”
Examination: The course is examined in June of both Year 12 and Year 13
Course details
Component 1: Foundation Portfolio
- Candidates produce a media product that includes digital evidence of the process of their work and a creative critical reflection
- Candidates work either individually or as part of a group to complete this coursework
Component 2: Media texts and contexts
- Media forms and media platforms
- Language, representation, industry & audience
Component 3: Advanced Portfolio
- Candidates produce a campaign of media products, digital evidence of the process of their work and reflect upon their finished products, in the form of an evaluative essay of around 1000 words
- Candidates work either individually or as part of a group to complete this coursework
Component 4: Critical Perspectives
- Media debates
- Media ecology
Assessment overview, duration and weighting
Paper 1 - Component 1: Coursework (25% of qualification, 50 marks)
Paper 2 - Component 2: Written examination 2 hours (25% of qualification, 50 marks)
Paper 3 - Component 3: Coursework (25% of qualification, 60 marks)
Paper 4 - Component 4: Written examination 2 hours (25% of qualification, 50 marks)
| Exam Papers | % of IAL | Assessment overview |
|---|---|---|
| Component 1: Foundation Portfolio (Submission April Year 12) | 25 | Candidates produce a media product that includes digital evidence of the process of their work and a creative critical reflection. Candidates work either individually or as part of a group to complete this coursework. Internally assessed and externally moderated. |
| Component 2: Media texts and contexts (June Year 12) | 25 | Section A: Media texts (25 marks). Candidates answer 1 question based on an unseen moving image extract. Section B: Media contexts (25 marks). Students answer 1 question from a choice of two questions. |
| Component 3: Advanced Portfolio (Submission April Year 13) | 25 | Candidates produce a campaign of media products, digital evidence of the process of their work and reflect upon their finished products, in the form of an evaluative essay of around 1000 words. Candidates work either individually or as part of a group to complete this coursework. Internally assessed and externally moderated. |
| Component 4: Critical Perspectives (June Year 13) | 25 | Section A: Media debates (30 marks). Candidates answer two questions from a choice of three covering media regulation, postmodern media and power and the media. Section B: Media ecology (30 marks). Candidates are expected to adapt and apply the knowledge and understanding of key concepts studied throughout the course to contemporary examples from at least two media forms in order to explore evolving media environments. Candidates should answer the question referring to at least two media forms. |
Wider reading
Hall, S. (2013). Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices. Sage Publications.
Jenkins, H. (2008). Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York University Press.
Rayner, P. Kruger S. Wall P. (2004). AS Media Studies: The Essential Introduction. Routledge.
Would you like to know more?
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