The Qualification:

Practical ‘Production’ NEA (Non Exam Assessment) Coursework

Two Written Exams.

Assessment

GCSE Film Studies involves submission of non-examined assessment (NEA) coursework , which need to be under-taken under controlled conditions (see deadlines for details), and two written exams in the summer term. These assessments are taken in the year of certification.

Both coursework and written elements focus allow learners to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding of film, in relation to the following elements:

• How films are constructed – through cinematography (camerawork and lighting), mise-en-scène (how sets, locations, props and costume are used in film), editing and sound. (AO1)

• How films are organised into structures – genre (the different kinds of film) and narrative (how films tell their stories). (AO1)

• How films can be used – artistically (the aesthetic qualities of film) and as a way of communicating ideas and issues (representation).

• How learners make sense of film through exploring a film's relevant contexts (social, cultural, historical, political and institutional), through an awareness of key aspects of the history of film and through specialist writing on film. (AO2)

Component 1: Key Developments in U.S. Film. (Exam: 1hr 30mins) 35% of Qualification: 70 Marks

The written exam will be sat at a suitable Tutors and Exams centre in your area.

The Eduqas specification includes the study of both mainstream and independent U.S films covering genre, narrative and context. This includes a range of genres including horror, musical, romantic comedy, teen film, and the science fiction. Students then compare and contrast the movies with further tasks based upon the development of film technology and understanding specialist film writing. 

The exam questions are based upon context and key terminology learned as part of the course.

The paper consists of 3 Sections:

Section A: US film comparative study (50 marks)

• Question 1: one stepped question on the first of the chosen pair of films (produced between 1930 and 1960), assessing AO1 in parts (a) and (b) and AO1 & AO2 in part (c).

• Question 2: one stepped question on the second of the chosen pair of films (produced between 1961 and 1990), assessing AO1 in parts (a) and (b) and AO1 & AO2 in part (c).

• Question 3: one question requiring a comparison of the chosen pair of films assessing AO2 only, the ability to apply knowledge and understanding through comparison.

Section B: Key developments in film and film technology (5 marks)

• Question 4: one multi-part, short response question, assessing knowledge of key developments in film and film technology, assessing AO1.

Section C: US independent film (15 marks)

• Question 5: one question on the chosen US independent film assessing AO1 & AO2, an extended writing response.

• Note: the ability to explore and analyse (AO2) will be rewarded more highly than the ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding (AO1) in question 5.

It is not necessary to purchase any books or recordings as comprehensive digital study guides are included in the cost of the course.

Exam board study guides are available but not a requirement of the course. If you choose to buy one, please ensure it is the right version as the set works change over time. Please ask if you are unsure.

Past papers will be completed as part of the course to ensure students know what to expect from the exam.

Component 2: Global Film: Narrative, Representation and Film Style (Exam: 1hr 30mins) 35% of Qualification: 70 Marks

The written exam will be sat at a suitable Tutors and Exams centre in your area.

The Eduqas specification includes the study of three films from outside the US for this component. This includes one global English language film produced outside the US, one global non-English language film, and one UK film, produced since 2010. For each of these respective films, there will be a focus on narrative, representation and aesthetic qualities of film.

The exam questions are based upon context and key terminology learned as part of the course.

The paper consists of 3 Sections:

Section A: Global English language film (produced outside the US) (25 Marks)

• Question 1: one stepped question in either three or four parts*:

• parts (a) and (b) assess AO1 • part (c), when set, will assess AO2*.

• the final part will assess AO1 & AO2 in an extended writing response.

• Note: the ability to explore and analyse (AO2) will be rewarded more highly than the ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding (AO1) in the extended writing response.

Section B: Global non-English language film (25 Marks)

• Question 2: one stepped question in either three or four parts*:

• parts (a) and (b) assess AO1 • part (c), when set, will assess AO2*.

• the final part will assess AO1 & AO2 in an extended writing response.

• Note: the ability to explore and analyse (AO2) will be rewarded more highly than the ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding (AO1) in the extended writing response.

Section C: Contemporary UK film (produced after 2010) (20 Marks)

• Question 3: one stepped question in either three or four parts*:

• parts (a) and (b) assess AO1 • part (c), when set, will assess AO2*.

• the final part will assess AO1 & AO2 in an extended writing response.

• Note: the ability to explore and analyse (AO2) will be rewarded more highly than the ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding (AO1) in the extended writing response.

*In any one assessment year, only two of the three questions set will include a part (c) question assessing AO2 only.

It is not necessary to purchase any books or recordings as comprehensive digital study guides are included in the cost of the course.

Exam board study guides are available but not a requirement of the course. If you choose to buy one, please ensure it is the right version as the set works change over time. Please ask if you are unsure.

Past papers will be completed as part of the course to ensure students know what to expect from the exam.

Component 3: Production (NEA creating a Film Extract or Screenplay) 30% of Qualification (production, 20%, evaluative analysis, 10%) 60 Marks

Students are required to submit one of the following original productions :

• a filmed extract from a genre film (2 minutes to 2½ minutes)

• an extract from a screenplay for a genre film (800 to 1000 words).

The screenplay must be accompanied by a shooting script of a key section from the screenplay (approximately 1 minute of screen time, corresponding to approximately one page of screenplay).

Learners must also provide an evaluative analysis of the production (750 to 850 words), which analyses and evaluates the production in relation to other professionally produced films or screenplays.

This production is created to a production brief. The production brief will consist of:

• a choice of genres, which will reflect the genre films set in the specification

• a choice of either a section from the film (e.g. its opening) or an overall effect of the narrative (e.g. creating suspense or tension).

The requirements of the evaluative analysis will remain unchanged.

The current production brief is as follows:

Learners are required to create an individual production consisting of ONE of the following:

Option A

A film extract from one of the following genres of film: • science fiction • romance • horror • the teenage film • action

The extract must take the form of one of the following two options:

• the opening of the film

• an extract from any part of the film which introduces a character.

The extract must be between 2 minutes and 2 minutes 30 seconds.

Option B

A screenplay extract from one of the following genres of film: • science fiction • romance • horror • the teenage film • action

The extract must take the form of one of the following two options:

• the opening of the film

• an extract from any part of the film which introduces a character.

The extract must be between 800 and 1000 words. It must be accompanied by a shooting script of a key section from the screenplay (approximately 1 minute of screen time, corresponding to approximately one page of screenplay).

Evaluative Analysis

Learners must complete an evaluative analysis of their production of between 750 and 850 words. This will include reference to: • the aims of the genre film extract (the chosen genre of the production, its main audience) • an indication of how key aspects from approximately three genre films have influenced the production (which may include genre films studied during the course) • an analysis of the production in relation to comparable, professionally-produced genre films

Conditions of Completing Production

To ensure appropriate support and supervision is in place to allow accuracy in the authenticity of the candidates work, the following must conditions be adhered to:

For the filming option only:

Unassessed participants and assistants are permitted as noted below:

• the individual learner must be responsible for the camerawork and editing of the short film

• Unassessed participants may act in, or appear in, the film (performance skills will not, however, be assessed)

• Unassessed assistants may operate lighting and/or sound equipment if independent lighting or sound is required*

• All unassessed participants and assistants must work under the direction of the learner being assessed and need to confirm their unassessed contribution on the relevant authentication documentation which accompanies the assessed learner's production.

*Note: there is no explicit requirement for independent sound or lighting to be used in the filmed production.

Learners may also make use of material is not the learner's own under the following conditions:

• a soundtrack from existing sources (music or music from a film) may be used provided it is appropriately acknowledged on the relevant form and used for education purposes only

• if use outside education purposes is envisaged (e.g. uploading to YouTube or similar), normal copyright restrictions must be followed

• up to ten seconds (maximum) of found visual material may be used if its use is integral to the genre-based film extract (which could either be a shot or shots which would be impossible to film or found footage such as a news extract)

• any found visual material which is used is excluded from the specified length of the production.

All use of material which is not the learner's own must be acknowledged on the relevant form accompanying the submission of work for assessment. It is nevertheless recommended that learners:

• use copyright-free material where possible

• plan genre-based extracts which do not rely on shots impossible to film or other examples of found footage.

Submission deadline for Production: 7th February 2026