The Qualification:

Practical ‘Production’ NEA (Non Exam Assessment) Coursework

Two Written Exams.

Assessment

GCSE Media 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.

There are lots of guidelines to adhere to for the NEA Practical element so please read all of the information given below. If you are not sure about any of the information outlined below,  please contact us for further advice.

Both coursework and written elements allow learners to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding of a variety of media forms, in relation to the following theoretical elements:

• Media Language: how the media through their forms, codes and conventions communicate meanings

• Representation: how the media portray events, issues, individuals and social groups

• Media Industries: how the media industries' processes of production, distribution and circulation affect media forms and platforms

• Audiences: how media forms target, reach and address audiences, how audiences interpret and respond to them, and how members of audiences become producers themselves.

To allow learners to understand these elements, we study them with reference to the following broad and balanced print, audio-visual and online Media Forms:

• Advertising and marketing

• Film

• Magazines

• Music Video and Online, Social and Participatory Media

• Newspapers

• Radio

• Television

• Video Games.

To allow learners to further understand these media form, We study the  contextual information including:

Historical Context

• How the product reflects the time in which it was made through its use of media language, genre conventions, representations, themes, values, messages and viewpoints.

• How the product reflects the time in which it was made through aspects of its production, distribution, marketing, regulation, circulation and audience consumption.

Social and Cultural Context

• How the product reflects the society and culture in which it was made through its representations, themes, values, messages and viewpoints.

• How the product is shaped or informed by particular cultural influences, such as genres, styles, technologies and the work of other media producers.

• How the product reflects the society and culture in which it was made through aspects of its production, distribution, marketing, regulation, circulation and audience consumption.

• How audience responses to and interpretations of media products may change over time.

Political Context

• How the product reflects the political contexts in which it was made through its representations, themes, values, messages and viewpoints.

• How the product reflects the political contexts in which it was made through aspects of its ownership and political viewpoint, production, distribution, marketing, regulation, circulation and audience consumption.

Component 1: Exploring the Media (Exam: 1hr 30mins) 40% of Qualification: 80 Marks

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

The Eduqas specification includes analysing media products, introducing learners to media language and representation through the study of print media forms.

Learners will develop their ability to analyse media language, representations and meanings in a range of media products. In addition, learners will study products from specific media industries and audiences to develop their knowledge and understanding of those areas of the theoretical elements. We will also begin to explore how media products reflect, and are influenced by, the social, cultural, historical and political contexts in which they are produced.

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

The paper consists of 2 Sections:

Section A: Exploring Media Language and Representation (45 marks)

This section will assess knowledge and understanding of media language and representation in relation to two of the media forms studied for this section: magazine front covers, film posters, newspaper front pages, or print advertisements. Learners will analyse two types of resource material:

Set products: learners are required to refer to copies of the set products in the examination in both questions one and two. These include:

Magazine front covers: Vogue (July 2021) GQ (August 2019)

Film posters (marketing): The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) No Time to Die (2021)

Newspaper front pages: The Guardian (18 January 2022) The Sun (01 January 2021)

Print advertisements: Quality Street (1956) NHS 111 (2023)

• Unseen resource: in question two, an unseen resource in the same media form as one of the set products will be set for comparison.

* Copies of the relevant set products will be provided by WJEC Eduqas in the examination.

There will be two questions:

Question 1 (15 marks) will assess media language and will require analysis of one of the products set for study in this section. Learners refer to a copy of the product in the examination. Reference to relevant contexts may be required.

• Question 2 (30 marks) will assess context and representation in relation to a different media form from that assessed in question one.

• Part (a) (5 marks) will assess knowledge and understanding of context in relation to one set product.

• Part (b) (25 marks) will require a comparison of an unseen resource with a set product in the same media form. Learners refer to the unseen resource and a copy of the set product in the examination. This question requires an extended response.

Section B: Exploring Media Industries and Audiences (35 marks)

This section will assess knowledge and understanding of media industries and audiences in relation to any of the four forms studied for this section: film, newspapers, radio and video games.

The mark allocations for each question and part-question vary across examinations series.

Set products: learners are required to refer to copies of the set products in the examination in both questions one and two. These include:

Newspapers - The Sun

Radio - Desert Island Discs

Film (Media Industries Only) - No Time to Die (2021)

Video Games - Fortnite (2017)

• Question 3 will be a stepped question assessing knowledge and understanding of media industries in relation to one form studied.

• Question 4 will be a stepped question assessing knowledge and understanding of audiences in relation to a different media form from that assessed in question 3.

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: Understanding Media Forms and Products (Exam: 1hr 30mins) 30% of Qualification: 60 Marks

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

Following on from Component 1, learners gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of media language and representation, as well as extending their appreciation of these areas through the study of media industries and audiences.

In Component 2, learners will explore particular media forms in depth through both of the following topics:

1) Television: crime drama or sitcom

• Television genres have distinct social and cultural significance in terms of their particular representations of the world, their financial importance to the television industry, and their popularity with television audiences. Each set option involves study of a complete episode from a contemporary programme and one ten minute extract from a programme produced in the past. This is designed to enable learners to develop a knowledge and understanding of how genres change over time.

2) Music: music video and online media.

• Learners undertake a detailed study of music through focusing on two contemporary music videos and the online, social and participatory media surrounding the artists. In addition, learners study one music video from the past to enable learners to develop their understanding of media language and of how representations reflect, and are influenced by, relevant contexts.

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

The paper consists of 2 Sections:

Section A: Television (30 marks)

A television resource* will be set for this examination. One extract will be set from Luther, one from Man Like Mobeen, and one from Modern Family.

Each set option involves study of a complete episode of a contemporary programme and one ten minute extract from an episode of a programme produced in the past.

Set products: learners are required to refer to copies of the set products in the examination in both questions one and two. These include:

• Crime/Drama: Luther, Series 1, Episode 1 (2010, cert. 15)

• Ten minute extract from: The Sweeney, Series 1, Episode 1 (1975, cert. 15)

• Sitcom: Modern Family, Season 8 Episode 2: A Stereotypical Day (2017, cert. 12)

• ten minute extract from: Friends, Season 1, Episode 1 (1994, cert. 12)

Question 1 (20 marks) will assess the ability to analyse either media language or representation in relation to the extract set and will be in two parts.

Part (a) will assess the ability to analyse media products.

Part (b) will assess the ability to analyse and make judgements and draw conclusions.

Reference to relevant contexts may be required.

Question 2 (10 marks) will assess knowledge and understanding of media industries, audiences or media contexts.

The extract will be approximately three minutes in length and will be played twice, with a six minute break for making notes between each viewing. Learners will be given two minutes to read the questions in Section A before the extract is shown.

Section B: Music (music videos and online media) (30 marks)

Set products: learners are required to refer to copies of the set products in the examination in both questions three and four. These include:

Music Video - Contemporary Music Videos

Two music videos from the following options will be studied:

Either Lizzo, Good as Hell* (2019) OR Taylor Swift, The Man (2020)

AND

Either Stormzy, Superheroes* (2020) or Justin Bieber, Intentions (2020)

Music videos from the 1980s and early 1990s

One of the following music videos will be studied:

Either Duran Duran, Rio (1982) or TLC, Waterfalls (1995)

Online media

Learners must study the corresponding websites for both of the chosen contemporary music videos and artists above.

Websites

Either https://www.lizzomusic.com/ or http://taylorswift.com/

AND

Either http://www.stormzy.com/ Or https://www.justinbiebermusic.com/

Social and participatory media

The role of social and participatory media in relation to an artist's website will be studied. Reference should be made at least to Facebook and X (Previously Twitter) although other social and participatory media (such as Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube) may be considered. These can be accessed through each of the artist's websites.

Question 3 (20 marks) will assess the ability to make judgements and draw conclusions through an analysis of the set media products in terms of either media language or representation. Reference to relevant contexts may be required.

Question 4 (10 marks) will assess knowledge and understanding of media industries, audiences or media contexts.

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: Creating Media Products (Practical NEA Production from a choice of briefs) 30% of Qualification (production, 20%, evaluative analysis, 10%) 60 Marks

Students are required to submit one of the following original media forms :

Television: Create a sequence from a new television programme or a website* to promote a new television programme.

Advertising and Marketing - Music: Create a music video or a website* to promote a new artist/band.

Advertising and Marketing - Film: Print-based marketing material for a new film.

Magazines: Create a new print or online magazine.

*Website production Learners are not required to create websites through programming languages such as HTML. It is acceptable for learners to use web design software or templates in the online options. However, learners must be responsible for the design of the website and all content (such as language, images, audio-visual material) must be original. Learners must acknowledge any software or templates which have been used on the appropriate cover sheet.

The following must be included as part of the media form:

Statement of Aims

Learners must complete a brief outline of their aims for the media production that must be submitted with the production. This will be assessed with the production and will enable learners to explain the ways in which they will apply knowledge and understanding of media language and representation to the production and target the intended audience. This is a compulsory element of the non-exam assessment and learners must complete the statement of aims in Section B of the cover sheet using approximately 250 words.

Research/Planning

Learners will undertake preparatory work to develop their understanding of media language, representation and audience in relation to their intended production that must be guided, monitored and authenticated by the teacher. This research and planning will not be assessed separately but learners will be assessed on the production outcomes that result from these stages so getting this element right is crucial.

Assessment

Component 3 is internally assessed and externally moderated. The total number of marks available is 60:

• 10 marks for the statement of aims

• 20 marks for creating a media product that meets the requirements of the set brief

• 30 marks for creating a media product which uses media language to communicate meanings and construct representations.

The assessment of this component will be based on the statement of aims and the media production. Learners who do not submit a production will be awarded zero marks for the statement of aims.

Conditions of Completing Production

To avoid an undue amount of time being spent on the NEA, it is advised that learners spend up to twelve weeks developing and creating their production for Component 3.

Feedback from the teacher must be limited for the final product to general advice (written or verbal) on what needs to be improved. The teacher CAN NOT provide specific guidance on how to make improvements to meet the assessment criteria.

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:

Every learner must complete a cover sheet. This form must be signed by both the teacher and the learner to authenticate the work undertaken. Work will be reviewed for authentication purposes at three key stages of the process:

• when the planning stage is completed

• at a suitable point during the production process e.g. when footage has been shot for an audio-visual production or a full draft completed for a print or online production, including main images/text

• when the production is completed.

At each authenticating stage, teachers must sign and date the appropriate section of the cover sheet. It is important that the completion of the production is rigorously monitored to ensure that learners' work is their own.

Teachers must sign the completed cover sheet to validate the authenticity of learners' work. Learners must submit:

• A media production.

• A statement of aims for the production, outlining the ways in which knowledge and understanding of media language and representation will be applied in response to the brief and how the intended audience will be targeted.

• A completed cover sheet . Section A must be completed by the learner detailing key aspects of the work, including the software used in its construction and crediting any non-original music used and non-assessed participants who assisted with the production. Learners and teachers must sign to authenticate the work at three key stages as detailed above. Section C is to be completed by the teacher detailing their assessment comments and the marks awarded.

Learners are required to create original material for this component.

Candidates who do not use original footage, images or text for the production must not be restricted on the marks they achieve (Band 2 for reference).

The use of existing brands or products is not permitted and the images, footage and text used in the media production must be original (i.e. created by the learner).

It is acceptable for learners to use an existing song by a band or artist for the music video production option, provided the track chosen for the music video does not have an existing video. All other aspects of the production must be the candidate's own, original work. It is also acceptable for learners to use existing music for sound-tracks (e.g. for an audio-visual sequence). In this case, music must be copyright-free. Any non-original music used as a soundtrack or in a music video must be acknowledged on the cover sheet.

Software packages used in the creation of the media production must be listed on the cover sheet with a brief explanation of how they have been used. The assessor will take this information into account when marking each production. Where there has been over-reliance on pre-existing templates, this will result in a lower mark being awarded.

Submission deadline for Production: 5th February 2027