GCSE Media Studies

GCSE students will be working towards the OCR qualification. The specification consists of three units which test all aspects and concepts in Media Studies. Two units are examinations which students sit at the end of Year 11. The third unit is the non-examined assessment (NEA) which acts as a piece of coursework completed individually.

Media students should have an interest in all aspects of the media including film, television, radio, gaming, newspapers, magazines and social media. They will be able to bring their contemporary understanding of modern media into their analysis and will learn how to explore media texts and industries. Students will develop their creativity and technical aptitude to plan, produce and edit media texts across a range of media platforms.

Paper 1: Television & Promoting Media (35% of the GCSE)

Students are examined around these two topics with a focus on the exam set texts of; Cuffs, Avengers, Lego Movie & Lego Movie Video Game.

Paper 2: Music & News (35% of the GCSE)

Students are examined around these two topics with a focus on the exam set texts of; Mojo magazine, Upton Funk, If I Were a Boy, Radio 1's Live Lounge, The Observer & The Guardian.

NEA: Non-examined assessment (30% of the GCSE)

Students will have a choice of four OCR set industry briefs and will individually research, plan and produce a complete media text working in the medium of their choice. The finished text could be online, audio-visual or print.

There is an official revision guide to this course which is published by Hodder Education.

Media Studies GCSE Assessment Calendar

Students will study a particular topic each half term & will be assessed accordingly. Homework is available for the students on Google Classroom which they can access from a home computer, tablet or phone via the Google Classroom app. There is a set of six tasks for each half term to be completed and submitted online. Teachers will set additional home work as appropriate throughout the course.

YEAR 9	Unit	Content	Homework	Assessment
Autumn One	Introduction Analysis of Print & print production	Learn about the key concepts. Expand your analytical vocabulary and create a print poster campaign	Introduction to Media Studies	Paired production: Print poster campaign. Research, planning, pre-production, finished poster & evaluation.
Autumn Two	Analysis of Moving Image	Use your analytical skills to incorporate terminology in a formal written analysis.	Moving Image Analysis	Individual Analysis: Respond to a clip of an Action Adventure film and complete three questions based on media language narrative & representation.
Spring One	Music Videos	Analyse a range of music videos. Use your knowledge to create an original music video	Music Industry	Group Production: Plan, prepare, film & edit an original music video (group max four people).
Spring Two	Radio & Web	Analyse Radio & Web texts, create your own radio show/podcast or website.	Radio Industry	Group Production: Plan, prepare & record an original podcast (group max four people).
Summer One	Music Magazines EXAM TOPIC	Develop your understanding and analysis of print productions. Study the representation of music artists.	Magazine Industry	Individual project: Students research two music artists and present analysis of their representation across the three media platforms; broadcast, print & e-media.
Summer Two	Music Video & Radio EXAM TOPIC End of Year Assessment	Explore the genre of music video with close analysis of music videos. Analysis of Radio 1’s Live Lounge Music magazines: language, audience, representation.	Key Concept	Individual Analysis: MUSIC MAGAZINES: Students complete an individual analysis of music magazine front cover answering questions focused on media language, representations, audience & genre.

YEAR 10

Unit

Content

Homework

Assessment

Autumn One

Music –

Music video, MOJO & Live Lounge

EXAM SET TEXT

Focus on set texts for the examination. MOJO, Radio 1’s Live Lounge, Mark Ronson FT Bruno Mars & Beyoncé.

All key concepts.

Music Industry - MOJO & Live Lounge

Individual Analysis:

Practice GCSE paper Paper 2 Section A: Music

Autumn Two

Promoting Media – video game & print promotion

EXAM SET TEXT

Film Industry focus & research with close analysis of ‘Lego Movie VideoGame’ and the promotional campaign for ‘The Lego Movie’

Promoting Media: Lego Franchise

Individual Analysis:

Practice GCSE paper Paper 1 Section B: Promoting Media

Spring One

Television

EXAM SET TEXT

Development of analysis of the television show Cuffs

All key concepts.

Post 2010 Television

Exam Technique

Practice GCSE responses. Group/paired & individual as appropriate.

Spring Two

Television

EXAM SET TEXT

Development of analysis of the television show Avengers.

All key concepts.

1960s Television

Individual Analysis:

Practice GCSE paper Paper 1 Section A: television

Summer One

NEA

Pre-production, research and your Statement of Intent.

NEA Development

Production

One to one tutorials to develop NEA concept.

Summer Two

NEA

Revision

End of Year Assessment

Production & editing

Revision of all three topics so far: Music, Promoting Media & Television

Mock GCSE Paper 1 & Paper 2 Section A.

Revision

Individual assessment:

Students complete a mock GCSE paper covering the three topics covered so far: Television, Promotion Media & Music.

YEAR 11	Unit	Tasks	Homework	Assessment
Autumn One	NEA Begin the topic of News	Complete production for NEA & Statement of Intent	Contemporary News	Production Final NEA mark/grade
Autumn Two	News EXAM SET TEXT November Mock Exams	Complete analysis of Newspapers including the set text: The Observer Paper 1 & Paper 2	1960s News	Exam Preparation Mock Exams - Paper 1 & Paper 2
Spring One	News EXAM SET TEXT	Complete analysis of online and social media for The Observer and The Guardian	Paper 1 Revision	Exam Technique Practice GCSE responses. Group/paired & individual as appropriate.
Spring Two	Revision Second set of Mock Exams	Structured revision for the examination. Paper 1 & Paper 2.	Paper 2 Revision	Exam Preparation Mock Exams - Paper 1 & Paper 2
Summer One	Revision	Structured revision for the examination.	Revision	Exam Technique Practice GCSE responses. Group/paired & individual as appropriate.
Summer Two	GCSE Examination

Students will be given a formal assessment every half term and we use current GCSE mark schemes & grade boundaries to give an accurate indication of results. The students have been given the following simple grade descriptors to assist their progression and understanding of the requirements.

Year 9	Year 10	Year 11
Excellent	Outstanding	Exceptional	9
Very good	Some excellent	Excellent	8
Good	Some very good	Very good	7
Sound	Some good	Good	6
Some	Some sound	Sound	5
Basic	A little	Some	4
Very basic	Some basic	Basic	3
Minimal	Some very basic	Very basic	2
Little or no work	Limited	Minimal	1