Media Studies

GCSE course outline

GCSE Media Studies is designed to enable students to:

• demonstrate skills of enquiry, critical thinking, decision-making and analysis
• acquire knowledge and understanding of a range of important media issues
• develop appreciation and critical understanding of the media and their role both historically and currently in society, culture and politics
• develop practical skills by providing opportunities for creative media production

The Media Studies course is based on 3 main topics:

• Exploring media language and representation
• Understanding media forms and products
• Creating media products

Skills required

No previous skills are required for this course.

Assessment method

Creating Media Products (30% of qualification)

In this component, learners create an individual media production in one form for an intended audience, applying their knowledge and understanding of media language and representation. The forms that learners can work in include television, magazine, film marketing, music marketing and online options.

Written examinations

Paper 1:

Exploring Media Language and Representation

Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes (30% of qualification)

This component assesses media language and representation. It covers all of the following media forms: newspapers, radio news/current affairs programmes, advertising, video games, magazines and music videos. Learners will be assessed on three of these forms.

Paper 2: Understanding Media Forms and Products Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes 40% of qualification

This component explores TV genres and film marketing assessing the following areas of the theoretical framework: media language, representation, media industries, audiences.

Post 16 opportunities and careers

As a general qualification, Media Studies is a good grounding for a number of courses and career paths. More specifically Media Studies is good preparation for the post 16 course in the Sixth Form at LVS Ascot.

Career paths include: Journalism, Marketing and Promotion, Advertising, Editing, Sound Technician, Film Production, Broadcasting.