GCSE Media Studies
Exam Board: Eduqas
Media Studies takes a dynamic, modern look at the powerful world of media around us.
Over the two-year course pupils will study a broad range of media forms, including:
- advertising and marketing
- television
- magazines
- newspapers
- radio
- video games
- social media
- music videos
The course develops a well-rounded knowledge and understanding of four main areas of media theory and prominent theorists:
- Language
- Industry
- Audience
- Representation
Pupils will study a range of set texts, set by the exam board. These are subject to change, but current texts include:
- The Sun / The Guardian front pages
- Fortnite video game
- GQ / Pride magazine front covers
- Spectre / The Man With The Golden Gun film posters
- James Bond website
- The Archers (Radio 4 drama)
- This Girl Can / Quality Street print advertisements
- Duran Duran / Katie Perry music videos
- Luther (BBC crime drama) / The Sweeney
In analysing the media, learners will:
- Demonstrate skills of enquiry, critical thinking and analysis
- Analyse and compare how media products construct and communicate meaning and generate intended interpretations and responses
- Respond through discursive writing to show knowledge and understanding of media issues
- Use subject-specific terminology appropriately
NEA Coursework Specific Skills:
Pupils will choose to develop skills in:
- Photography
- Filming with DLSR equipment
- Video editing
- Website design
- Photo editing
- Design software
In creating a media production, learners will also:
- develop practical and decision-making skills
- apply knowledge and understanding of media language and representation to a media production
- use media language to express and communicate meaning to an intended audience.
Year 10
Focus: Component 1 (40%) 1 hour 30 minutes / Component 3 NEA (30%)
Checkpoint, termly and end of year assessments are employed, to monitor and track progress.
Coursework (Component 3 NEA) is completed in the summer term, over a 12 week period, and is assessed internally.
Year 11
Focus: Component 2 (30%) 1 hour 30 minutes
Checkpoint and termly assessments are employed, to monitor and track progress.
Final GCSE examinations take place in May / June:
Component 1
Component 2
NEA Coursework: 30%
Media is a vast and ever-growing industry. Future employment opportunities include:
· Computer game design
· Film and TV production (producer, director, camera operator, editor, set design, costume design, lighting technician)
- Website design
- Journalism
- Market research
- Photography
- Digital marketing
- Advertising
- Public Relations
- Radio production
- Social media
The media offers an exciting, dynamic career in a fast paced, ever-changing industry.