2. Breakdown of the exam
In the A2 exam you will have 2 hours to answer 2 compulsory
questions and 1 question on Postmodernism.
There are two sections to this paper:
Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of Production (50 marks)
Section B: Contemporary Media Issues (50 marks)
The purpose of the exam is to assess your knowledge and
understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical
debates, through your ability to evaluate your own coursework in
reflective and theoretical ways (Section A with me) and through
your understanding of one contemporary media issue (Section B
- Postmodernism with Mr Ford)
3. Breakdown of the exam
Section A- Theoretical Evaluation of Production
2 compulsory questions
Q1a – about YOU – reflective evaluation of your skill development
– AS & A2
Q1b – about THE WORK – concept analysis of either AS or A2
projects
30 mins to write each answer – at least 2 sides per answer – write
fast!
Section B – Contemporary Media Issues - Postmodern Media
Choice of 2 questions on Postmodernism
Answer 1 only
1 hour to write answer – at least 4 sides
Answers must focus on at least 2 media e.g. film and music video
Answers must refer to the past, the present and predict for the
future
4. G325 Section A
The next few weeks will introduce you to
Section A of the G325 (Critical Perspectives in
Media) exam which is worth 50 marks.
In order for you to be best prepared for Section A
of the exam you will need to refer to the
coursework blogs you have kept at AS and A2.
You will be evaluating your AS and A2
coursework in terms of the skills you have
developed and theories you have learnt.
Section A requires you to answer two
compulsory questions 1 (a) and 1 (b).
5. Section A Question 1a
Question 1 (a) requires you to describe and evaluate you skills development
over the course of their production work, from Foundation Portfolio to
Advanced Portfolio.
It asks you to consider the whole of your practical work:
your preliminary task at AS (e.g. school magazine/short filmed sequence
of conversation)
your main task at AS (music magazine/film opening)
your preliminary task at A2 (Busted music video)
your main A2 task (music video)
and your A2 ancillary tasks (digipak and magazine advert).
It can also include things you have produced outside the course, such as
production work in other subjects like Art or Photography, or even things
you've just made for fun, like a video on YouTube.
6. Section A: Skills Evaluation
of Production
The focus of this answer must be on how YOU have
developed as a maker of media products across all your
work – your skills development - the question is all about
skills and gets you to think about what you have learnt.
You'll be asked to focus in particular on one or two from the
following list:
Digital Technology
Creativity
Research and planning
Post-production
Using conventions from real media texts
We will study all of these areas and you will apply all of
them to all of your coursework pieces so that you are
fully prepared for the exam.
7. Section A: Skills Evaluation of
Production – Question 1(a)
Task
Put the requirements of this question into
your own words:
Describe and evaluate your skills
development over the course of your
production work.
8. Section A: Skills Evaluation
of Production
There is some cross over between the 5 areas
e.g. for “Research and Planning” you had to
research other music videos/CD
covers/magazine adverts/magazine covers.
This research clearly links to “Using
conventions from real media texts” , the final
bullet point.
In pairs brainstorm what you think the 5
areas mean.
9. Task
Write down a brief description of your AS and
A2 production pieces of work.
You should include:
What you were asked to produce
The target audience
How you evaluated your product.
10. Record sheet of class
brainstorm of ideas
Music Magazine Music video and ancillary tasks
(Main task & Preliminary task of
college mag)
Digital
Technology
Creativity
Research and
Planning
Post-production
Using conventions
from real
media texts
