Welcome
A Level Media Studies
Make a difference
Contents
A Level
Media Studies
• Introduction to OCR
• Introduction to Media
Studies
• Why change to our
specification?
• Support and training
• Next steps
About OCR
• Part of Europe’s largest
assessment agency, Cambridge
Assessment
• UK’s leading awarding body
• Over 13,000 centres choose our
qualifications
• Qualifications are developed in
consultation with teachers
OCR’s Mission
Our commitment is to provide qualifications which engage
learners of all ages whether at school, college, in work and part time training
programmes so they achieve their full potential
make a difference
Practical
Accessible
Innovative and exciting
Our Credentials
• Leading the way with new ideas
• Dedicated to offering respected
qualifications
• Engaging and relevant
qualifications
• Comprehensive support
framework
Media Studies Credentials
• Our Media Studies entries have
increased by 6% between 2006
and 2007
• Leading the way for over 7 years
• Continuous dialogue and
consultation with the industry
• Favoured by specialist media
teachers
Key points of the specification
• Modern content
• Learners are ready for media
industry roles
• Combines theory and practical
work
• Uses the latest technology
Media Studies | AS Structure
Teaching units
and Assessment
method and
weighting
G321 Foundation Portfolio in Media
In this coursework unit, learners engage with
contemporary media technologies, producing
two paired media artefacts from a series of briefs.
This process involves progression from a pre-production,
preliminary exercise to a more fully realised piece.
The briefs covered print, video, audio and websites
Media Studies | AS Structure
Teaching units
and Assessment
method and
weighting
G322 Key Media Concepts (TV Drama)
G323: Key Media Concepts (Radio Drama)
Centres choose one of the two units above/
These papers cover textual analysis and
representation alongside institutions and
audiences. In section A, learners answer
questions on an unseen moving image extra
(G322) or an unheard audio extract (G323)
which is then linked to some aspect of the
representation within the sequence. In section
B, common to both papers, they study a specific
media industry from a choice of film , music,
newspapers, radio, magazines or video games.
Media Studies | A2 Structure
Teaching units
and Assessment
method and
weighting
G324 Advanced Portfolio in Media
In this coursework unit, learners engage with
Contemporary media technologies to produce a media
Portfolio through a combination of two or more media.
Then they present their research, planning and evaluation
in two or more forms including PowerPoint, blog and
podcast. This is a development of the skills they learn in
unit one.
Media Studies | A2 Structure
Teaching units
and Assessment
method and
weighting
G325 Critical Perspectives in Media
This paper covers theoretical evaluation or
production alongside a study of contemporary
media issues. In section A, learners describe
and evaluate their skills development in their
production work and then select one
production to evaluate in relation to a media
concept. In section B, they choose one topic
and demonstrate their understanding of a
contemporary issue through a range of texts,
institutions, audiences and debates. Examples
of contemporary media issues include global
media, media in the online age, ‘we media’ and
democracy. Two questions are offered on each
topic.
Stretch and Challenge
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Stretch and Challenge is a new QCA initiative for A Levels:
Included in A2 assessment
Reflected in the style of question asked which invite a greater variety of thinking
Questions are structured to show more connections between different sections of the
specification
Extended writing is encouraged in all subjects (except Maths0
A wider range of question types – like case studies and open ended questions
More synoptic assessments – exploring connections between different areas and levels of a
subject
What’s in it for you?
• Easy to administer
• Rewarding to deliver
• Flexibility in teaching topics that
match your interests
What’s in it for your learners?
• Enjoyable and motivational
• Stretch and challenge
opportunities
What’s in it for your school?
• More learner enrolments
• Good progression routes into
HE/FE
Support
• Overarching schemes of work and
sample lesson plans
• E-community
• Exemplar candidate work
• Coursework guidance documents
• Past papers online for you to
download
• Exam quest
• More INSET
• Annual Media conference
Support
• Our publishing partner Hodder
Education has produced further
resources to support the
specifications. These booked are
specifically tailored to the new
specification
Next Steps
•
Book training events – www.ocr.org.uk/training
•
Bookmark website for further information/future updates – www.ocr.org.uk
Other qualifications
•GCSE Media Studies
•iMedia
•Creative and Media Diploma
•OCR Nationals in Media