Some exam focus

Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of Production

Candidates answer two compulsory questions. The first requires them to describe and evaluate

their skills development over the course of their production work, from Foundation Portfolio to

Advanced Portfolio. The second asks them to identify one production and evaluate it in relation to

one theoretical concept.

Question 1(a) requires candidates to describe and evaluate their skills development over the

course of their production work, from Foundation Portfolio to Advanced Portfolio. The focus of this

evaluation must be on skills development, and the question will require them to adapt this to one or

two specific production practices. The list of practices to which questions will relate is as follows:

 Digital Technology

 Creativity

 Research and planning

 Post-production

 Using conventions from real media texts

In the examination, questions will be posed using one or two of these categories.

Where candidates have produced relevant work outside the context of their A Level media course,

they are free to additionally refer to this experience.

Question 1(b) requires candidates to select one production and evaluate it in relation to a media

concept. The list of concepts to which questions will relate is as follows:

 Genre

 Narrative

 Representation

 Audience

 Media language

In the examination, questions will be set using one of these concepts only. (but you would need to prepare for all)

In some circumstances, candidates will be expected to select the production that appears to relate

most effectively to the specific concept that arises in the exam question. However, the requirement

for candidates to evaluate one of their productions in relation to a concept does not assume that

the concept will necessarily always fit easily and in an orthodox way. Thus in some cases

candidates will be describing their productions in terms of them not relating straightforwardly to the

concept. For example, a candidate producing three websites over their two portfolios might

describe ways in which websites cannot be understood easily through applying conventional

narrative theory. Whether the candidate applies the concept to the product or uses the production

to challenge the concept, it is essential that candidates are sufficiently knowledgeable about the

concept for either approach. Candidates may choose to write about work undertaken at AS or A2,

main task or preliminary/ancillary.

Section B: Contemporary Media Issues

One question to be answered from a choice of six topic areas offered by OCR. There will be two

questions from each topic area.

The topic areas require understanding of contemporary media texts, industries, audiences and

debates.

Candidates must choose one of the following topic areas (we are studying Media in the Online Age), in advance of the examination and,

through specific case studies, texts, debates and research of the candidates’ choice, prepare to

demonstrate understanding of the contemporary issue. This understanding must combine

knowledge of at least two media and a range of texts, industries, audiences and debates, but these

are to be selected by the centre / candidate. The assessment of the response will be generic,

allowing for the broadest possible range of responses within the topic area chosen. Each topic is

accompanied by four prompt questions, and candidates must be prepared to answer an exam

question that relates to one or more of these four prompts. There should be emphasis on the

historical, the contemporary and the future in relation to the chosen topic, with most attention on

the present. Centres are thus advised to ensure that study materials for this unit are up to date and

relevant.

Topic Content Prompts

Candidates are free to study any media texts, theories, case studies, debates and issues,

providing they relate to the four prompts for the topic area selected. The exam question:

Media in the Online Age

 How have online media developed?

 What has been the impact of the internet on media production?

 How is consumer behaviour and audience response transformed by online media, in relation to

the past?

 To what extent has convergence transformed the media?

Candidates might explore combinations of any two media, considering how each (or the two in

converged forms) can be analysed from the above prompts. Examples might be music

downloading and distribution, the film industry and the internet, online television, online gaming,

online news provision, various forms of online media production by the public or a range of other

online media forms.