Explanation of A2 Media Studies Course for OCR

By Heather Larkin

As with the AS course, there are a further two units that comprise A2.

• G324 Advanced Portfolio in Media (C/W)• G325 Critical Perspectives in Media (EXAM)

Each is worth 50% of the A2 grade (25% of A-level)

Coursework Elements

• Research and Planning (20 marks)

• Promotion Package (60 marks) which is made up of the following tasks:1. Main task: Music Video (40 marks)2. Ancillary tasks: Poster and Digipak (20 marks)

• Evaluation (20 marks)

Promotion Package Details

• The Promotion Package consists of three products.

1. Music Video (no longer than 3 minutes).2. A digipak for the album’s release.3. A magazine advertisement for the digipak.

Examiners are looking for clear similarities within all three products as they want you to create a

BRAND IDENTITY

Evaluation Questions

• In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

• How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

• What have you learnt from your audience feedback?

• How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

Exam Elements

• The G325 Critical Perspectives Exam is 2 hours long, comprising of two sections.

1. Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of Production (50 marks)

2. Section B: Contemporary Media Issues (50 marks)

Exam Section A• Section A has two compulsory questions:• Q1(a) asks you to describe and evaluate your

skills development over the course of all your production work, from AS to A2.

• Questions will be based on one or two of the categories: digital technology, research/planning, creativity, post-production or using conventions from real media products.

• Q1(b) asks you to select one of your productions and evaluate it in relation to one of the following media concepts: genre, narrative, representation, audience or media language.

Exam Section B• Answer one question under ‘Contemporary

Media Regulation’. Examples:• What is the nature of contemporary media

regulation compared with previous practices?• What are the arguments for and against specific

forms of contemporary media regulation?• How effective are regulatory practices?• What are the wider social issues relating to

media regulation?

Research and Planning GradingFor a Level 4 band (16-20 marks):

• Planning and research evidence will be complete and detailed.• There is excellent research into similar products and a potential

target audience.• There is excellent work on shot-lists, layouts, drafting, scripting or

storyboarding.• There is excellent organisation of actors, locations, costumes or

props.• Time management is excellent.• There is excellent skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the

presentation.• There are excellent communication skills.• There is an excellent level of care in the presentation of the

research and planning.

Grading of Music VideoFor a Level 4 band:There will be excellent demonstration in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:• Shooting material appropriate to the task set: including

controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot sizes and close attention to mise-en-scene.

• Editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot.

• Transitions, captions and other effects.• Recording and editing sound with images appropriately.• Excellent contribution to group construction is evident.

Grading of Ancillary TasksFor a Level 4 Band:The candidate is expected to demonstrate excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:• Awareness of conventions of layout and page design.• Awareness of the need for variety in fonts and text size.• Accurate use of language.• The appropriate use of ICT for the task set.• Appropriate integration of illustration and text.• Framing a shot, using a variety of shot distances as appropriate.• Shooting material appropriate to the task set: selecting mise-en-

scene including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting.• Manipulating photographs as appropriate, including cropping

and re-sizing.• Excellent group contribution is evident.