Revising the Year 10 Media Studies Exam

Exam Details

Exam Date: Monday 18th June P3-4

Exam Length: 1 hour 30 minutes

Marks: The exam paper is marked out of 80.

How many questions? There are 4 questions based on the main theoretical areas we have studied – some of these questions are broken down into smaller, sub-questions.

There are 2 sections:

Section A (Questions 1&2) = Media Language and Representation

Section B (Questions 3&4) = Media Industries and Audiences

Question 1: Media Language

This question will ask you to explain how 3 areas of media language have been used to create meaning e.g.

Explore how the advertisement for Quality Street uses the following elements of media language to create meanings:

(a) images [5]

(b) language [5]

(c) layout and design. [5]

Question 1: Media Language (Texts)

Question 1 can be based on any one of the following texts you have studied:

• Pride magazine

• GQ magazine

• The Guardian newspaper

• The Sun newspaper

• The Man With The Golden Gun film poster

• Spectre film poster

• Quality Street advert

• This Girl Can advert

What you need to revise: Make sure you know specific

examples of how visual, technical and written codes are used in each of the texts

to create meaning.

You should aim to know 2 specific examples of each of

the different media language areas for each text.

You should also be able to explain how selection and

combination have been used to create meaning.

Question 2: Representation

This question will ask you to discuss the representations (of people/groups/events/issues) in one of the texts you have studied and also in an unseen text. There are usually 2 sub-questions:

• One shorter question on how context affects representations in one of the texts you have studied.

• One longer question on comparing the representations in a text you have studied with the representations in the unseen text.

Question 2 Example:

2. (a) Explain how social context influences magazines. Refer to Pride magazine to support your points. [5]

Question 2(b) is based on the front cover of Pride magazine from the set products and Resource A, the front cover of Glamour magazine provided on page 7. Study Resource A carefully and use both front pages when answering the question.

(b) Compare the representation of women in the Pride front cover and the Glamour front cover. [25]

In your answer, you must consider:

• the choices the producers have made about how to represent women

• how far the representation of women is similar in the two front covers

• how far the representation of women is different in the two front covers.

DISCUSS SELECTION/COMBINATION

Answering Question 2b)

Question 2b) is worth 25 marks, so it’s important that you answer it really well.

Make sure you do the following:

• Explain how media language is used to create representations of social groups/events in the set text. Also explain the viewpoints and messages that are connoted (6 minutes)

• Explain how media language is used to create representations in the unseen extract. Also explain the viewpoints and messages that are connoted (6 minutes)

• Identify similar representations and explain why they are similar (6 minutes)

• Identify different representations and explain why they are different (6 minutes)

Question 2 Key Terms

You should use the following in your answer:

• Visual Codes: cast, costume, colour, props, pose, setting, lighting (high key/low key)

• Technical Codes: camera shot distance/angle, design, layout, use of Photoshop, fonts/typography

• Written codes: how language is used to create ideas about the social group/event/issue

• Selection/Combination/Exclusion/Mediation/Anchorage (anchor)

• Explanation of how the text creates a version of reality

Question 2: Texts and Areas to Revise Question 2 can be based on any one of the following texts you have studied:

• Pride magazine

• GQ magazine

• The Guardian newspaper

• The Sun newspaper

• The Man With The Golden Gun film poster

• Spectre film poster

• Quality Street advert

• This Girl Can advert

What you need to revise: Make sure you know specific

examples of how visual, technical and written codes are used in each of the

texts to create/construct viewpoints/messages about specific

social groups/issues.

You should aim to know a range of specific examples per text (5-6

examples).

You also need to know about how the contexts of each text affect the

representations.

You should also be able to explain how selection and combination have been used to create representations.

Question 3: Media Industries

Question 3 is usually broken down into smaller questions.

For example: 3. (a) Name the organisation that regulates films in Britain. [1]

(b) 12 and 12A are examples of age certificates used in the UK. Give two other examples of age certificates used in the UK. [2]

(c) Briefly explain the difference between the 12 and 12A age certificates. [2]

(d) Explain why a film may be given a 12A or 12 certificate. Refer to Spectre to support your points. [12]

Question 3: Media Industries

These questions will be based on one the following texts:

• The Sun

• Spectre

• The Archers

• Pokemon Go

The areas to revise for this question include:

• Production • Ownership • Funding

• Regulation • Technology and

Convergence • Contexts

Question 4: Media Audiences

This question is usually divided into smaller questions.

For example:

4. (a) What type of game is Pokémon Go? [1]

(b) Identify two different target audiences for Pokémon Go. [2]

(c) Choose one of these audiences. Briefly explain two marketing strategies the producers of Pokémon Go have used to target this audience. [4]

In Question 4(d), you will be rewarded for drawing together knowledge and understanding from across your full course of study, including different areas of the theoretical framework and media contexts.

(d) Explain how players of Pokémon Go can be described as ‘active audiences’. [11]

Question 4: Texts and Areas for Revision

Question 4 will be based on any one of the following texts you have studied:

The Sun newspaper

The Archers radio drama

Pokemon Go game

The areas to revise for this question include:

• How the texts target different audiences

• How audiences respond to texts

• Wider knowledge of the texts

Look at a Sample Paper

Look at the Sample Paper for Component 1 on the Eduqas website:

http://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/media-studies/gcse/WJEC-Eduqas-GCSE-Media-Studies-SAMs.pdf?language_id=1

Also look at this Power Point presentation, which is in the shared area:

Pupils-English-Media-NEW GCSE MEDIA STUDIES 2017-Year 10

Title: ‘Revision Lesson for Year 10 Media Studies Exam’.

Check to see if you have any further questions for your teacher about the exam.

GCSE Media Studies: Year 10 Mock Exam – Session 2 Practicing answers: Question 1 (Media Language)

Explore how the film poster for Spectre uses codes and conventions to create meanings.

In your answer you must analyse:

a) Character roles [5]

b) Intertextuality [5]

c) Layout and composition [5]

Question 1 Practice

You need to explain how visual/technical/written/ narrative codes are used to connote ideas. Look at the film poster and identify 2 examples for:

a) Character roles

b) Intertextuality

c) Layout and composition

Now, answer one of the points in 5 minutes (why this amount of time?). Use the terms ‘selection’ and ‘combination’ in your answer and clearly explain the connotations of your examples.

Question 2 Practice: Representation

2. (a) Explain how historical and political context influences magazines. Refer to Pride magazine to support your points. [5]

Question 2(b) is based on the front cover of Pride magazine from the set products and Resource A, the front cover of Glamour magazine. Study Resource A carefully and use both front pages when answering the question.

(b) Compare the representation of women in the Pride front cover and the Glamour front cover. [25]

In your answer, you must consider:

• the choices the producers have made about how to represent women

• how far the representation of women is similar in the two front covers

• how far the representation of women is different in the two front covers.

DISCUSS SELECTION/COMBINATION

Question 2 Practice Answering Questions:

2a)

What is the historical and political context of Pride magazine? How does the social context influence the representations on the front cover? (N.B. identify 2-3 specific examples and explain why the historical and political context has an effect on the representation).

2b)

• How do the magazines suggest/convey viewpoints and messages (about women)? Aim to find 2-3 specific examples from each text (identify how specific visual/technical/written/narrative codes are selected/combined). You can also discuss mediation and exclusion.

• Explain how the representations of women are similar in the 2 front covers (aim to identify 2-3 specific examples for each text).

• Explain how the representations of women are different in the 2 front covers.

• N.B. Finish by making some judgements/conclusions – for example, explain why the magazines have created these representations

VIEWPOINTS AND

MESSAGES

SIMILARITIES IN HOW WOMEN

REPRESENTED

DIFFERENCES IN HOW WOMEN

REPRESENTED

E.g. Black pride movement, consumerism, women’s interests changed

Question 3 Practice: Media Industries

Sample Question:

3. (a) Name the organisation that produces The Archers. [1]

(b) How is the production of The Archers paid for? [2]

(c) Briefly explain two ways in which The Archers has a brand identity [4]

(d) Explain why radio dramas have websites/web pages. Refer to The Archers web pages to support your points. `[10]

These questions will be based on one the following texts: • The Sun • Spectre • The Archers • Pokemon Go

The areas to revise for this question include:

• Production • Ownership • Funding

• Regulation • Technology and Convergence

• Contexts

Question 4 Practice: Media Audiences 4. (a) What type of game is Pokémon Go? [1]

(b) Identify two different target audiences for Pokémon Go. [2]

(c) Choose one of these audiences. Briefly explain two marketing strategies the producers of Pokémon Go have used to target this audience. [4]

In Question 4(d), you will be rewarded for drawing together knowledge and understanding from across your full course of study, including different areas of the theoretical framework and media contexts.

(d) Explain how players/audiences of Pokémon Go can respond to it in different ways. [11]

Question 4 will be based on any one of the following texts you have studied:

The Sun newspaper

The Archers radio drama

Pokemon Go game

The areas to revise for this question include:

• How the texts target different

audiences

• How audiences respond to texts

• Wider knowledge of the texts

Watch the Youtube video about Uses and Gratifications theory and

make notes on the main ideas while you watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn9_0mTfT3Y&t=44s