2012 exams update
Unit code | Title | Numbering system | Type of answer book | Size of answer book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
48101 | Investigating the Media | New (01, 02, etc) | Separate | 8 |
48103 | Exploring Media Industries | Conventional | Combined | 12 |
General advice
Students should:
- read all instructions on the front cover and at the start of each section of the question paper
- read each question carefully before responding, especially where there are optional question(s)
- remember that questions can appear on all pages of a question paper, including the final page.
Combined question paper answer books
Students should look at the number of marks and the line space allocated to each question and write answers of an appropriate length.
If a student needs more space to answer a question, they must:
either use the white space immediately beneath the lined answer space and before the start of the next question
or ask for an AQA four-page Supplementary answer book.
They should not:
- use the answer space for a different question
- write in the margin
- respond elsewhere in the answer book.
Separate answer books and the two-digit numbering system
Students worked well with the two-digit numbering system and separate answer books in 2011 exams; thank you for ensuring that the guidance was applied successfully. We have updated our guides for students, teachers and exams officers / invigilators to reflect the general advice given above.
A reminder: question paper style and marking answers on screen
Exams with separate question papers and answer books (unconstrained answer books) will use:
- our simplified, two-digit question numbering system
- answer books with spaces for students to write the two-digit question numbers.
For additional guidance see:
- Teacher Guide (revised)
- Exams officer and invigilator Guide (revised)
- Student Guide (revised)
- Question papers and mark schemes:
- Summer 2011 materials are available to schools / colleges in the Secure Key Materials area of e-AQA
- Specimen materials are available from the subject pages of aqa.org.uk
- Examples of students' work:
- AQA Research team papers: Marking answers on screen
- Reliability of on-screen marking of essays
- A concurrent approach to estimating the reliability of electronic marking of long form answers
- Using the Think Aloud Method to investigate electronic marking of long form answers
- The impact of e-marking on Enquiries After Results 2006/2007
- The impact of e-marking on Enquiries After Results 2005/2006
Archive
Unit 2 and 4 Teacher Standardising Materials 2011-2012
For those who wish to access this years Teacher Standardising materials, they can be viewed under Secure Key Materials.
NEW Online CPD Web modules
GCSE Media Studies
Four interactive web modules are available for download now in:
- Key concepts in GCSE Media Studies
- Packaging of DVDs (assignment bank 1)
- Promotion of Music (assignment bank 2)
- Advertising and Marketing (assignment bank 3)
For further information and to view preview content, please go to our Online CPD webpages.
2012 Unit 1 External Assessment
Written by experienced AQA Media senior examiners, Teaching Television Crime Drama is now available to order.
Unit 1 External Assessment – Annual Topics and Teacher Guidance
2012
The June 2012 topic for Unit 1 is Television Crime Drama.
Please see the 48101 Teacher Guidance 2012 – Television Crime Drama located in the Key materials for further information.
2013
The June 2013 topic for Unit 1 is The Music Press: Print and Online.
Teacher Guidance for this topic will be released on 1 June 2012. Please see the definition of The Music Press: Print and Online for further information.
2014
The June 2014 topic for Unit 1 is Gaming: Promotion and Marketing of Video Games
Teacher Guidance for this topic will be released on 1 June 2013.
2015
The June 2015 topic for Unit 1 is Television News.
Teacher Guidance for this topic will be released on 1 June 2014.
Unit 4 Controlled Assessment – Annual Brief and Teacher Guidance
2012
The 2012 Unit 4 brief and accompanying Teacher Guidance is now available to centres on e-AQA.
To access these documents in e-AQA search under Secure Key Materials:
- GCSE
- The Arts/Media/Music
- Media Studies
- Controlled Assessment (Unit 4)
- For submission in May 2012
For further information about controlled assessment please refer to the controlled assessment guidance for GCSE Media Studies.
2013
The 2013 Unit 4 brief and accompanying Teacher Guidance will be available to centres on e-AQA from 1 June 2012..
Co-delivery of English and Media
Visit the GCSE English Resource Zone to find out about teaching Media alongside English. Contact us for details of your co-delivery subject adviser.
Exams Update 10
Unit 2 Clarification of the Marking Criteria Assignment 3
Please see page 18 of the specification for these changes.Unit 1 2010 Reality Television Exemplar Scripts
Unit 1 Exemplar Scripts are now available as part of our Teacher Resource Bank, under Unit 1
Important Information Unit 3
The Unit 3 specimen question paper has been revised to ensure candidates refer to both the media industries they have studied and to stipulate the number of examples required in their responses. This revised paper and its mark scheme are available under the 'Key materials' tab.
Also, please see Clarification of the Assessment of the Quality of Written Communication
Secure Key Materials
More materials added 28 January 2011
Secure Key Materials is a new e-AQA service which replaces Recent Exam Materials from 1 September. It provides teachers and Exams Officers with exclusive access to a bank of exam-related material that is:
- secure
- easy to navigate
- quick to use
- intuitive, based on the design of our website.
Please read our new leaflet and look at the following demo to find out more about this new service.
To obtain an e-AQA account and access to Secure Key Materials, please register at e-AQA. For more information about the materials published on Secure Key Materials, please don't hesitate to contact the Subject team.
New Continuing Professional Development course available for booking now!
Our CPD courses help you to sharpen your skills, techniques and to pick up excellent teaching tips you can use in the classroom the very next day. For further details, dates and locations and to book your place, visit Courses and Events.
GCSE Media Studies Newsletter
- Read the first GCSE Media Studies Newsletter, designed to keep you in touch with what is happening in GCSE Media Studies.
Online resources now available
Nelson Thornes online resources which accompany the AQA GCSE Media Studies student book are now available. Please go to Nelson Thornes website to order a FREE 30 day evaluation or annual subscription.
