Accountability Check: Coursework Checklist

As we all know by now, the 2025/26 Media Studies coursework deadlines are fast approaching and it is therefore incredibly important that we stay on top of everything that we ned to accomplish in time for deadline day.

Below you will find two checklist tables; one for print and one for video.

Task: On a new blogpost titled 'Coursework Checklist', you are to copy over the table that applies to you and your coursework selection before changing the colours of the corresponding boxes to show which tasks you have made progress on, and which you are still yet to begin/complete.

To keep things simple, we'll stick to the obvious colour choices to represent how far along we are on each item:

Completed = Green

In Progress/Partially Done = Orange

Not Started Yet = Red

Print Table:

Item	Progress
Statement of Intent (Max. 300 Words)
Front Cover
Title for the Magazine w/ Original Masthead Design
Selling Line
Cover Price
Dateline
Main Original Cover Image
Min. Four Cover Lines
Double Page Spread
Headline
Standfirst
Subheadings
Original Article (350-400 Words) that Links to Headline
Main Original Image (Different to Cover Image)
Min. Three Smaller Original Images

Music Video Table:

Item	Progress
Statement of Intent (Max. 300 Words)
Min. Two Filming Locations
A Clear Narrative/Story
Min. Two Characters (Including a Protagonist)
Variety of Camera Shots, Angles and Movements
Diegetic sound (which could include but is not restricted to dialogue, Foley sound and ambience /atmosphere).
Non-diegetic sound (which must include but is not restricted to music).
Use of narrative codes and media language to attract and engage the audience.
Editing of the footage, soundtrack and dialogue to establish meaning.
Use of titles and/or graphics to reinforce the message of the video.

Your teachers will be reminding you to update this whenever necessary, but a big part of this checklist is keeping you accountable for the progress or lack thereof that you are making on your own coursework.

Year 11 Media Assessment: Revision and Preparation

Year 11 assessment week is coming up before the next set of interims. As we're focused on coursework currently, we are going to give you a mini-Paper 1 assessment to help revise content from last year.

Your assessment will be similar to the exam you did at the end of last year but this time will focus on Paper 1. Your exact date will depend on the timetable as these assessments are in-class. Your Media teacher will be able to tell you when your assessment will run.  

Below is a full guide to what you need to revise for this assessment.   

Know your exams

One of the most important aspects of preparing for examinations is knowing exactly what topics could come up in each exam. For your Paper 1 assessment, this is what might come up:

Paper 1

Paper 1 Section A: Language and Representation

• Unseen text: advert, social media screengrab or music promotion of some kind. Multiple choice questions plus media language analysis (12 marks). 
• Advertising & Marketing: OMO advert, Galaxy Audrey Hepburn advert and the NHS Represent blood donation campaign. 
• Magazines: Tatler and Heat.

Paper 1 Section B: Audience and Industry

• Media Industries / Audience questions - media terminology / theory / regulation etc. (2 marks).
• Film Industry: Black Widow and I, Daniel Blake. 
• Music Video: BLACKPINK - How You Like That and Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.
• Radio: Launch of BBC Radio 1 - Tony Blackburn, Kiss FM Breakfast with Jordan and Perri.

Your real Paper 1 exam will also contain a 20-mark essay on either Film, Radio, Music Video, Newspapers or Videogames/Online, Social and Participatory Media but this will not be part of this assessment as it is only half the full exam. 

Paper 2

You will not be taking Paper 2 as part of this assessment but we will take on a full 90-minute Paper 2 as part of the December mock exams. More details on that nearer the time!  

How to revise

Revision is a very personal thing and everyone has different techniques. Personally, I strongly recommend using flash cards (they are often called record cards if you are trying to buy them online or in WHSmiths). The simple act of distilling topics into a few key words or phrases to put on the card will seriously help in remembering the key information in the final exams. We recommend having three sections to your revision cards:

1. Media terminology and key words
2. Media theories
3. CSPs

I have spare flash cards in DF07 if you'd like some.  

Good luck with your revision and give this assessment your best shot!

Coursework: Preliminary Exercise 2025 - Print

The first aspect of your GCSE Media Studies coursework is a preliminary exercise that introduces the basics of writing, photography and editing.

This is a brilliant opportunity to get to know the technical skills you will need to excel in your coursework. You may even create a piece of print media that you can end up using as part of your actual coursework!

Preliminary exercise: Celebrity Gossip Magazine
Your preliminary exercise involves creating and editing a front cover and single page spread - similar to your coursework. The magazine needs to be appropriate to the print brief we have been given in terms of content and target audience. 

The magazine must include:

Front cover: Title for the magazine and original masthead design; Selling line; Cover price; Dateline; Main original cover image; At least four cover lines.

Single page spread: Headline, standfirst and subheadings; Original story for single page feature

(approx. 350–400 words) that links to one of the cover lines on the front cover; Main original image (different from that used on the front cover) plus at least three smaller original images.

Both: Clear brand and house style for the magazine, including use of images, colour palette and

fonts.

Key writing and editing skills

Watch this great introduction to article writing - it covers the basics of the creative process:

Magazine examples

Here's a reminder of some magazines you can use as inspiration for your preliminary exercise:

Preliminary exercise tasks: Celebrity Gossip Magazine

Task: Create a front cover and single page spread - similar to your coursework. The magazine needs to be appropriate to the brief we have been given in terms of content and target audience. 

Length: approximately 350-400 words

Equipment: Smart phone or a school camera (limited numbers available); school computers/home computers Note: you may need to bring in the cable to capture the videos from your phone or use data to upload to Google Drive / iCloud.

Groups: None. You MUST work individually. However, other people can appear in your photos or operate equipment (e.g. camera) as long as they are directed by the candidate submitting the work. You may want to get into groups of two or three to help each other complete this task.

What your magazine needs to include:

Content: 

- A front cover and single page feature for a new celebrity gossip magazine, aimed at an audience demographic of NRS social grades C2DE.

- The double page feature must focus on a celebrity influencer who is launching their new book. - - The book is about making positive lifestyle changes.

- Two pages in total, including at least three original images.

Camerawork:

- You must include at least two unique shots but you will hopefully include much more from a wide variety of shot types (e.g. long shot, medium shot, close-up, extreme close-up, over-the-shoulder shot and either a high or low angle shot.

Features:

Front cover

• Title for the magazine and original masthead design

• Selling line

• Cover price

• Dateline

• Main original cover image

• At least four cover lines.

Single page spread

• Headline, standfirst and subheadings

• Original article for single page feature (approx. 350–400 words) that links to one of the cover lines on the front cover

• Main original image (different from that used on the front cover) plus at least two smaller original images.

Deadlines

Planning and filming: This week's lessons.

Editing and final deadline: Next week.

Specific deadlines: see Google Classroom.


Initial Tasks: planning

Before creating anything in Media you need to plan out exactly what you are going to do. You need to complete the following planning tasks on your blog before you can film anything:

Create a blogpost called 'Coursework preliminary exercise' and produce the following.

1) Write a 100 word statement of intent explaining what you are going to make for your preliminary exercise.

Statement of intent: 100 words explaining what you plan to make.

Example statement of intent [199 words]: 

I plan to produce a two-page spread for a magazine focusing on a celebrity's recent fashion choices and lifestyle. The article will analyse a well-known figure's style evolution, from their early red-carpet appearances to their current, more refined looks.

The first page will feature a large, high-quality photograph of the celebrity in a recent, iconic outfit. The accompanying text will provide a brief introduction and an overview of the celebrity's fashion journey. I'll use a clean, modern font for the headlines and body text to give the spread a sophisticated feel.

The second page will break down specific elements of the celebrity's current style. I'll include a series of smaller photos, each highlighting a different outfit or accessory, such as a handbag or a pair of sunglasses. The text will offer insights into the designer brands they favour, and I'll add some quotes from fashion experts or the celebrity themselves to make the content more engaging. The page will end with a "get the look" section, offering readers affordable alternatives to some of the showcased items. The overall tone will be informative and aspirational, allowing readers to feel connected to the celebrity's world while also providing practical style advice. [199 words]

2) Write an outline for your preliminary exercise on your blog. This needs to include talking points and photo lists. To see how a magazine is presented, and to look at professional examples, check out the following link which gives lot of tips and tricks on how to layout and plan your magazine.

3) Casting: Who will be in your magazine?

4) Plan your locations: Where you will shoot your preliminary exercise? (You can take photos off-site if you wish to do this for homework - this is what we would strongly recommend). Important note: You CANNOT take any students out of any other lessons OR disturb any other lessons in the school. If you wish to take shots in-school then you will need to shoot with Mr Ray supervising or after school with a Media teacher present. 

5) Write your shot list: every shot you plan to film. This needs to be far MORE shots than you will actually use in the final edited version - plan extra angles, close-ups, long shots and more. You can find an example shot list here. This is for a narrative film but the layout will be the same. 

Your planning needs to be completed this week. Good luck! 

Coursework: Preliminary Exercise 2025 - Music Videos

The first aspect of your GCSE Media Studies coursework is a preliminary exercise that introduces the basics of filming and editing.

This is a brilliant opportunity to get to know the technical skills you will need to excel in your coursework. You may even film a production that you can end up using as part of your actual coursework!

Preliminary exercise: Music Video

Your preliminary exercise involves filming and editing a 30-40 second music video - similar to your coursework. The video needs to be appropriate to the music video brief we have been given in terms of content and target audience. 

The video must include at least two different sets/locations, some identifiable narrative content, at least two characters including a definitive protagonist, a variety of camera shots, both diegetic and non-diegetic sound (one of which must be your chosen music), and use of titles/graphics to reinforce the message of the video.

Key filming and editing skills

Watch this great introduction to filmmaking - it covers the basics of the creative process:



Match-on-action

Match on action (or cutting on action) is an editing technique for continuity editing in which one shot cuts to another shot showing the same action of the subject in the first shot.

This creates the impression of continuity - the action creates a 'visual bridge' which is easy for the audience to follow.

Look at this YouTube clip for a basic match on action example: 

Music Video examples

Here's a reminder of some music videos you can use as inspiration for your preliminary exercise:

Little Mix - Little Me:

 

Yungblud - mars 

Grange Hill Cast - Just Say No

Preliminary exercise tasks: Music Video

Task: Create a a 30-40 second music video - similar to your coursework. The video needs to be appropriate to the brief we have been given in terms of content and target audience. 

Length: approximately 30-40 seconds.

Equipment: Smart phone or a school camcorder (limited numbers available). Note: you may need to bring in the cable to capture the videos from your phone or use data to upload to Google Drive / iCloud.

Groups: None. You MUST work individually. However, other people can act in your scene or operate equipment (e.g. camera, sound) as long as they are directed by the candidate submitting the work. You may want to get into groups of two or three to help each other complete this task.

What your music video needs to include

Content: 

- At least two filming locations.

- Some identifiable narrative content.

- At least two ‘characters’, including a protagonist.

Camerawork:

- You must include at least three different shot types but you will hopefully include much more (e.g. long shot, medium shot, close-up, extreme close-up, over-the-shoulder shot and either a high or low angle shot. You also must include both fixed camera shots and camera movement (e.g. handheld, tracking, pan etc.)

Editing:

- You must include match-on-action continuity editing and edit to clearly communicate the meaning of your music video.

Sound: 

- You must include diegetic sound (from within the world of the music video) which will be dialogue and any background sound. You also need to include non-diegetic sound (e.g. music or sound effects) to help communicate your key message in your music video. 

Deadlines

Planning and filming: This week's lessons and start of next week.

Editing and final deadline: Next week.

Specific deadlines: see Google Classroom.


Initial Tasks: planning

Before creating anything in Media you need to plan out exactly what you are going to do. You need to complete the following planning tasks on your blog before you can film anything:

Create a blogpost called 'Coursework preliminary exercise' and produce the following.

1) Write a 100 word statement of intent explaining what you are going to make for your preliminary exercise.

Statement of intent: 100 words explaining what you plan to make.

Example statement of intent [147 words]: 

I plan to make a 30 second advert about a student struggling in school due to tiredness and behaviour issues who is helped by their rehydrating health drink. The beginning of the advert will have a montage editing sequence of different issues that the student is having with a soundtrack that fits a negative overall mood. My character will be in school uniform that is deliberately messed up to help communicate the struggles the student is experiencing.

The middle of the advert will involve the character discovering the product with close-up shots of the product (pack shot) and also the character drinking the product. The advert will then end with the character alert, in perfect uniform and answering a question in class and being successful. The final seconds will have a logo and slogan of the health drink with a voiceover saying the product name and slogan. [147 words]

2) Write a script for your preliminary exercise on your blog. This needs to include stage directions AND dialogue. To see how a TV drama script is presented, and to look at professional examples, check out the BBC Writers' Room and click on Script Library. These will not be music video scripts but the layout will be the same.

3) Casting: Who will be in your preliminary exercise music video?

4) Plan your locations: Where you will film your preliminary exercise? (You can film off-site if you wish to do this for homework - this is what we would strongly recommend). Important note: You CANNOT take any students out of any other lessons OR disturb any other lessons in the school. If you wish to film in-school then you will need to film with Mr Ray supervising or after school with a Media teacher present. 

5) Write your shot list: every shot you plan to film. This needs to be far MORE shots than you will actually use in the final edited version - plan extra angles, close-ups, long shots and more. You can find an example shot list here. This is for a narrative film but the layout will be the same. 

Extension task - Storyboard: Draw a 5-frame storyboard mapping out your key shots. Storyboard sheets are available in DF07.

Your planning needs to be completed this week. Good luck! 

Recap: Summer Project 2025 Tasks

Coursework: Summer Project 2025

The summer project is a fantastic opportunity to start planning your music video.

Your summer project contains compulsory and optional elements; everybody will be researching music videos, coming up with a new music video concept and then writing a Statement of Intent first draft. However, if you wish to plan and film your production over the summer while you have time available we would fully support you in this approach.

You can find your coursework brief for 2026 here!

Summer project tasks

Complete the following tasks on a blogpost on your Media blog called 'Summer Project: coursework planning':

1) Research: Music videos

Watch the following music videos and analyse an aspect of media language for each one:

Music video 1: Marshmello x YUNGBLUD x blackbear - Tongue Tied

How is narrative used in this music video to engage the audience?

Music video 2: Years & Years - I Wish I Knew

How is camerawork and mise-en-scene used in this video? Use CLAMPS to remember the different aspects of mise-en-scene.

Music video 3: Foals - Hummer

How is editing used in this music video to engage the audience?

Music video 4: Your choice

Select a music video of your choice and analyse an element of it e.g. narrative, camerawork, editing, visual effects etc. If you're not sure which video to use you could watch some of the following:

• Ariana Grande - One Last Time
• Ed Sheeran - Shape of You

You may also want to look a completely different, creative approach to music video - such as these Lego stop motion productions and how they use narrative:

• Johnathan Pushkar - We Could Be Together
• Keep Me Music Video

2) Music video planning 

Plan out the basic details for your music video. What song do you plan to use? Will your video be performance or narrative based (or both)? Complete the following on your blog:

Artist and song you have chosen: 

Plan for music video (narrative/performance etc.): 

Link to brief (one small step to improving your community): 

Actors/performers you plan to use: 

Locations: 

Costume/make-up/props required: 

 

3) Statement of Intent

On the same Summer Project blogpost, write the rough first draft of your 300-word Statement of Intent for the two-minute music video you plan to create. The final draft of this document will be submitted to the exam board alongside your music video production and is worth 10 marks of the overall 60 marks available.

Guidance and minimum requirements can be found in the AQA brief from their NEA Student Booklet.

We also strongly recommend you look at our Statement of Intent questions to consider document too.

Summer project deadline: all tasks above due in the second lesson back in September.


Summer project: optional extensions

Pre-production tasks
Some students have already expressed an interest in filming their music video over the summer break. This makes a huge amount of sense - far more availability of performers, much more time to schedule filming etc. However, if you want to do this, you need to complete the following aspects of pre-production and make sure you have parental permission and that you are staying safe at all times:

Music video treatment
Write a full treatment for your music video - this is effectively the script for your production. You can find an example of a real music video treatment here. 

Shot list
Write a shot list containing EVERY shot you plan to film for your music video AND additional shots to create flexibility when editing. These additional shots are often close-ups, cutaways, alternative angles or similar. I advise using a simple table on Microsoft Word to set out your shot list - you can find an example here for a student film shot list. It makes sense to write your shot list by scene or location rather than a huge list of every shot in the extract in chronological order. You also need to plan FAR more shots than you think you'll need a - a two minute music video could easily have 120+ shots in it. 

Mise-en-scene
What iconography or mise-en-scene are you including to ensure your audience understands the genre and narrative of your music video? Plan your performers, costume, make-up, props, lighting and setting. This can be simply completed using your blog or Microsoft Word - the key aspect is to have planned all the critical details. 

Shooting schedule 
Plan a shooting schedule for your filming over the summer. Include when, where, who is required and what shots you will complete at each time/location. Again, this can be on Word or Excel or you could simply use your blog. The most important thing is that you've planned it!

Non-assessed participants
You will need to provide a written record of all non-assessed participants in your production work. Keep a record of everyone involved - actors, camerawork, sound etc. You will also need a keep a record of any non-original sound you used and note it on the Candidate Record Form. Keep these on your blog for easy reference when submitting your work later this year.

Production: Filming 
Once you have completed your pre-production tasks, you can film as planned. If you are unable to film over the summer, we will have time to film this production in September.

Good luck!

Welcome to GCSE Media Studies Year 2!

This is your new blog home for Year 2 of GCSE Media Studies - welcome!

This is where you'll find everything you need for coursework and exam preparation for this crucial second year of the GCSE Media course.

Good luck and let's earn those top grades! 

Final exam preparation and revision links

Here's everything you need to know for your revision and preparation for the final exams.

The final weeks and days before the exams are a good opportunity to go over what you know and test yourself against the kind of questions that AQA like to use. 

Exam: Media Paper 1

Media Paper 1 is on Wednesday 14 May in the afternoon.

Section A: Media Language, Representations and Contexts

Note: It's important to remember that either Newspapers or OSP / Videogames can come up in Paper 1. Whichever comes up in Paper 1 usually means the other topic will come up in Paper 2 so we'll be watching carefully. 

Unseen text analysis

• Unseen text analysis - look at previous assessment LRs and revise mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) and other key media language from your GLoW Media glossary. When you annotate the text, first identity anything interesting on the media product that you could write about (image/text/colour scheme/font and typography etc.) Then, work out the connotations of each of those and which will help you answer the question. 

Magazines

• CSPs: Tatler & Heat
• Magazines index here  
• You can find the original lesson slides here in our GCSE lesson slides folder on Google Drive.

Advertising & Marketing 

• CSPs: OMO, Galaxy Audrey Hepburn Chauffeur advert, NHS Represent campaign
• Advertising index here
• You can find the original lesson slides here. 

Newspapers 

• CSPs: The Daily Mirror and The Times
• Newspapers index is here
• You can find the lesson slides here 

OSP

• CSPs: Kim Kardashian and Marcus Rashford
• OSP CSPs - Language and Representations
• OSP CSPs - Industries and Audience
• You can find all the lesson slides here.

Videogames

• CSPs: Lara Croft Go and Kim Kardashian Hollywood
• Lara Croft Go - blog notes here 
• Kim Kardashian Hollywood - blog notes here

Section B: Media Industries and Audiences

Note: It's important to remember that either Newspapers or OSP / Videogames can come up in Paper 1. Whichever comes up in Paper 1 usually means the other topic will come up in Paper 2 so we'll be watching carefully. 

Music Video

• CSPs: BLACKPINK: How You Like That and Arctic Monkeys: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
• Music Video index is here
• You can find the Music Video lesson slides here.

Radio

• CSPs: Launch of BBC Radio 1 Tony Blackburn show in 1967 and Kiss FM Breakfast show with Jordan and Perri
• Radio index is here
• You can find the Radio lesson slides here.

Film Industry

• CSPs: Black Widow & I, Daniel Blake
• Film Industry index here
• You can find the Film Industry lesson slides here.

Newspapers 

• CSPs: The Daily Mirror and The Times
• Newspapers index is here
• You can find the lesson slides here 

OSP

• CSPs: Kim Kardashian and Marcus Rashford
• OSP CSPs - Language and Representations
• OSP CSPs - Industries and Audience
• You can find all the lesson slides here.

Videogames

• CSPs: Lara Croft Go and Kim Kardashian Hollywood
• Lara Croft Go - blog notes here 
• Kim Kardashian Hollywood - blog notes here

Exam: Media Paper 2

Media Paper 2 is on Thursday 22 May in the afternoon.

Section A: Television

Television

• Clip from CSPs: Doctor Who OR His Dark Materials - Google Drive folder with CSP videos here
• TV index to original blog tasks here 
• You can find the original lesson slides here 

Section B: Newspapers OR Online, Social and Participatory Media / Videogames

Two 20 mark essays on one of the following topics: 

Newspapers 

• CSPs: The Daily Mirror and The Times
• Newspapers index is here
• You can find the lesson slides here 

OSP

• CSPs: Kim Kardashian and Marcus Rashford
• OSP CSPs - Language and Representations
• OSP CSPs - Industries and Audience
• You can find all the lesson slides here.

Videogames

• CSPs: Lara Croft Go and Kim Kardashian Hollywood
• Lara Croft Go - blog notes here 
• Kim Kardashian Hollywood - blog notes here

Links and revision resources to help you

We have a range of resources to help you prepare for your final exams.

ZigZag practice papers and mark schemes

Use your paper copies of the ZigZag practice papers and mark schemes for Paper 1 and Paper 2. This is particularly good to prepare for the unusual or left-field questions that AQA like to put in their exams sometimes. Remember, if you know the terminology, the theories and the CSPs you can't go far wrong. 

If you don't have a copy of the practice papers then you can collect them from DF07.  

Exemplar questions and answers

You can find a document of exemplar questions and answers from previous years here. This google doc will be updated as we look at more questions and sample answers in revision lessons before the exams.

Media terminology glossary

You can find AQA's full subject glossary on their website here. Note that we won't have covered every word of this in lessons - there are too many terms and not enough time. Some of these have been covered in grade 8/9 blog extension tasks and others in additional notes on blogposts. 

Revision booklet - Google Slides

Ms Lawrence has kindly put together a revision booklet on Google Slides. You need to open the link, make a copy and save it in your own Google Drive. Then you can fill in the boxes or simply use it as a base for your own revision or knowledge organisers.

CSP Knowledge Organisers

Miss Fowler put together a brilliant set of Knowledge Organisers to revise the CSPs last year. Look through these and then create your own to test your knowledge!

Revision is the key

It's important that you really put the time into your revision to make sure you know these CSPs inside out. If you would like revision cards to revise with feel free to pop in to DF07 and I'll happily provide you with them for free - you need create revision cards for all the exam CSPs and also for media terminology and theory (e.g. Mise-en-scene, Reception theory, Uses & Gratifications theory etc.) Aim to have three separate categories of revision cards:

• Media terminology
• Media theory
• CSPs

To help, here's a short blog on what makes a good flashcard - always useful to get top tips on effective revision techniques.

Don't forget there are other great resources out there - for example, Mrs Fisher's YouTube channel is great for videos on CSPs, theories and terminology. Here's Mrs Fisher's playlist of AQA CSPs:

The better you know the terminology, theory and CSPs, the better you'll do in the final exams. Good luck!