QE Media

WJEC Exam Guidance

From the WJEC Guidance paper:

"In approaching this paper students and teachers may find the following points helpful:

 

Question 1

• This will always focus on textual analysis and will test the students' ability to analyse a media text in detail using appropriate language. 

• Students must be able not only to recognise a camera angle or a layout technique etc. but also to examine their purpose and effect. Those students who only describe are limiting their chances of achieving higher marks.

• Students need to be aware of the genre conventions of a range of forms and formats as indicated in the specification. They therefore need to be aware of the appropriate media language associated with a range of specific formats. 

• Where students are discussing media theories, it is important that they can apply these to media texts rather than simply ‘name–drop’ them. 

• Timing – it is essential that students are given opportunities to analyse texts under timed conditions. As a guide, approximately 25-30 minutes may be allowed for studying/viewing the resource material (whether audio-visual or print-based). That leaves students approximately 45-50 minutes on Question 1 and approximately 35-40 minutes on Questions 2 and 3. 

• Students need help in how to organise their notes during viewing time e.g., through the use of viewing grids etc. Similarly, students need to be aware that bullet points are designed to suggest areas to focus on and thus help them structure responses. (In some cases, students appeared to be unfamiliar with terms like 'narrative' and 'technical codes'.)