A2 FAQs

Here is all the info you need about the A2 Coursework project, including marks schemes:


Information from Specification

The purpose of this unit is firstly to assess candidates’ ability to plan and construct media products using appropriate technical and creative skills (AO3); secondly to assess candidates’ application of knowledge and understanding in evaluating their own work, showing how meanings and responses are created (AO2); and finally to assess candidates’ ability to undertake, apply and present appropriate research (AO4). The unit requires candidates to engage with contemporary media technologies, giving them the opportunity to develop their own skills in these technologies. It also enables them to develop the skills of presentation that are required for further study at higher levels and in the workplace.
This is a coursework unit. Centres must set the brief from the menu below, though they may define more precise details in negotiation with candidates. From this brief, candidates will produce:


Each candidate will evaluate and reflect upon the creative process and their experience of it. Candidates will evaluate their work electronically, this evaluation being guided by the set of key questions below. This evaluation may be done collectively for a group production or individually. Examples of suitable formats for the evaluation are:

  • A podcast
  • DVD extras
  • A blog
  • A powerpoint

In all cases, candidates should be discouraged from seeing the evaluation as simply a written essay and the potential of the format chosen should be exploited through the use of images, audio, video and links to online resources. Marks should be supported by teacher comments and may be supported by other forms such as audio or videotaped presentations.
Production work for the main text in the Advanced Portfolio may be in the same medium as AS work (in order to allow for the development of skills within a particular medium) or a different medium (in order to allow for breadth of experience of different media forms). The ancillary tasks will ensure that all candidates have the opportunity to explore a different medium at some point in their production work.

The production element and presentation of research, planning and evaluation may be individual or group work (maximum group size is four candidates). Where candidates have worked in a group, the evidence for assessment may be presented collectively but centres will still assess candidates on an individual basis for their contribution to aspects of the work, from planning, research and production to evaluation.

Though there is no formal individual essay component for this unit, in the G325 examination, candidates will be asked to write about the work undertaken from this unit and from the AS coursework unit. It is therefore recommended that candidates undertake some form of written reflection as practice for the exam.
G324 is marked and internally standardised by the centre and marks are submitted to OCR by a specified date, a sample is then selected for external moderation. The unit is marked out of a total of 100 marks: 20 marks for the planning and research and its presentation; 60 marks for the construction; 20 marks for the evaluation.

In the evaluation the following questions must be answered:

  • 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 learned from your audience feedback?
  • How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?


Brief

A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with two of the following three options:

All material for all tasks to be produced by the candidates with the exception of acknowledged non-original sound or image material used in a limited way in video/radio work. Further guidance will be available in the support materials. For music video, permission should be sought from the artist for use of the audio track

Marking of Work
The centre will be expected to allocate marks according to four levels for each of three categories:

  • Research and Planning
  • Construction
  • Evaluation
In arriving at a level for each category, teachers are advised to look for evidence of ‘best fit’. It is possible both for a candidate to be placed in different levels for each of the three categories and to receive quite different marks from other members of the same group responsible for producing an artefact, according to his/her contribution. Teachers are asked to support marks with written comments under the three categories on the assessment sheet.

In centres where there is more than one teacher involved in the marking, there must be evidence that internal standardisation has taken place to ensure a consistent rank order.

Assistance with projects
It is expected that teachers will train students in the use of technology for their coursework and that schools and colleges will provide the necessary equipment for students to produce their media texts.

As acting is not a skill that is assessed in Media Studies, but the quality of finished work is quite clearly affected by the quality of acting, groups may use personnel external to the group to appear in their productions in photos, video or audio.

Links to Section A of the Exam

Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of Production
Candidates answer two compulsory questions. The first requires them to describe and evaluate their skills development over the course of their production work, from Foundation Portfolio to Advanced Portfolio. The second asks them to identify one production and evaluate it in relation to one theoretical concept.

Question 1(a) requires candidates to describe and evaluate their skills development over the course of their production work, from Foundation Portfolio to Advanced Portfolio. The focus of this evaluation must be on skills development, and the question will require them to adapt this to one or two specific production practices. The list of practices to which questions will relate is as follows:

In the examination, questions will be posed using one or two of these categories.
Where candidates have produced relevant work outside the context of their A Level media course, they are free to additionally refer to this experience.
Question 1(b) requires candidates to select one production and evaluate it in relation to a media concept. The list of concepts to which questions will relate is as follows:
  • Genre
  • Narrative
  • Representation
  • Audience
  • Media language
In the examination, questions will be set using one of these concepts only.

In some circumstances, candidates will be expected to select the production that appears to relate most effectively to the specific concept that arises in the exam question. However, the requirement for candidates to evaluate one of their productions in relation to a concept does not assume that the concept will necessarily always fit easily and in an orthodox way. Thus in some cases candidates will be describing their productions in terms of them not relating straightforwardly to the concept. For example, a candidate producing three websites over their two portfolios might describe ways in which websites cannot be understood easily through applying conventional narrative theory. Whether the candidate applies the concept to the product or uses the production to challenge the concept, it is essential that candidates are sufficiently knowledgeable about the concept for either approach. Candidates may choose to write about work undertaken at AS or A2, main task or preliminary/ancillary.


Further Guidance
In order for candidates to be best prepared for the exam, it is suggested that preparation for G325 should take place alongside production work. However, centres are not recommended to design A2 production briefs purely to be ‘suitable‘ for G325. Rather, candidates should be guided in reflective, theoretical evaluation of production as an ongoing way of learning throughout their AS and A2 studies. Question 1(a) directly requests an evaluation of how candidates’ media production skills have developed progressively from AS to A2, so centres are advised to guide candidates through regular ‘audits’ of skills development. As the question for 1(b) is different in focus for each assessment session, and draws from a list of possible concepts, candidates should either prepare to answer on more than one of their productions (so they can choose the production in response to the specific demands of the question) or prepare an evaluation of one production which covers all of the possible concepts.



OCR A2 Media Studies FAQs
Unit G324 Advanced Production Guidance Document
There are 13 multi-media briefs outlined in this unit.


Q What does OCR state in the specification in regard to these briefs?
All material for all tasks to be produced by the candidates with the exception of non-original sound or image material used in a LIMITED way in video/radio work… For music video, permission should be sought from the artist for the use of the audio track.

Q What does this mean for centres?
Brief 1 Music Video Promotion Package
OCR respects the rights of artists and labels and requires centres to ensure materials submitted for assessment are not infringing copyright law (the onus being on centres to interpret current copyright law). If centres use found audio material OCR moderators are not in a position to police such actions: it is the responsibility of centres and candidates to ensure appropriate permissions are sought. As copyright permission plays no part in the assessment criteria, candidate marks will not be automatically penalised. However, centres should be aware that they may potentially be breaching copyright law and this is at their own risk (full links to current copyright law can be found in the appendix of this document). For example, if a candidate places found audio material (accompanying their video) for download on a website homepage they create for a band as part of this brief then this would be at the centre’s and candidate’s own risk if copyright law is infringed.
Copyright free options available for Music Video in G324:
• Approach local bands and get permission to use their material
• Approach unsigned bands on ‘My Space’ etc and get permission to use their material.
• Collaborate with music department/students in your centre on the project
• Create your own music or sound track.
See Appendix 1 for further details


Appendix 1: Other useful information 
Explanations of copyright:



Copyright free sites (Note: not all music is free to download from copyright free sites – there are download fees)



Free Sound Effects from PartnersInRhyme.com:


Many, many more sites are available just ‘Google’ ‘copyright free music audio download’ or ‘free audio editor software’

Marks Criteria
Research and Planning
Research and Planning must be presented in electronic format. Where candidates have worked as a group, the research may be presented collectively, but teachers are asked to differentiate the contributions of individuals within the group in arriving at a mark and justifying individual marks on the assessment sheet. As part of the moderation sample, the moderator will request some research/planning material.



Level 4 - 16–20 marks

  • There is excellent research into similar products and a potential target audience.
  • There is excellent organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props.
  • There is excellent work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding.
  • Time management is excellent.
  • There is an excellent level of care in the presentation of the research and planning.
  • There is excellent skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the presentation.
  • There are excellent communication skills.


Evaluation

Each candidate will evaluate and reflect on the creative process and their experience of it. Candidates will evaluate their work electronically. The format of the evaluation has some flexibility and its form can be negotiated between teacher and student: it may take place with individual candidates or with the production group as a whole, or each individual candidate or production group may make a formal or informal presentation to the whole class.

Level 4 - 16–20 marks

  • There is excellent understanding of the forms and conventions used in the productions.
  • There is excellent understanding of the role and use of new media in various stages of the production.
  • There is excellent understanding of the combination of main product and ancillary texts.
  • There is excellent understanding of the significance of audience feedback.
  • There is excellent skill in choice of form in which to present the evaluation.
  • There is excellent ability to communicate.
  • There is excellent use of digital technology or ICT in the evaluation.
Production Work

Marking Criteria for the Media Text
In this piece of work, in terms of production 40 marks will be allocated to the main task and 10 marks each for the two ancillary tasks. In arriving at these marks, centres should use the relevant markscheme below for whichever media is being assessed. Within the section of the main task, centres should consider the relationship between the tasks and ensure that a sense of brand identity across the package is evident. This should be taken into account at this stage.

Where candidates have worked in groups, the teacher is asked to indicate clearly on the mark sheets any differences in the contributions made by each individual to the group’s work. The teacher should also make clear on the mark sheet the quality of the brand identity across the package as a whole.
In arriving at a level, teachers are advised to adopt a ‘best fit’ approach.


Level 4 Video Work
The candidate is expected to demonstrate excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:

  • holding a shot steady, where appropriate;

  • framing a shot, including and excluding elements as appropriate;

  • using a variety of shot distances as appropriate;

  • shooting material appropriate to the task set;

  • selecting mise-en-scène including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting;

  • editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer;

  • using varied shot transitions, captions and other effects selectively and appropriately;

  • using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task.
Where a candidate has worked in a group, an excellent contribution to construction is evident.

Level 4 Print Work

The candidate is expected to demonstrate excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:


  • using IT appropriately for the task set;


  • showing understanding of conventions of layout and page design;


  • showing awareness of the need for variety in fonts and text size;


  • accurate use of language and register;


  • appropriately integrating illustration and text;


  • framing a shot, including and excluding elements as appropriate;


  • using a variety of shot distances as appropriate;


  • shooting material appropriate to the task set;


  • selecting mise-en-scène including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting;


  • manipulating photographs as appropriate to the context for presentation, including within text, within particular IT programmes, cropping and resizing.
Where a candidate has worked in a group, an excellent contribution to construction is evident.



  • The questions that must be addressed in the evaluation are:
  • 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 learned from your audience feedback?
  • How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?


  • Digital Technology

  • Creativity


  • Research and planning

  • Post-production


  • Using conventions from real media texts


  • a website homepage for the band;

  • a cover for its release as part of a digipak (CD/DVD package);

  • a magazine advertisement for the digipak (CD/DVD package).


  • a media portfolio, comprising a main and ancillary texts;

  • a presentation of their research, planning and evaluation in electronic format(s).

The media portfolio will be produced through a combination of two or more of the following media:



  • Video

  • Print

  • Web-based


Examiners Reports (information about what students do well and what they don't - worth reading before you start your practical)
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