This document outlines the key assessment criteria for an A2 media studies coursework consisting of three media products and a critical reflection. It is assessed based on three assessment objectives: AO2 application of knowledge, AO3 planning and production skills, and AO4 research. Marks are awarded at different levels for each assessment objective. The critical reflection questions require students to discuss how their products used or challenged conventions, created a sense of branding, engaged audiences, and integrated technologies. Successful completion of the coursework also helps prepare students for exam questions assessing their skills in areas like creativity, research, and use of conventions. The document provides grade boundaries and explains how coursework and exam marks contribute to the overall A-Level grade.

1. A2 Coursework key assessment criteria + exam links 1
AA22 CCOOUURRSSEEWWOORRKK:: KKEEYY CCRRIITTEERRIIAA
See the coursework guide for more detail! This is a simplified breakdown of what ultimately marks will be
awarded for; and how this work links into exam preparation, mainly for Q1A/1B BUT also media regulation.
ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES (‘AOs’ 2, 3, 4)
Marks are split between 3 ‘AOs’: AO2 20% AO3 60% AO4 20%
These are the key phrases or content indicators that ultimately I need to comment on the
marksheets, judging their level: excellent = A/A* competent = B/C satisfactory = D/E
minimal = U)
A02: application of knowledge and understanding to show how meanings are created in
media products
A04: undertake and apply appropriate research (other media texts, conventions, audience
and institutional factors) > BLOG [CIA for short!]
 effectiveness demonstrated in products
 informs reflectionThe finished products also demonstrate the
effectiveness/evidence/some evidence of this research. Research informs the creative
critical reflection to a high/good/some degree.
NOTE ON CONVENTIONS/AUDIENCE: major exam Q1A/1B links, keep a draftpostupdated on each of CRUD
+ MANGeR. C links ML + narr; C/A overlap on representations + genre
NOTE ON INSTITUTIONS: key for Q1A and media regulation (see later note)
AO3: ability to plan (evidence for all 3 products, eg shot lists, call sheets, storyboards, animatic,
moodboard, organisation/selection of cast/crew/locations/kit)
decisions and revisions; journey of the production (products also reflect this)
sense of branding across the three products
appropriate use of technology in making meaning apparent for the viewer
digital creative tools are used … in the creative critical reflection.
EVALUATION (‘CRITICAL CREATIVE REFLECTION’) QUESTIONS
How you have…
Q1 used/challenged conventions; represented social groups/issues
Q2 promo package branding
Q3 engage with audience; how it’d be distributed as a real media product
Q4 integrated technologies (software, hardware, online)
Remember you should keep draft posts to gather points on these as you go. It would be a good
idea to be building up FCPX Events or Libraries for these too – some creative aspects you could
complete before actually completing the products.
A NOTE ON MEDIA REGULATION LINKS [INDUSTRY]
Digitisation is the theme that impacts everything else. There are more details on the blog + in
your packs, but you’re considering regulators (BBFC age rating, in/effectiveness, take-up;
censorship); globalisation; markets: big 3 v Indies; formats (CD, vinyl, cassette, stream, DL) –
market share/trends + label/artist concerns (which links to merch + touring);

2. A2 Coursework key assessment criteria + exam links 2
THE ‘4’ EVALUATION QUESTIONS + EXAM Q1A/1B
Your AS experience should have taught you the importance of planning these BEFORE you
complete your productions. An important difference is the strong link to your exam work.
CRUD (Q1A) + MANGeR (Q1B) aspects should be well reflectedin your blog, not just in
specific planning posts for these. Some of these very directly overlap with specific evaluation Qs.
1. How do your products use or challenge conventions and how do they represent social
groups or issues?
2. How do the elements of your production work together to create a sense of ‘branding’?
3. How do your products engage with the audience and how would they be distributed as
real media products?
4. How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware and online – in this project?
Q1A will ask you to discuss, using specific examples and media terminology, how you
progressed from As to A2 in one or two of these fields [CRUD for short!]:
• Creativity • Research and planning • Using conventions from real media texts
• use of Digital technology
Q1B requires you to apply and discuss how your work in either your AS or your A2 coursework
reflects academic theory in one of these fields [MANGeR for short]; it makes sense to pick A2!!
• Media language • Audience • Narrative • Genre • Representation
MARKSCHEME:
All three aspects are assessed in Levels (L0-2 = U, L3 = D/E, L2 = B/C, L1 =A/A*). Marks
are given for three ‘AssessmentObjectives’ (AO2, AO3, AO4). The gradesare advisory;
exact gradeboundariesaren’t fixed.
Mark out of: 100 60 20
 MINIMAL/LIMITED L0-2 (U) 0-39 0-23 0-7
 SATISFACTORY/SOMEL3 (D/E) 40-59 24-35 8-11
 COMPETENT/EVIDENT L4 (B/C) 60-79 36-47 12-15
 EXCELLENT/CLEAR L5 (A/A*) 80+ 48-60 16-20
WORKING OUT OVERALL A-LEVEL GRADES
There are 4 units, each marked out of 100. You multiply the grade starting point by 4 to get the overall
mark you will need. Note that these grade boundaries can change a little following statistical analysis by
exam boards. Subtract any marks you already have from the A/B/C score to see what marks you will need
to get.
A = 320 (A* = 90%+ on A2, ie minimum 180/200 and an overall A)
B = 280; C = 240 Work out what you need and note it below:
AS COURSEWORK AS EXAM A2 COURSEWORK A2 EXAM FOR A FOR B FOR C
/100 /100 /100 /100
Example 80 73 84 (237) 83 43 3!