This document outlines the assessment criteria for a GCSE Media Studies coursework project on creating a music promotional package. It describes four levels of achievement for the research and planning, production, and evaluation phases of the project. For each phase, higher levels of achievement are associated with greater depth and excellence of research, organization, technical skills, and reflective analysis. Guidelines are provided for a production log and evaluation to document the process.

1. GCSE Media Studies 40% Exam 60% Coursework
YEAR 11 COURSEWORK
UNIT B324
A MUSIC PROMOTIONAL PACKAGE
RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Level 1 (0 -7 marks): Minimal research into similar products and potential target audience, minimal
organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props, minimal work on shortlist, layouts, drafting,
scripting or storyboarding. Time management may be very poor.
Level 2 (8 -15 marks): Basic research into similar products and potential target audience, basic
organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props, basic work on shortlist, layouts, drafting,
scripting or storyboarding. Time management may be good.
Level 3 (16 -23 marks): Proficient research into similar products and potential target audience,
proficient organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props, proficient work on shortlist, layouts,
drafting, scripting or storyboarding. Time management is good.
Level 4 (24 -30 marks): Excellent research into similar products and potential target audience,
excellent organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props, excellent work on shortlist, layouts,
drafting, scripting or storyboarding. Time management is excellent.
PRODUCTION (SEE ADDITIONAL SHEETS FOR YOUR MEDIUM)
Level 1 (0 -15 marks):
 The work is possibly incomplete. There is minimal evidence in the work of the creative use of
any relevant technical skills.
 The candidate mainly demonstrates Level 1 technical skills criteria in the various media
employed in the production.
 Where a candidate has worked in a group, there is only minimal evidence of a contribution
to construction.
Level 2 (16 -30 marks):
 There is evidence of a basic level of ability in the creative use of some technical skills.
 The candidate mainly demonstrates Level 2 criteria in the various media employed in the
production.
 Where a candidate has worked in a group, a basic contribution to construction is evident.
Level 3 (31 -45 marks):
 There is evidence of proficiency in the creative use of many technical skills.
 The candidate mainly demonstrates Level 3 criteria in the various media employed in the
production.
 Where a candidate has worked in a group, a strong contribution to construction is evident.
Level 4 (46 -60 marks): PTO
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2. GCSE Media Studies 40% Exam 60% Coursework
PRODUCTION
Level 4 (46 -60 marks):
 There is evidence of excellence in the creative use of most of the appropriate technical skills.
 The candidate is expected to consistently demonstrate Level 4 criteria in the various media
employed in the production.
 Where a candidate has worked in a group, a major contribution to construction is evident.
EVALUATION
Level 1 (0 -7 marks): Minimal reference to relevant, planning or monitoring of decision-making,
minimal understanding of the forms and conventions used in the production, minimal
understanding of the significance of audience feedback, minimal ability to communicate,
evaluation is minimal, descriptive, little, if any medium-specific terminology is used
Level 2 (8 -15 marks): Some reference to relevant, planning or monitoring of decision-making,
basic understanding of the forms and conventions used in the production, basic understanding of
the significance of audience feedback, basic ability to communicate, evaluation is mainly
descriptive, but there is some evidence of evaluation or reflection on the work. There is a basic
grasp of appropriate medium-specific terminology.
Level 3 (16 -23 marks): Proficient reference to the monitoring of technical decisions and revision
made, proficient discussion of how the brief related to research into similar media texts and
target audiences, proficient understanding of the forms and conventions used in the production,
proficient understanding of the significance of audience feedback, Proficient ability to
communicate, there is a proficient evaluation of the degree to which the finished media text has
met the original brief. There is a proficient grasp of medium-specific terminology.
Level 4 (24 -30 marks): Detailed evaluation of the monitoring of decisions and revisions, detailed
discussion of how the brief related to research into similar media texts and target audiences,
excellent understanding of the forms and conventions used in the production, excellent
understanding of the significance of audience feedback, excellent ability to communicate. There is
a thorough evaluation of the success of the finished media text in meeting the original brief. There
is an accurate command of appropriate medium-specific terminology.
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3. GCSE Media Studies 40% Exam 60% Coursework
PRODUCTION LOG
The Production Log is a 600 – 800 word document that will:
 Provide evidence of research
 Evidence of planning, such as outlines, test shots,, sketches and storyboards
 Explain key dates, decisions and deadlines
 Serve a record of your exact contributions to the production, such as:
camerawork, photography, interviews, design, audience research, redrafting or
editing.
The notes in the back of your red books, your research and planning in your yellow
folders, any hand-outs given to you by Mrs. Raji and the example Production Log in
your green folders will help you to write your Production Log.
Structure:
 What was the coursework brief, why did you choose to work in a
group/individually?
 What options did you choose to do and why? (discuss if you had to change your
options)
 Discuss what research and planning tasks you had to complete – why did you
have to do them? What did you learn from it? How did it help you with your
planning and designing?
 What important decisions did you have to make at various stages during the
project?
 How did you organise your time? And plan for photo-shoots? What difficulties
did you have with regard to organisation?
 What assistance did you have to get? E.g. with regard to photo-shoots, filming
or learning new software?
 If you were working in a group what were you personally responsible for? How
well did you take on this responsibility? And how do you feel you contributed to
the group?
 To conclude; what’s your opinion on your final project and overall how you have
worked on this pieces of coursework?
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4. GCSE Media Studies 40% Exam 60% Coursework
EVALUATION GUIDANCE
The evaluation can be a written commentary between 600 – 800 words or a
PowerPoint presentation between 5 – 10 slides (to include 600 – 800 words).
Whatever the option you must include images and screen shots.
The evaluation is intended to be a reflective document looking back on what you have
achieved; therefore elements of your Production Log may briefly be reproduced here,
but others elements will require to have an in-depth discussion of decision and
outcomes. Please also refer the Evaluation example in your green folder for help.
Structure
 What was the brief for this coursework, what did you choose to do and why?
 Who did you work with and why?
 What research tasks did you did you do and why? How did they help you
understand the codes and conventions of real media products? How did the
research tasks help you to plan your own media products?
 What audience research did you do and how did this help you to understand
the target audience for your music artist?
 What key decision and changes were made throughout the project? Ensure you
thoroughly discuss these decisions and changes and why they were made.
 What difficulties did you come across throughout the project? How did you
overcome them?
 How do you feel about your final media products? How do they compare to real
media products? i.e. have you used the correct codes and conventions? Do the
products reflect the image of your artist (how?) (Make sure you use media
terminology!)
 What could you have done to improve your final products? (You could refer to
research, knowledge, skills, creativity and time management)
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