Regulation

GCE subject-level conditions and requirements for film studies (2022)

Published 11 November 2021

Applies to England

Introduction

About this document

This document is part of a suite of documents which sets out the regulatory requirements for awarding organisations offering reformed A levels and AS qualifications in 2022.

We have developed all our requirements for GCE qualifications with the intention that AS and A level qualifications should fulfil the purposes set out below.

For A levels:

• define and assess achievement of the knowledge, skills and understanding which will be needed by students planning to progress to undergraduate study at a UK higher education establishment, particularly (although not only) in the same subject area
• set out a robust and internationally comparable post-16 academic course of study to develop that knowledge, skills and understanding
• permit UK universities to accurately identify the level of attainment of students
• provide a basis for school and college accountability measures at age 18
• provide a benchmark of academic ability for employers

For AS qualifications:

• provide evidence of students’ achievements in a robust and internationally comparable post-16 course of study that is a sub-set of A level content
• enable students to broaden the range of subjects they study

Requirements set out in this document

This document sets out the GCE Subject Level Conditions for Film Studies (2022). These conditions will come into effect at 09:30 on 12 November 2021 for the following qualifications:

• all GCE A levels in Film Studies
• all standalone GCE AS qualifications in Film Studies

for Learners completing the qualification in 2022, except where the General Qualifications Alternative Awarding Framework applies.

It also sets out our requirements in relation to:

• interpretation of the content document - an awarding organisation must comply with these requirements under Condition GCE(Film Studies)1.1(c)
• assessment objectives - awarding organisations must comply with these requirements under Condition GCE(Film Studies)1.2
• assessment - awarding organisations must comply with these requirements under Condition GCE(Film Studies)2.3

With respect to the qualifications listed above, awarding organisations must also comply with:

• our General Conditions of Recognition, which apply to all awarding organisations and qualifications
• our GCE Qualification Level Conditions and Requirements
• all relevant Regulatory Documents

With respect to all other GCE qualifications in Film Studies, taken by Learners completing the qualification in 2023 and after, an awarding organisation must continue to comply with the GCE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for Film Studies.

Subject Level Conditions

GCE Subject Level Conditions for Film Studies

Condition GCE(Film Studies) 1: Compliance with content requirements

GCE(Film Studies)1.1

In respect of each GCE Qualification in Film Studies which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must -

1. (a) comply with the requirements relating to that qualification set out in the document published by the Secretary of State entitled ‘Film Studies AS and A level subject content’, document reference DFE-00028-2016,
2. (b) have regard to any recommendations or guidelines relating to that qualification set out in that document, and
3. (c) interpret that document in accordance with any requirements, and having regard to any guidance, which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

GCE(Film Studies)1.2

In respect of each GCE Qualification in Film Studies which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must comply with any requirements, and have regard to any guidance, relating to the objectives to be met by any assessment for that qualification which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

Condition GCE(Film Studies) 2: Assessment

GCE(Film Studies)2.1

Condition GCE4.1 does not apply to any GCE Qualification in Film Studies which an awarding organisation makes available or proposes to make available.

GCE(Film Studies)2.2

In respect of the total marks available for a GCE Qualification in Film Studies which it makes available, an awarding organisation must ensure that -

1. (a) 70 per cent of those marks are made available through Assessments by Examination, and
2. (b) 30 per cent of those marks are made available through assessments set by the awarding organisation that are not Assessments by Examination.

GCE(Film Studies)2.3

An awarding organisation must ensure that in respect of each assessment for a GCE Qualification in Film Studies which it makes available it complies with any requirements, and has regard to any guidance, which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

Subject content requirements

Requirements in relation to subject content for GCE Qualifications in Film Studies

The subject content for GCE Qualifications (graded 9 to 1) in Film Studies is set out in the Department for Education’s Film Studies GCE subject content, document reference DFE-00028-2016 (the ‘Content Document’).

Condition GCE(Film Studies)1.1(c) requires awarding organisations to interpret the Content Document in line with any requirements, and having regard to any guidance, published by Ofqual.

We set out our requirements for the purposes of Condition GCE(Film Studies)1.1(c) below.

Production of extracts, short films and storyboards

An awarding organisation must interpret paragraphs 32 and 34 of the Content Document as if the requirement for Learners to produce an extract from a film, a short film, or a digitally photographed storyboard can be met through the submission by the Learner of a prototype or mock-up, with supporting evidence as necessary, rather than a finished product.

Assessment objectives

Assessment objectives - GCE Qualifications in Film Studies

Condition GCE(Film Studies)1.2 allows us to specify requirements relating to the objectives to be met by any assessment for GCE Qualifications in Film Studies.

The assessment objectives set out below constitute requirements for the purposes of Condition GCE(Film Studies)1.2. Awarding organisations must comply with these requirements in relation to all GCE Qualifications in Film Studies they make available.

Assessment objective	Description	A level weighting	AS weighting
AO1	Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of elements of film.	30 to 40%	30 to 40%
AO2 (AS)	Apply knowledge and understanding of elements of film to: • analyse and compare films, including through the use of critical approaches • analyse and evaluate own work in relation to other professionally produced work	n/a	40 to 50%
AO2 (A level)	Apply knowledge and understanding of elements of film to: • analyse and compare films, including through the use of critical approaches • evaluate the significance of critical approaches • analyse and evaluate own work in relation to other professionally produced work	40 to 50%	n/a
AO3	Apply knowledge and understanding of elements of film to the production of film or screenplay	20%	20%

Assessment requirements

Assessment requirements - GCE Qualifications in Film Studies

Condition GCE(Film Studies)2.3 allows us to specify requirements in relation to assessments for GCE Qualifications in Film Studies.

We set out below our requirements for the purposes of Condition GCE(Film Studies)2.3. Awarding organisations must comply with these requirements in relation to all GCE Qualifications in Film Studies they make available.

Non-examination Assessment

Condition GCE(Film Studies)2.2(b) states that an awarding organisation must ensure that, of the total marks available for a GCE Qualification in Film Studies, 30 per cent of those marks are made available through assessments that are not Assessments by Examination.

In respect of that 30 per cent, an awarding organisation must ensure that the marks are comprised as follows -

1. (a) 10 per cent through marks made available in respect of assessment objective AO2, and
2. (b) 20 per cent through marks made available in respect of assessment objective AO3 (i.e. assessing AO3 in its entirety).

In relation to paragraph (a) above, a Learner’s analysis and evaluation of his or her own work in relation to other professionally produced work must only be assessed through the assessments that are not Assessments by Examination.

Non-examination Assessment (A level)

The requirements in this section apply to GCE A level qualifications in Film Studies which an awarding organisation makes available or proposes to make available.

In respect of the assessments that are not Assessments by Examination, an awarding organisation must ensure that each Learner is required to complete a single task which -

1. (a) requires that Learner to produce a short film or a screenplay for a short film and an analysis and evaluation of that production in relation to other films and screenplays,
2. (b) ensures that the only evidence which will be admissible in the assessment is either -
   1. (i) a short film, or a prototype or mock-up of a short film with supporting evidence as necessary, in response to a brief set by the awarding organisation and an evaluative analysis of that film against other, professionally produced, films, or
   2. (ii) a screenplay for a short film in response to a brief set by the awarding organisation, a digitally photographed storyboard of a key section from the completed screenplay to illustrate how the screenplay would be realised, or a prototype or mock-up of such a storyboard with supporting evidence as necessary, and an evaluative analysis of that screenplay against other, professionally produced, screenplays, and
3. (c) must be taken under conditions specified by the awarding organisation, including, in particular, conditions which ensure that the evidence generated by each Learner can be Authenticated.

Where a prototype or mock-up of a short film or digitally photographed storyboard is provided, the supporting evidence provided may include original and non-original photographs, images, drawings or sketches with annotations to illustrate intentions.

In addition, supporting evidence for a prototype or mock-up of a short film may include -

1. (a) storyboards,
2. (b) a screenplay, or
3. (c) a shooting script.

An awarding organisation may set more than one brief, although the evidence generated by each Learner, as described above, must respond only to a single brief.

Non-examination Assessment (AS)

The requirements in this section apply to GCE AS qualifications in Film Studies which an awarding organisation makes available or proposes to make available.

In respect of the assessments that are not Assessments by Examination, an awarding organisation must ensure that each Learner is required to complete a single task which -

1. (a) requires that Learner to produce an extract from a film or screenplay and an analysis and evaluation of that production in relation to other films and screenplays,
2. (b) ensures that the only evidence which will be admissible in the assessment is either -
   1. (i) an extract from a film, or a prototype or mock-up of such an extract with supporting evidence as necessary, in response to a brief set by the awarding organisation, which highlights narrative construction within a film sequence, and an evaluative analysis of that extract against other, professionally produced, films, or
   2. (ii) an extract from a screenplay in response to a brief set by the awarding organisation, which highlights narrative construction within a film sequence, a digitally photographed storyboard of a key section from the screenplay extract to illustrate how the screenplay would be realised, or a prototype or mock-up of such a storyboard with supporting evidence as necessary, and an evaluative analysis of that extract against other, professionally produced, screenplays, and
3. (c) must be taken under conditions specified by the awarding organisation, including, in particular, conditions which ensure that the evidence generated by each Learner can be Authenticated.

Where a prototype or mock-up of an extract from film or digitally photographed storyboard is provided, the supporting evidence provided may include original and non-original photographs, images, drawings or sketches with annotations to illustrate intentions.

In addition, supporting evidence for a prototype or mock-up of an extract from a film may include -

1. (a) storyboards,
2. (b) a screenplay, or
3. (c) a shooting script.

An awarding organisation may set more than one brief, although the evidence generated by each Learner, as described above, must respond only to a single brief.

Marking of assessments

Evidence generated by a Learner in an assessment for a GCE Qualification in Film Studies which is not an Assessment by Examination may be marked -

1. (a) by the awarding organisation or a person connected to the awarding organisation,
2. (b) by a Centre, or
3. (c) through a combination of (a) and (b).

In any event, the awarding organisation must demonstrate to Ofqual’s satisfaction in its assessment strategy that -

1. (a) it has taken all reasonable steps to identify the risk of any Adverse Effect which may result from its approach to marking the assessments (and to Moderation where appropriate), and
2. (b) where such a risk is identified, it has taken all reasonable steps to prevent that Adverse Effect or, where it cannot be prevented, to mitigate that Adverse Effect.