Guidance

GCSE 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 GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) in 2022.

We have developed these requirements with the intention that GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) should provide:

• evidence of students’ achievements against demanding and fulfilling content
• a strong foundation for further academic and vocational study and for employment
• a basis for schools and colleges to be held accountable for the performance of all of their students, if required

Requirements set out in this document

This document sets out the GCSE Subject Level Conditions for Film Studies (2022). These conditions will come into effect at 09:30 on 12 November 2021 for all GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) 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 GCSE(Film Studies)1.1(c)
• assessment objectives - awarding organisations must comply with these requirements under Condition GCSE(Film Studies)1.2
• assessment - awarding organisations must comply with these requirements under Condition GCSE(Film Studies)2.3

With respect to GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) in Film Studies in 2022, awarding organisations must also comply with:

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

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

Subject Level Conditions

GCSE Subject Level Conditions for Film Studies

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

GCSE(Film Studies)1.1

In respect of each GCSE 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 GCSE Subject Content’, document reference DFE-00029-2016,
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.

GCSE(Film Studies)1.2

In respect of each GCSE 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 GCSE(Film Studies) 2: Assessment

GCSE(Film Studies)2.1

Condition GCSE4.1 does not apply to any GCSE Qualification in Film Studies which an awarding organisation makes available or proposes to make available.

GCSE(Film Studies)2.2

In respect of the total marks available for a GCSE 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.

GCSE(Film Studies)2.3

An awarding organisation must ensure that in respect of each assessment for a GCSE 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 GCSE Qualifications in Film Studies

The subject content for GCSE Qualifications (graded 9 to 1) in Film Studies is set out in the Department for Education’s Film Studies GCSE subject content, document reference DFE-00029-2016 (the ‘Content Document’).

Condition GCSE(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 GCSE(Film Studies)1.1(c) below.

Production of extracts

An awarding organisation must interpret paragraph 19 of the Content Document as if the requirement for Learners to produce an extract from a genre-based film 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 - GCSE Qualifications in Film Studies

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

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

Assessment objective	Description	Weighting
AO1	Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of elements of film.	30%
AO2	Apply knowledge and understanding of elements of film, including to: • analyse and compare films • analyse and evaluate own work in relation to other professionally produced work.	50%
AO3	Apply knowledge and understanding of elements of film to the production of film or screenplay.	20%

Assessment requirements

Assessment requirements - GCSE Qualifications in Film Studies

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

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

Non-examination Assessment

Condition GCSE(Film Studies)2.2(b) states that an awarding organisation must ensure that, of the total marks available for a GCSE 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.

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 genre-based 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 genre-based 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 and an evaluative analysis of that extract against other, professionally produced, films, or
   2. (ii) an extract from a genre-based screenplay in response to a brief set by the awarding organisation, a shooting script of a key section from the screenplay extract, and an evaluative analysis of the 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 a genre-based film is provided, the supporting evidence provided may include -

1. (a) original and non-original photographs, images, drawings or sketches with annotations to illustrate intentions,
2. (b) storyboards,
3. (c) a screenplay, or
4. (d) 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 GCSE 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.