Guidance

Media studies: grade descriptors for GCSEs graded 9 to 1

Updated 6 September 2017

Applies to England

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1. Grade 8

To achieve grade 8, candidates will be able to:

  • demonstrate relevant, comprehensive and in-depth knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework and associated theoretical perspectives, and a range of contexts of media and their influence on media products and processes
  • Perceptively analyse media products, including in context, using the theoretical framework relevantly and comprehensively, making substantiated judgements and evidence-based conclusions
  • use a range of subject specific terminology accurately
  • create effective media products which deliberately communicate meaning for intended audiences, by applying thorough knowledge and understanding of media language and representation

2. Grade 5

To achieve grade 5, candidates will be able to:

  • demonstrate mostly accurate and appropriate knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework, and some contexts of media and their influence on media products and processes
  • coherently analyse media products using the theoretical framework appropriately, making plausible judgements and conclusions supported by some evidence
  • use some subject specific terminology mostly accurately
  • create media products which communicate some meaning for intended audiences, by applying mostly appropriate knowledge and understanding of media language and representation

3. Grade 2

To achieve grade 2, candidates will be able to:

  • demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework, with some notion of the influence of contexts on media products and processes
  • describe media products, with some reference to basic aspects of the theoretical framework, making some straightforward judgements and simple conclusions
  • create media products by applying some basic knowledge and understanding of media language and representation
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