You will learn to develop a critical awareness and understanding of the media and its role in building and moulding society. It includes the study of Media audiences and institution and involves students analysing existing media texts as well as the creating media texts of their own. Students will undertake two cross media case studies which will explore a media related topic across three key media platforms, moving image, print and e-media. The students will use the first of these case studies as the basis of their own productions where they will be expected to research, plan and make two linked production pieces. In addition to the coursework students will sit a written examination. The first half of this examination will assess the students’ response to an unseen media text, the second half will assess their understanding of one of the cross media case studies that they have undertake over the course of the year. The focus of A2 is on representation, whilst incorporating all the key terms encountered in the AS course, A2 develops theoretical thinking to a high academic level and is applied to both teacher led and students’ choice of case studies. These include representation of teenagers and representation of disabilities in the media. There is also a choice of digital media technology where the effects of the web are explored and applied to theoretical concepts. Both topics of representation and digital media are part of the written examination sat at the end of the academic year, as well as a cross media unseen extracts based around representation. Students also conduct a research essay and linked production piece of their own choosing, allowing students to focus and develop knowledge of an area of the media they find the most intriguing. This coursework is completed by students throughout the year and allows them to incorporated and develop knowledge gained throughout the course of the two years.

 

 

MEST 1 is a one and half hour examination taken in the summer and is worth 50% of the AS grade and 25% of the A2 grade.

 

MEST 2 is the practical coursework involving the making of two media products and pre-production work. This unit is worth 50% of the AS grade and 25% of the A2 grade

 

MEST 3 is a written examination following a similar format to MEST 1, again this exam is taken at the end of the A2 course and is worth 25% of the final A2 grade.

 

MEST 4 consists of a written research account and a linked practical production piece of your choice. The coursework is worth 25% of the final A2 grade.

 

 

Many of our students go on to Media Studies at University and jobs in the media. However, the skills that you learn are universal and will help you in any course or job you decide to do in the future – the ability to analyse and even to develop media or advertising related projects is highly desired by many companies.

 

 

You can check out the AQA website:
http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/arts/media_noticeboard.php?id=06&prev=06 is the direct link to the course

 

To view our A Level work please visit our online showcase@ http://mediaarts.ravensbourne.info

Find out more about the MediaArts Faculty @ www.ravensbournemediaarts.blogspot.com

 

Talk to Mr Morrell in the Media department or email smorrel@ravensbourne.info

You can also download the course structure planner as a PDF