MEST 3 Section A exam tips from AQA
- 1. Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and a registered charity (registered charity number 1073334). Registered address: AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX. Teacher Resource Bank GCE Media Studies MEST3: Section A – The focus of the questions and useful tips
- 2. Teacher Resource Bank / GCE Media Studies / MEST3 Section A – Focus of the Questions/ Version 1.0 Copyright © 2010 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. SECTION A – FOCUS OF THE QUESTIONS AND TIPS FOCUS OF THE QUESTIONS The focus of the 3 questions are: 1. Media concepts Use the unseen products to answer a question on forms, representations, institutions, audiences or values. This paper and the sample papers have been on representation as a gentle introduction to the new paper, but question 1. can be on any of the concepts. 2. Media issues and debates Use the unseen products to answer a question on media issues and debates. You may refer to other media products to support your answer. The ‘may’ is intended to encourage candidates to move beyond the two unseen exam products, they will get more marks if they do, but they can still get a pass level if they don’t. 3. Wider contexts Use the unseen products to answer a question on wider contexts. You should move beyond the texts, referring to other media products to support your answer. The ‘should’ is intended to tell candidates they will be expected to move beyond the two unseen products and include other examples. For question 2 and 3 candidates can include examples from either of their individual case studies, class work they have done and from their own media use. TIPS FOR ACHIEVING A GOOD MARK 1. Use the marks awarded to questions as a guide to how long to spend on each answer - Q1 8 marks, Q2 12 marks and Q3 12 marks. 2. Answer the particular question. 3. Make detailed references to the two media products, especially in question 1 to illustrate the points made. 4. Higher level answers include a range of points, not just repeated explanation of one or two points. 5. Higher level answers include candidates own opinions explained and justified, especially for question 2 and 3. They take a standpoint and back it up with wider contexts and examples from other media products. Also if it is relevant to the question higher level answers discuss the different sides of the argument and show a sense of debate.