Eduqas A-Level Media Studies media in depth and the exams: a complete overview
A complete overview of the media in depth forms and the written papers in Eduqas A-Level Media Studies. Explains Television in the Global Age, Magazines (mainstream and alternative) and Online Media in Component 2, the set products and the five contexts, and the structure and skills of both written exams. Confirm your set products with your centre.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
Jump to a section
The media in depth forms and the written papers are where the framework is applied to products and tested. Component 2 studies television, magazines and online media in depth, while Component 1 studies a breadth of forms and the contexts that shape every product. This overview ties the area together; each section has a matching dot-point page. Always confirm your centre's set products and the current Eduqas lists.
Television in the Global Age (Component 2 Section A)
An in-depth study of contemporary television drama across the whole framework, in relation to the global and national contexts of television. Eduqas typically pairs products from different production contexts (often an English-language and a non-English-language drama), and the section is examined by a sustained essay.
Magazines, Mainstream and Alternative Media (Component 2 Section B)
An in-depth study of a mainstream magazine and an alternative or independent magazine, built on the contrast between their industry models (conglomerate and commercial versus independent or not-for-profit) and audiences. Read both through the print codes, representation, industry (Curran and Seaton, Hesmondhalgh) and audiences.
Online Media (Component 2 Section C)
An in-depth study of the websites and social media of a set producer, foregrounding convergence, participatory culture (Shirky, Jenkins) and the postmodern blurring of authenticity (Baudrillard). Read the online media language, representation and identity (Hall, Gauntlett), industry and the participatory audience.
The set products and the contexts
Component 1 studies a breadth of forms (advertising, newspapers, radio, video games, music video, film). Eduqas updates the close study products, so confirm the current list. Every product is read through five contexts: social, cultural, economic, political and historical, tied to specific features of the product.
The two written papers
- Component 1 (2 hours 15, 90 marks): Section A (Media Language and Representation) plus Section B (Media Industries and Audiences, stepped questions).
- Component 2 (2 hours 30, 90 marks): three equal sections (Television, Magazines, Online Media), examined by extended essays.
Both reward the levels-of-response skill: name, apply, judge.
Sources & how we know this
- Eduqas A Level Media Studies (A680QS) specification — Eduqas (WJEC) (2023)