Eduqas GCSE Film Studies exam skills overview quiz quiz

1 hour 30 minutes, 35 per cent and 80 marks

2 hours 30 minutes, 50 per cent and 100 marks for each paper

1 hour exactly, 20 per cent and 40 marks for each paper

3 hours in total, 70 per cent and 120 marks for each paper

Key developments in film and technology

The US mainstream comparative study

The US independent film

All sections are equal

A single short question that is always worth just one mark on its own

A multiple-choice question where you simply tick one box out of four possible answers given

A question that builds from short describe or explain tasks to a longer analysis task

A question that is only ever set about the non-exam assessment (NEA)

Write exactly the same amount for every single step, no matter how many marks each one happens to be worth

Only answer the very last step and leave the earlier, smaller steps blank

Write the most on the first step and the least on the final high-tariff step

Brief, specific detail on the low-tariff steps; developed, sustained analysis on the high-tariff step

The marker reads the whole answer and places it in a band according to its overall quality

The marker ticks each separate correct point and simply adds up all of the ticks for the total

Only the very first sentence of the answer is marked and the rest is ignored

Marks are given purely for the length of the answer, however good it is

A long, detailed plot summary that carefully retells all of the events of the film in order from start to finish

A clear focus, specific reference, analysis that reads film form for meaning, and a judgement where invited

A list of as many film techniques as possible, named one after another without analysis

A description of the cast and the characters they play in the film

Describing one film fully on its own, and then describing the other film fully afterwards

Retelling both of the plots from beginning to end in your own words

Comparing directly: setting the two films against each other on the same feature

Listing the differences in the cast and crew of the two films

A detailed summary of one of the two films, written out before the other is mentioned

The middle section of the exam paper where the longest questions are found

A simple list of the release dates and running times of the two films

A plan of comparison points, each setting the two films side by side on one feature

Whereas, in contrast, similarly, likewise

First, next, then and finally, which simply order events in sequence

Very, really, quite and rather, which only add emphasis to a point

Because, so, therefore and thus, which mainly show cause and effect

Writing as much as you possibly can, filling up every single line of the answer booklet you are given

Analysing rather than narrating: reading film form, narrative, representation and context for meaning

Memorising the full cast and crew of each film and naming them in the answer

Describing the plot of the film in full from the opening scene to the end