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Exam skills

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do you use subject terminology and the right ideas to lift a media studies answer?

Exam skills: using accurate subject terminology and applying the framework's key ideas (and named thinkers such as Todorov, Propp, Barthes and Hall) to support analysis, so that terminology and theory serve the argument rather than being listed for their own sake.
An OCR GCSE Media Studies guide to using subject terminology and applying the framework's key ideas and named thinkers to support analysis, so terminology and theory serve the argument rather than being listed.
9 min answer →

What do the OCR command words ask for, and how do you match your answer to each question type?

Exam skills: the OCR command words (identify, explain, analyse, compare, discuss) and question types across the two components, what each requires of you, and how to match the depth and shape of your answer to the command word and mark tariff.
An OCR GCSE Media Studies guide to the command words and question types: what identify, explain, analyse, compare and discuss require, how they map to the assessment objectives, and how to match your answer to each command word and mark tariff.
9 min answer →

How are the two papers structured, and how do you manage your time across them?

Exam skills: the structure of the two written components (Component 01 Television and Promoting Media, with viewing time; Component 02 Music and News), their sections, marks and timing, and how to manage time across the questions to maximise marks.
An OCR GCSE Media Studies guide to the structure of the two written components and timing: the sections, marks and timing of Component 01 and Component 02, the viewing time, and how to manage time across the questions.
8 min answer →

How do you structure an extended media studies answer to reach the top level of response?

Exam skills: structuring the extended (higher-tariff) responses, building an argument with clear points anchored in named detail, using the framework, comparing directly where required, and reaching a judgement, the shape that lifts an answer into the top level of response.
An OCR GCSE Media Studies guide to structuring extended answers: building points anchored in named detail, using the framework, comparing directly, and reaching a judgement to reach the top level of response.
9 min answer →