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What does the WJEC Media Studies non-exam assessment require, and how is the cross-media production marked?

The non-exam assessment (Component 3): an individual cross-media production in two media forms, made in response to a WJEC-set brief, applying the theoretical framework and digital convergence, with a statement of aims and intentions; it is marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC and is not examined in the written papers.

An overview of the WJEC A-Level Media Studies non-exam assessment, the cross-media production. Covers the WJEC-set brief, the requirement to produce in two media forms, the statement of aims and intentions, applying the theoretical framework and digital convergence, the planning documents, and how the NEA is marked and moderated.

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  1. What this dot point is asking
  2. The answer
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What this dot point is asking

The non-exam assessment (NEA), called Component 3 in the WJEC qualification, is the practical, coursework part of A-Level Media Studies. It asks candidates to create an individual cross-media production in two media forms, in response to a WJEC-set brief, applying the theoretical framework and digital convergence, and to submit a statement of aims and intentions. It is marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC, and it is not examined in the written papers. This overview explains what the NEA requires and how it is assessed, so that production decisions are made deliberately against the framework.

The answer

The cross-media brief and two forms

  • WJEC-set brief. Candidates pick from a choice of briefs released by WJEC for that series.
  • Two forms. The production spans two media forms, designed to connect.

Digital convergence

This is what makes the assessment "cross-media" rather than two separate productions: strong work plans how a viewer or reader of one product is led to the other, with a consistent identity across both.

The statement of aims and intentions

The statement is where the academic framework meets the practical work, and it is marked. A plan that explains why each decision builds meaning, representation, industry-appropriate form and audience appeal, across both products, scores far higher than one that simply describes the idea.

Planning, marking and moderation

For the top band, the planning, the statement and the finished products should all pull in the same direction: a coherent cross-media production, grounded in the framework, addressed to the brief's audience, with convergence designed in. Treating the NEA as applied media theory, brief-led and centre-marked, is the route to high marks.

Examples in context

Planning a cross-media production. Suppose the chosen WJEC brief asks for a campaign across two forms aimed at a defined audience. The first move is to read the brief precisely: the audience, purpose and the two forms required. The second move is to plan the framework into the production: which codes and conventions of media language will construct the intended meaning, what representations the products will build, which industry conventions of each form to follow, and how the audience will be addressed. The third move is to design the convergence: how the two products share an identity and move the audience between them. The fourth move is to write the statement of aims and intentions, explaining each decision against the framework and audience, and to prepare the supporting planning. A strong production is applied media theory: every creative choice can be justified by the framework, the brief and the convergence of the two forms.

Try this

Q1. How many media forms must a WJEC cross-media production work across? [2 marks]

  • Cue. Two media forms, designed to converge for one audience.

Q2. What is the statement of aims and intentions, and what does it explain? [3 marks]

  • Cue. A short written outline submitted with the production, explaining how it applies the theoretical framework and targets the intended audience.

Q3. Explain how you would plan a cross-media production to meet a WJEC brief, applying the theoretical framework and digital convergence. [15 marks]

  • What the marker wants. The brief read for audience, purpose and two forms; the framework planned into each product; convergence designed between the forms; and a statement of aims that justifies each decision.

Exam-style practice questions

Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.

WJEC NEA15 marksWrite a statement of aims and intentions for your cross-media production, explaining how it applies the theoretical framework and targets its intended audience across two forms.
Show worked answer →

The statement of aims and intentions is the assessed written element submitted with the cross-media production, marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC. The marker rewards a clear plan built on the theoretical framework and digital convergence, not a description of what the products will look like.

Method: state the chosen WJEC brief, the two media forms, and the target audience using demographics and psychographics. Then explain, framework area by area, how the production will use media language to construct meaning, build representations, follow the industry conventions of each form, and address the intended audience, and how the two forms will converge.

Develop each point by tying a planned decision to the brief, the audience and convergence across the two forms. The top band shows the framework underpinning the plan, with specific intentions (the codes and conventions to be used and why) rather than a general description of the idea.

WJEC NEA10 marksExplain how a cross-media production in two forms can show digital convergence.
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A focused answer wants convergence shown concretely across the two products.

State that the cross-media production must work across two media forms, and that WJEC asks candidates to consider the convergence of the products in those forms. Convergence means the two products connect and reinforce one another: a shared brand, audience, campaign or call to action that moves audiences between forms, for example a print or audiovisual product linked to an online presence.

Then give the planning that supports it: a pitch or treatment considering convergence, and form-appropriate planning such as a step outline, shot list, storyboard, script, draft designs or mock-ups. A strong answer explains how the two forms are designed to work together for one audience, not as two unrelated products.

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