Which films do you study for WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Film Studies?

The specification requires the study of six films across the two examined components, drawn from set lists, plus the production. Component 1 covers two mainstream US films for comparison (Section A) and a US independent film (Section B). Component 2 covers a global English-language film (Section A), a global non-English-language film (Section B) and a contemporary UK film (Section C). Each section has a particular focus, so you study film form across all of them while leading with the framework the section asks for.

What is the US comparative study?

Section A of Component 1 is the US comparative study: you study two mainstream US (Hollywood) films from different eras and compare them, focusing on the key elements of film form and on how each reflects its historical and institutional context. The crucial skill is to write a genuine comparison structured by points of comparison, not two separate analyses joined together, and to explain differences through the different eras and the development of Hollywood.

What is the focus of each global film section?

In Component 2, Section A studies a global English-language film (a film in English produced outside the US) with a focus on narrative, and Section B studies a global non-English-language film with a focus on representation. Both are analysed through the key elements of film form, and the non-English-language film especially rewards attention to its cultural context. Lead with narrative in Section A and representation in Section B.

What is specialist writing in Film Studies?

Specialist writing is assessed in Section C of Component 2, on the contemporary UK film. It is a sustained, well-structured and analytical piece using confident film terminology, answered through a stepped question that builds to an extended, evaluative response. The focus is aesthetics and film style, and the key is to evaluate how the aesthetic shapes the viewer's response and supports the themes, reaching a judgement, rather than just describing techniques.

How many films are studied for the GCSE?

Learners study six films in relation to the core study areas across the two examined components: two mainstream US films and a US independent film for Component 1, and a global English-language film, a global non-English-language film and a contemporary UK film for Component 2. Some films also require the study of additional areas such as narrative, representation or film style. The production component is studied alongside these and draws on the influences gained from the films.

WalesFilm Studies

The set film study areas: a complete overview for WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Film Studies

A complete overview of the set film study areas for WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Film Studies: the US comparative study and US independent film in Component 1, and global film and contemporary UK film in Component 2, with the focus and skill for each section.

Generated by Claude Opus 4.814 min readeduqas-gcse-set-filmsUpdated 2026-06-15

Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed

Jump to a section

What this covers
Component 1: US film
Component 2: global and UK film
Check your knowledge

What this covers

WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Film Studies sets six films across the two examined components, each studied with a particular focus. This overview ties together the set film study areas as skills and approaches (not film plots): the US comparative study and US independent film in Component 1, and global film (English-language and non-English-language) and contemporary UK film in Component 2. The aim is to know what to lead with in each section while grounding everything in film form.

Component 1: US film

Section A, the US comparative study. Two mainstream US films from different eras, compared through the key elements of film form and their historical and institutional context. The key skill is a genuine comparison structured by points of comparison, explaining differences through the development of Hollywood.

Section B, the US independent film. One US independent film, studied for film form and representation, with attention to how the independent context (made outside the major studios, smaller budget) shapes its style and subject matter.

Component 2: global and UK film

Section A, global English-language film: A film in English produced outside the US, led by narrative (structure, openings and endings, Todorov, character function), grounded in film form.
Section B, global non-English-language film: Led by representation (how the film constructs people, places and issues), with particular attention to cultural context.
Section C, contemporary UK film: A recent British film, led by aesthetics and film style, and assessed through a stepped, extended, evaluative question - the specialist writing part of the course.

WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Film Studies sets six films across the two examined components. Component 1 covers US film: Section A is the US comparative study (two mainstream US films from different eras, compared through film form and historical/institutional context, with the key skill being a genuine point-by-point comparison), and Section B is the US independent film (studied for film form and representation, with the independent context shaping style and subject matter). Component 2 covers global and UK film: Section A is a global English-language film (in English, produced outside the US) led by narrative, Section B is a global non-English-language film led by representation with attention to cultural context, and Section C is a contemporary UK film led by aesthetics and film style, assessed through a stepped, extended, evaluative specialist-writing question. The unifying skill is to lead with the right framework for each section while grounding every point in the key elements of film form.

Check your knowledge

How many films are studied across the two examined components? (1 mark)
What is the focus of the US comparative study, and what is the key skill? (2 marks)
What are the two named focuses for the US independent film? (2 marks)
What does "global English-language" film mean? (1 mark)
What is the lead framework for each global film section? (2 marks)
What is the focus of the contemporary UK film section? (1 mark)
What is specialist writing, and where is it assessed? (2 marks)
Why does the non-English-language film reward attention to cultural context? (1 mark)

Sources & how we know this

WJEC Eduqas GCSE (9-1) Film Studies specification — WJEC/Eduqas (2017)