Cambridge International AS & A Level

Media Studies 9607

Syllabus overview

Summary

We all spend more and more time online and in front of screens. At the same time the competition for our attention becomes harsher. As viewers we have become tough critics. Everyone of us is overwhelmed with catchy photos, funny videos and informative articles. To deal with this, we all developed good filters and learned to select what we view. So in order to get our attention, companies need to produces ever better content.

This creates a big demand for all kind of media experts in every industry. These experts need a good understanding of how different media channels work and what kind of content resonates with its audience and what channel is the best one to reach a target group.

Media Studies provides students with the understanding of how media works, what channels exist and whom each of these channels can reach and how.

Career Perspective

The media studies syllabus is the perfect knowledge base to continue the path towards a job in the marketing or media production with a university study in a more specialized field.

The SRIS career counselor will help you to select the right university in Kyrgyzstan or abroad and get your application ready. Media is a wide field, so it is necessary to specialize on a specific field, e.g. Marketing, film production or journalism and copywriting.

After university media specialists are needed in many fields:

Beyond the syllabus

For a successful university application, especially when applying for a scholarship, it is important to show extracurricular skills and interests.

To come across as a serious candidate for media related studies you should be able to

• handle at least one graphics design program like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, e.t.c
• if you want to study film making, you should know the basics of using a camera, a video editing program, and you should have produced a few small videos for your portfolio.

Aims

The aims describe the purposes of a course based on this syllabus. The aims are to enable students to:

• develop critical understanding of international media through engagement with media products and concepts
• develop critical understanding of international media through engagement with the creative application of practical skills
• explore production processes, technologies and contexts
• develop independence in research skills and their application
• enjoy and appreciate the media and its role in their daily lives
• appreciate and engage with a variety of global and local media texts
• explore the impact of the media within a variety of cultures and how this influences social values.

Content overview

Skills and understanding common to all areas of study

• Media forms and media platforms.
• Case studies.
• The ability to apply practical skills creatively, the ability to analyse their own and published media products critically, research and evaluation skills and information management and project management skills.
• Knowledge and understanding relating to the key concepts of Language, Representation, Industry and Audience.

AS Level subject content

Candidates must study:

• Media texts
• Technical elements
• Media contexts

Candidates must study at least one media area specified below:

• Film
• Music
• Print
• Radio and podcasts
• Video games

A Level subject content

In addition to the above, candidates must study at least two of the following topics:

• Media regulation
• Postmodern media
• Power and the media

Candidates must also study:

• Media ecology

Assessment overview

Component 1

Foundation Portfolio
50 marks
Candidates produce a media product that includes digital evidence of the process of their work and a creative critical reflection. Candidates work either individually or as part of a group to complete this coursework.
Internally assessed and externally moderated

50% of the AS Level
25% of the A Level

Component 2

Media texts and contexts
50 marks

Test duration: 2 hours

Section A: Media texts (25 marks)

Candidates answer one question based on an unseen moving image extract.
Section B: Media contexts (25 marks)
Candidates answer one question from a choice of two questions.
Externally assessed

50% of the AS Level

25% of the A Level

Component 3

Advanced Portfolio
50 marks

Candidates produce a campaign of media products, digital evidence of the process of their work and reflect upon their finished products, in the form of an evaluative essay of around 1000 words. Candidates work either individually or as part of a group to complete this coursework.

Internally assessed and externally moderated

25% of the A Level

Component 4

Critical Perspectives
60 marks

Test duration: 2 hours

Section A: Media debates (30 marks)

Candidates answer two from a choice of three questions.

Section B: Media ecology (30 marks) Candidates answer one question. Externally assessed
25% of the A Level

SRIS Curriculum

A Level (staged over two years)

• Year 1 – AS Level: Successfully complete component 1 and 2
• Year 2 – A Level: : Successfully complete component 3 and 4
• Candidates following an AS Level route will be eligible for grades a–e.
• Candidates following an A Level route are eligible for grades A*–E.

Assessment objectives

The assessment objectives (AOs) are:

AO1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates, using terminology appropriately.

AO2

Analyse media products, and evaluate their own work, by applying knowledge and understanding of theoretical and creative approaches, supported with relevant textual evidence.

AO3

Research, plan and construct critically informed media products, including the creative critical reflection, using appropriate technical and creative skills.