GCSE Revision Aid: This resource is designed to support your revision and may contain errors. If you find a discrepancy with your class teaching, your teacher is correct — please let us know at gcserevise@scott.scottrix.co.uk.

🧬 GCSE Media Studies

AQA Pearson Edexcel OCR Eduqas

Complete revision notes for GCSE Media Studies covering all topics across AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas specifications.

Media Studies — AQA (24 Topics)

MS1 Media Language MS10 Newspapers MS11 Radio Podcasts MS12 Online Media MS13 Video Games MS14 Gender Representation MS15 Ethnicity Representation MS16 Age Class Disability MS17 Events Issues Representation MS18 Regulation Issues MS19 Ownership Control MS2 Media Representation MS20 Production Distribution MS21 Global Media MS22 Media Technology MS23 Audience Targeting MS24 Audience Theories MS3 Media Industries MS4 Media Audiences MS5 Media Contexts MS6 Television MS7 Film MS8 Music Video MS9 Advertising Marketing

Media Studies — Pearson Edexcel (24 Topics)

MS1 Media Language MS10 Newspapers MS11 Radio Podcasts MS12 Online Media MS13 Video Games MS14 Gender Representation MS15 Ethnicity Representation MS16 Age Class Disability MS17 Events Issues Representation MS18 Regulation Issues MS19 Ownership Control MS2 Media Representation MS20 Production Distribution MS21 Global Media MS22 Media Technology MS23 Audience Targeting MS24 Audience Theories MS3 Media Industries MS4 Media Audiences MS5 Media Contexts MS6 Television MS7 Film MS8 Music Video MS9 Advertising Marketing

Media Studies — OCR (24 Topics)

MS1 Media Language MS10 Newspapers MS11 Radio Podcasts MS12 Online Media MS13 Video Games MS14 Gender Representation MS15 Ethnicity Representation MS16 Age Class Disability MS17 Events Issues Representation MS18 Regulation Issues MS19 Ownership Control MS2 Media Representation MS20 Production Distribution MS21 Global Media MS22 Media Technology MS23 Audience Targeting MS24 Audience Theories MS3 Media Industries MS4 Media Audiences MS5 Media Contexts MS6 Television MS7 Film MS8 Music Video MS9 Advertising Marketing

Media Studies — Eduqas (24 Topics)

MS1 Media Language MS10 Newspapers MS11 Radio Podcasts MS12 Online Media MS13 Video Games MS14 Gender Representation MS15 Ethnicity Representation MS16 Age Class Disability MS17 Events Issues Representation MS18 Regulation Issues MS19 Ownership Control MS2 Media Representation MS20 Production Distribution MS21 Global Media MS22 Media Technology MS23 Audience Targeting MS24 Audience Theories MS3 Media Industries MS4 Media Audiences MS5 Media Contexts MS6 Television MS7 Film MS8 Music Video MS9 Advertising Marketing

🧭 Board Differences

AQA

Component-based assessment with set products named in the specification plus a production NEA. Eduqas examines unscheduled products too — revise the framework so you can analyse ANY product, not only the listed ones.

Pearson Edexcel

Component-based assessment with set products named in the specification plus a production NEA. Eduqas examines unscheduled products too — revise the framework so you can analyse ANY product, not only the listed ones.

OCR

Component-based assessment with set products named in the specification plus a production NEA. Eduqas examines unscheduled products too — revise the framework so you can analyse ANY product, not only the listed ones.

Eduqas

Component-based assessment with set products named in the specification plus a production NEA. Eduqas examines unscheduled products too — revise the framework so you can analyse ANY product, not only the listed ones.

🧭 Board Differences

AQA

Component-based assessment with set products named in the specification plus a production NEA. Eduqas examines unscheduled products too — revise the framework so you can analyse ANY product, not only the listed ones.

Pearson Edexcel

Component-based assessment with set products named in the specification plus a production NEA. Eduqas examines unscheduled products too — revise the framework so you can analyse ANY product, not only the listed ones.

OCR

Component-based assessment with set products named in the specification plus a production NEA. Eduqas examines unscheduled products too — revise the framework so you can analyse ANY product, not only the listed ones.

Eduqas

Component-based assessment with set products named in the specification plus a production NEA. Eduqas examines unscheduled products too — revise the framework so you can analyse ANY product, not only the listed ones.

🎯 Coursework & NEA Guide

How it is assessed (AQA 8572; other boards similar — check): two written papers (~70%) plus a media-production NEA (~30%): an individual production for a set brief, with a Statement of Intent.

Your NEA frame:

  • Choose the brief that matches the skills you actually have (film vs print vs online) — then read its requirements literally
  • Statement of Intent (~250 words): which products, which audience, which media-language and representation choices — every later mark references back to it, so keep it specific
  • Production evidence: planning (storyboards/mocks), the product itself, and proof of individual work if group-produced
  • Technical checklist: original images/footage, deliberate representation choices, consistent media language with your chosen genre

Top pitfalls: an SoI that is generic ('my magazine will be interesting'); watermarked stock images; a product that ignores the brief's audience stipulation.