December Mock Exam: Learner Response Blog Tasks

December Mock Exam: Learner Response Blog Tasks

1) Type up any feedback on your paper (you don't need to write the mark and grade if you want to keep this confidential). If you only have marks and a grade on the paper, write a WWW/EBI yourself based on your scores.

Feedback:

"WWW - This is a solid exam with the potential to go much higher: your opinions on media issues are strong."

"EBI - 20-mark essays are the key to a 6+ grade. Paragraph depth, organising your argument and providing examples from the CSPs will help here."

2) Use the mark scheme for this Paper 2 mock to read the answers AQA were looking for. First, write down a 

definition and example of non-diegetic sound (Q1.1 and 1.2).

All sounds made by or heard by the characters

(e.g. conversation, footsteps...)

3) Next, identify three points you could have made in Q1.3 - camerawork and the extract. Look for the indicative content in the mark scheme - these are the suggested answers from AQA.

1. Handheld camera movement following the plate to the table. This focus on the food Will has cooked seems to establish him as the less dominant person in the relationship.

2. When Lyra is sitting at the table, the camera is deliberately placed at Lyra’s level so she is not presented as weak or vulnerable.

3. The wide shot and slow dolly/tracking through the open doors shows both characters together sitting at the table. This deliberately places both characters in the same frame as the conversation becomes more friendly and less guarded. The camerawork is communicating the growing friendship between Lyra and Will and helps to foreshadow the suggestion (in the very next shot) from Will that they team up and work together.

4) Now look at Q1.4 in the mark scheme - pick out two points from the mark scheme that you could have included in your answer.

1. Will’s expression and body language is very timid which subverts masculine

stereotypes.

2. In contrast, Lyra’s movements and expressions exude confidence. This can be seen in the extract both outside at the table and later when discussing which beds they will take.

5) Focus on Q2 - the 20-mark essay on representations of age and social and cultural contexts. Pick out three points from the mark scheme that you didn't include in your answer.

1. Doctor Who has status and authority; he expects and commands deference. However, the audience are positioned to view him as a villain for much of this episode.

2. Susan is clearly in touch with popular culture. As a stereotypical teenager, she is engrossed in pop music on her radio and her modern clothes differentiate her from the teachers. In spite of her intellectual superiority, she is polite and deferential to her teachers. She is not afraid, though, to challenge her ‘grandfather’, the Doctor, in order to defend Barbara and Ian.

3.The teens and younger characters in HDM are drawn from a

more diverse background with Will being mixed race.

6) Turning your attention to Section B, write a definition and example of user-generated content - use the mark scheme to check it.

Material created by those whose main role is as users of media such as newspapers, television,

radio, magazines, the internet or web or online systems

7) Look at Q4 - the 20-mark essay on the power of influencers. Pick out three points from the mark scheme that you didn't include in your own answer. 

1. Marcus Rashford’s Instagram engagement rate of 6% is exceptionally high. With more than

15m followers on Instagram this means an incredible number of ‘likes’ and ‘comments’ on

his post. This boosts Rashford’s power and influence – and makes him even more appealing

for mainstream brands and commercial partners.

2. Even Marcus Rashford is not immune to criticism however. He has been accused of being

too political and fans and critics have told him to ‘stick to football’. His recent website

rebrand put a much bigger emphasis on his football career with a homepage dominated by

animated GIFs of his notable goals and football achievements. The reduction in content that

focused on his fashion shoots, celebrity lifestyle or volunteering suggests that celebrities are

not all-powerful and are still subject to public opinion and criticism.

3. Much of Rashford’s power comes from his skilful use of social media to promote good

causes such as food poverty and childhood literacy. His work with Fareshare and his

campaign for free school meals during holidays during the pandemic meant that he was

directly opposing Prime Minister Boris Johnson. That Rashford won the battle demonstrates

the power he now has.

8) Now look at Q5 - the 20-mark essay on regulation and the internet. Again, pick out three points from the mark scheme that you didn't include in your own answer.

1. The relationship between technology, media industries and media products

2. How and why particular groups may be under-represented or misrepresented

3. How representations reflect the social, historical and cultural contexts in which they were

produced

9) On a scale of 1-10 (1 = low, 10 = high), how much revision and preparation did you do for your Media mock exam? Be honest here - it's a good chance to think about how to approach the next set of mock exams.

2/10

10) List three key things you want to revise before the next mock exams in February (e.g. particular CSPs, terminology, exam technique etc.) 

1. His Dark Materials

2. Galaxy 'Chauffeur' Advert

3. Audience & Industries