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WJEC GCSE Media Studies Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free WJEC GCSE Media Studies past papers, mark schemes & examiner reports. Television, film, advertising, online media and production. 24 resources.

Papers Overview Paper Structure Key Info Key Topics Command Words Grade Boundaries Revision Tips Try AI Tutor ✦

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24 of 24 resources

Summer 2023

8 files

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GCSE Media Studies – Unit 2 Understanding TV: Understanding Television and Film – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Media Studies – Unit 1 Exploring Media: Exploring the Media – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

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GCSE Media Studies – Unit 2 Understanding TV: Understanding Television and Film – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

Mark Scheme

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GCSE Media Studies – Unit 1 Exploring Media: Exploring the Media [Paper size: A3 Font size: 36] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Media Studies – Unit 1 Exploring Media: Exploring the Media [Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Media Studies – Unit 2 Understanding TV: Understanding Television and Film [Paper size: A3 Font size: 36] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

Modified Paper

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GCSE Media Studies – Unit 2 Understanding TV: Understanding Television and Film [Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

Modified Paper

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GCSE Media Studies – Unit 1 Exploring Media: Exploring the Media – Past Paper – Summer 2023

Past Paper

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Summer 2022

8 files

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GCSE Media Studies – Unit 1 Exploring Media: Exploring the Media – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper

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📄

GCSE Media Studies – Unit 2 Understanding TV: Understanding Television and Film – Past Paper – Summer 2022

Past Paper

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✅

GCSE Media Studies – Unit 2 Understanding TV: Understanding Television and Film – Mark Scheme – Summer 2022

Mark Scheme

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✅

GCSE Media Studies – Unit 1 Exploring Media: Exploring the Media – Mark Scheme – Summer 2022

Mark Scheme

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📋

GCSE Media Studies – Unit 1 Exploring Media: Exploring the Media [Paper size: A3 Font size: 36] – Modified Paper – Summer 2022

Modified Paper

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📋

GCSE Media Studies – Unit 1 Exploring Media: Exploring the Media [Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2022

Modified Paper

Download

📋

GCSE Media Studies – Unit 2 Understanding TV: Understanding Television and Film [Paper size: A3 Font size: 36] – Modified Paper – Summer 2022

Modified Paper

Download

📋

GCSE Media Studies – Unit 2 Understanding TV: Understanding Television and Film [Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2022

Modified Paper

Download

Summer 2019

8 files

✅

GCSE Media Studies – Unit 1 Exploring Media: Exploring the Media – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

Download

✅

GCSE Media Studies – Unit 2 Understanding TV: Understanding Television and Film – Mark Scheme – Summer 2019

Mark Scheme

Download

📋

GCSE Media Studies – Unit 1 Exploring Media: Exploring the Media [ Paper size: A3 Font size: 36] – Modified Paper – Summer 2019

Modified Paper

Download

📋

GCSE Media Studies – Unit 1 Exploring Media: Exploring the Media [ Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2019

Modified Paper

Download

📋

GCSE Media Studies – Unit 2 Understanding TV: Understanding Television and Film [ Paper size: A3 Font size: 36] – Modified Paper – Summer 2019

Modified Paper

Download

📋

GCSE Media Studies – Unit 2 Understanding TV: Understanding Television and Film [ Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2019

Modified Paper

Download

📄

GCSE Media Studies – Unit 1 Exploring Media: Exploring the Media – Past Paper – Summer 2019

Past Paper

Download

📄

GCSE Media Studies – Unit 2 Understanding TV: Understanding Television and Film – Past Paper – Summer 2019

Past Paper

Download

Media Literacy, Industry Analysis, and Creative Production Skills

WJEC GCSE Media Studies develops critical understanding of how media products construct meaning, represent the world, and are shaped by industry contexts. The qualification covers a range of media forms including television, film, advertising, magazines, music videos, newspapers, video games, and online and social media. Unit 1 (Exploring the Media) is a written examination testing students' ability to analyse media products using key concepts: media language (how meaning is constructed through visual, audio, and written codes), representation (how social groups, issues, and events are portrayed), audience (how media products target and address different audiences), and industry (how media organisations produce, distribute, and regulate content). Unit 2 (Understanding Television and Film) is a written examination focusing on set television and film products studied during the course, testing deeper analytical skills in the context of moving image media. Unit 3 is a practical production unit where students create their own media product (such as a magazine, website, or short video), applying the theoretical concepts they have studied. The production must be accompanied by a statement of aims and an evaluation. The specification includes Welsh media examples and explores S4C (the Welsh-language television channel), BBC Wales, and Welsh-language media production. This archive contains 24 resources from Summer 2019 to Summer 2023.

Exam Paper Structure

Unit 1No calculator

Exploring the Media

⏱ Written examination🎯 marks📊 40% of grade

Media language and conventionsRepresentationAudience targetingMedia industries

Unit 2No calculator

Understanding Television and Film

⏱ Written examination🎯 marks📊 30% of grade

Set television productsSet film productsGenre and narrativeContext and industry

Unit 3No calculator

Creating a Media Product

⏱ Coursework🎯 marks📊 30% of grade

Planning and researchProduction skillsStatement of aimsEvaluation

Key Information

Exam Board	WJEC
Qualification	GCSE
Grading Scale	A*–G
Assessment Type	2 written papers + practical production
Unit 1	Written exam — Exploring the Media
Unit 2	Written exam — Understanding Television and Film
Unit 3	Practical production — creating a media product
Available Sessions	Summer 2019 – Summer 2023
Total Resources	24

Key Topics in Media Studies

Topics you need to know

Media language and semioticsRepresentation of social groupsAudience theory and targetingMedia industry and regulationTelevision and film analysisAdvertising and print mediaOnline and social media

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
Explore	Investigate in depth how the media product creates meaning, using specific examples and media terminology
How is... represented	Analyse the specific techniques used to portray a social group, issue, or theme
Analyse	Examine the media product in detail, focusing on the specified concept or aspect
Compare	Identify similarities and differences between two media products, using the four key concepts
Evaluate	Assess the effectiveness of media techniques in achieving their intended purpose
Refer to	Your answer must include specific examples from the named media product

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
Grade A*	76–86%
Grade A	64–75%
Grade B	52–63%
Grade C	40–51%
Grade D	28–39%

⚠️ Typical boundaries across written and practical components. Actual boundaries vary by series.

Applying the Four Key Concepts and Using Subject-Specific Terminology

Every media analysis question can be approached through the four key concepts: media language, representation, audience, and industry. Practise applying all four to each set product you study. For example, when analysing an advertisement: How does the visual composition create meaning (language)? How are gender, age, or ethnicity represented (representation)? Who is the target audience and how is it addressed (audience)? How does the brand's commercial context shape the product (industry)? Subject-specific terminology is essential for high marks. Don't write 'the picture makes you feel sad' — write 'the low-key lighting and desaturated colour palette create a sombre mood, positioning the audience to empathise with the protagonist.' Build a terminology bank for each media form and practise using the terms in context. For the production component, demonstrate your understanding of media concepts through your creative choices. Your statement of aims should explain what audience you are targeting, what genre conventions you are using (or subverting), and what representations you are constructing. Your evaluation should critically assess how effectively your finished product achieves these aims.

More WJEC GCSE Subjects

Explore other GCSE subjects from WJEC

WJEC GCSE Media Studies Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download Past Papers

Summer 2023

Summer 2022

Summer 2019

Media Literacy, Industry Analysis, and Creative Production Skills

Exam Paper Structure

Key Information

Key Topics in Media Studies

Exam Command Words

Typical Grade Boundaries

Applying the Four Key Concepts and Using Subject-Specific Terminology

More WJEC GCSE Subjects

Applied Science (Double Award)

Applied Science (Single Award)

Art and Design

Biology

Built Environment

Business

Chemistry

Computer Science

Design and Technology

Digital Technology

Drama

Electronics

English Language

English Literature

Film Studies

Food and Nutrition

French

Geography

Geology

German

History

Latin

Mathematics-Numeracy

Mathematics

Music

Physical Education (Short Course)

Physical Education

Physics

Religious Studies

Science (Double Award)

Sociology

Spanish

Welsh Language (Cymraeg Iaith)

Welsh Literature (Llenyddiaeth Gymraeg)

Welsh Second Language

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