Year two
- The mock exam is going to be tough and is going to be as similar to the final exam as possible. There will be questions from component one A and B, and component two. If this is not ringing a bell, check out the revision guide now!
- Unlike some previous mocks, you will not know what questions will come up in advance. This will be a closely guarded secret. everything we have done so far may come up. For the record, this is advertising, film, newspapers, magazines, music videos, television and radio (which you will have done by the time the mock comes along).
- The session is three hours long. You cannot leave early. It is split up like so: 30 minutes preparation, two hours of mock exam, 30 minutes of extra time/revision.
- The mock will be different to any of the previous exams set, either by Long Road or the exam board. So have a look at the past papers, but remember it's going to be totally new.
- There's a lot to revise. You will need to use the Christmas holiday to revise. You will need to start revising now.
Year one
You you also be on collapsed timetable for the week specified. You will have already completed your assessment so you will be doing something else. Please stay tuned for what this is.
Before you get too smug, you'll be going through what the second year's will be going through in just a year...
Christmas Homework - both years
The following tasks can be completed in any order, and will assist you in revising for the upcoming mocks. You may need to start some of these before the Christmas holiday.
This homework is for both first and second years. Yes I am Scrooge. You'll thank me when you get your final grade.
The golden rule for how to revise is little and often. Revising for ten minutes a day is loads better than revising two hours every Sunday. Make sure you mix things up. Read the blog, make notes from your notes, get a study buddy, make pass cards, do past paper questions, whatever.
i) Getting your blog in order
There is a direct correlation between how organised your blog is and your final grade. No really, we've tracked it and it's true. It makes sense because your blog is your notes, mock exams, revision tasks and your revision guide.
Make sure that your blog is up to date. Contact a friend to check out their notes. make sure everything is published. MAKE SURE IT LOOKS GOOD.
ii) Using the revision guide
- The revision guide is written by Michael and contains EVERY POSSIBLE QUESTION THAT MAY COME UP. The wording can and will change, but it's the best way to prepare.
- The first step is making sure you are familiar with it. Skim through it. Then read it properly. You can print it out (it's big) or just save the Word version.
- Then go through the revision checklist and tick of everything that you're happy to answer. For first year, this isn't going to be much, frankly. For second years, it's going to be more. But where are the gaps?
- IF YOU'RE GOING TO PRINT OFF THE GUIDE, DO IT BEFORE THE HOLIDAY.
- To save money, you could just print the checklist pages, and do it double sided to save paper and a little bit of printing credit.
- If you print it in black and white, and double sided, it should cost 93p to print the whole guide. Compared to the £50 for both the official revision guides (also recommended but not essential) it's a steal!
iii) Answering mock questions
Using the revision guide, you can come up with any possible question that might be set. So come up with some. Specifically three questions and answer them, taking 30 minutes on each. So this is the big bit. Answers should either be completed digitally and uploaded to your blog, or completed on paper. Your teacher can then give them a once over and let you know if you're on the right track.
If you don't feel confident enough to create your own questions, you can also look at the past paper questions included here on the blog.
iv) Consume media products
Have you noticed little things that you can only point out intertextual references if you are aware of the intertextual reference in the first place? This is because A-level media studies assumes you watch, read and play a variety of media products. So you know what to do. Watch read and play media products you have never encountered before. These may be websites, videogames, music videos, films, TV shows, radio broadcasts, podcasts, magazines, blogs, vlogs or anything else. This bit of the homework never stops!