Eduqas GCSE Media Studies
2026
1
,2
, Eduqas GCSE Media Studies
WHAT’S IN PAPER 1?
Exam time: 1 hr 30 min
Set print products for Section A (Q1 & Q2)
Print adverts: Quality Street (1956), This Girl Can (2016)
Magazines front covers: GQ Guardian Angel (Aug 2019), Vogue Malala (July 2021)
Newspapers front pages: The Sun’s “Join our jabs army” campaign (1 Jan 2021), The Guardian Partygate (18 Jan 2022)
Film posters: James Bond 007 The Man With The Golden Gun (1974), James Bond 007 No Time To Die (2021)
Set texts for Section B (Q3 & Q4)
Radio: The Archers (1951 – now) + Website (www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qpgr)
Online gaming: Fortnite (2017 – now) + Website (www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/home)
Newspapers: The Sun + Website (www.thesun.co.uk)
Film (only for Q3 industries): James Bond 007 movies (1962 – 2021) + Website (www.007.com)
3
, WHAT’S IN PAPER 1 – IN A NUTSHELL
Section & A – Q1 a/b/c A – Q2 a/b B – Q3 a/b/c/d B – Q4 a/b/c/d
Questions
You need to Language: Representation: Industries: Audiences:
demonstrate your
knowledge of… How layout, camera angle, colour, font, The way people, places, issues and events Who makes. funds and regulates media (and How and why media products reach and
choice of images, etc. communicate deeper are portrayed. how). target different users.
meanings. How it reflects context. Technology drives convergence across How products are interpreted, depending on
Codes & conventions (and their development How it can convey a point of view / a platforms and presents marketing context and audience.
over time). message. opportunities - but also challenges for media
regulation.
Type of Media Adverts Adverts Radio Radio
Magazines Magazines Online gaming Online gaming
Newspapers Newspapers Newspapers Newspapers
Film Film Film
Media resources Analysis of a set product, any might come up. Q2a – In relation to a set product Be ready to mention examples from your set Be ready to mention examples from your set
Q2b – Analysis of a set product vs. unseen, this texts (including websites). texts (including websites).
could be anything.
Style of questions Generally, 3 short questions about: Q2a – Short question on the impact of Generally, 3-4 questions for one media form Generally, 3-4 questions for one media form
social/cultural/political/historical context for about e.g. about e.g.
a) visual code (what you see - image). that industry.
b) verbal code (what you read - words). ownership Technology-driven changes in consumption
c) technical code (what uses technical Q2b – Extended comparative analysis of production habits
equipment – e.g. camera/light/drawn) and representation between a set product and an distribution How media producers categorise and
layout & design (combination and position unseen resource in the same media form. You regulation target different audiences
of elements). could be asked about how men, women, technology
and/or codes & conventions of that media gender, ethnicity, social groups or events are Q4a – Usually tests factual knowledge.
form (e.g. film title, main image, billing block, represented. Q3a – Usually tests factual knowledge.
Q4b/c – Short follow-up questions.
release date etc. for a film poster).
Q3b/c – Short follow-up questions
Q4d – Requiring a longer developed response.
Q3d – Requiring a longer developed response.
Note: The exam paper may indicate that “you
Note: The focus is Industries, but you will be will be rewarded” for referring to relevant
credited for relevant points on theories, language, context/representation, or
language/representation/audiences. industries.
Suggested time ≈ 5 min on each of the 3 parts ≈ 15 min Q2a ≈ 5 min ≈ 17.5 min ≈ 17.5 min
Plan Q2b ≈ 35 min (including 5-10 min to annotate
Note: No need to spend time studying the print Note: To decide the amount of time to spend on Note: To decide the amount of time to spend on
the print resource).
as you know it already. Start writing quickly and each question, look at the number of marks each question, look at the number of marks
watch timings. awarded awarded
4
2026
1
,2
, Eduqas GCSE Media Studies
WHAT’S IN PAPER 1?
Exam time: 1 hr 30 min
Set print products for Section A (Q1 & Q2)
Print adverts: Quality Street (1956), This Girl Can (2016)
Magazines front covers: GQ Guardian Angel (Aug 2019), Vogue Malala (July 2021)
Newspapers front pages: The Sun’s “Join our jabs army” campaign (1 Jan 2021), The Guardian Partygate (18 Jan 2022)
Film posters: James Bond 007 The Man With The Golden Gun (1974), James Bond 007 No Time To Die (2021)
Set texts for Section B (Q3 & Q4)
Radio: The Archers (1951 – now) + Website (www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qpgr)
Online gaming: Fortnite (2017 – now) + Website (www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/home)
Newspapers: The Sun + Website (www.thesun.co.uk)
Film (only for Q3 industries): James Bond 007 movies (1962 – 2021) + Website (www.007.com)
3
, WHAT’S IN PAPER 1 – IN A NUTSHELL
Section & A – Q1 a/b/c A – Q2 a/b B – Q3 a/b/c/d B – Q4 a/b/c/d
Questions
You need to Language: Representation: Industries: Audiences:
demonstrate your
knowledge of… How layout, camera angle, colour, font, The way people, places, issues and events Who makes. funds and regulates media (and How and why media products reach and
choice of images, etc. communicate deeper are portrayed. how). target different users.
meanings. How it reflects context. Technology drives convergence across How products are interpreted, depending on
Codes & conventions (and their development How it can convey a point of view / a platforms and presents marketing context and audience.
over time). message. opportunities - but also challenges for media
regulation.
Type of Media Adverts Adverts Radio Radio
Magazines Magazines Online gaming Online gaming
Newspapers Newspapers Newspapers Newspapers
Film Film Film
Media resources Analysis of a set product, any might come up. Q2a – In relation to a set product Be ready to mention examples from your set Be ready to mention examples from your set
Q2b – Analysis of a set product vs. unseen, this texts (including websites). texts (including websites).
could be anything.
Style of questions Generally, 3 short questions about: Q2a – Short question on the impact of Generally, 3-4 questions for one media form Generally, 3-4 questions for one media form
social/cultural/political/historical context for about e.g. about e.g.
a) visual code (what you see - image). that industry.
b) verbal code (what you read - words). ownership Technology-driven changes in consumption
c) technical code (what uses technical Q2b – Extended comparative analysis of production habits
equipment – e.g. camera/light/drawn) and representation between a set product and an distribution How media producers categorise and
layout & design (combination and position unseen resource in the same media form. You regulation target different audiences
of elements). could be asked about how men, women, technology
and/or codes & conventions of that media gender, ethnicity, social groups or events are Q4a – Usually tests factual knowledge.
form (e.g. film title, main image, billing block, represented. Q3a – Usually tests factual knowledge.
Q4b/c – Short follow-up questions.
release date etc. for a film poster).
Q3b/c – Short follow-up questions
Q4d – Requiring a longer developed response.
Q3d – Requiring a longer developed response.
Note: The exam paper may indicate that “you
Note: The focus is Industries, but you will be will be rewarded” for referring to relevant
credited for relevant points on theories, language, context/representation, or
language/representation/audiences. industries.
Suggested time ≈ 5 min on each of the 3 parts ≈ 15 min Q2a ≈ 5 min ≈ 17.5 min ≈ 17.5 min
Plan Q2b ≈ 35 min (including 5-10 min to annotate
Note: No need to spend time studying the print Note: To decide the amount of time to spend on Note: To decide the amount of time to spend on
the print resource).
as you know it already. Start writing quickly and each question, look at the number of marks each question, look at the number of marks
watch timings. awarded awarded
4
