GUIDANCE ON EXAM NOTES

1. Students are able to take in 4 sides of A4 research notes into the exam; these must be submitted with the candidate’s exam script.
   
2. The purpose of the notes is to serve as a memory aid in the exam.
   
3. The notes must be hand written by the candidate.
   
4. They should cover primary and secondary sources, statistics, brief quotations, diagrams and note form summaries.
   
5. It is recommended that students collect research findings carefully during the course of the Critical Study Unit. These should then be selected and edited carefully at a reasonable period before the exam, and presented as the 4 final sides of research notes.

Note: The notes will not be marked, but they will be checked. Where there is doubt about a particular students’ grade, the notes could be crucial at Grade review in decision-making.

Rules regarding taking in notes

• No essay plans or continuous prose (paragraphs) allowed.
• No additional sheets or materials allowed.
• No word processed, printed, photocopied material allowed.
• Students should take careful note of the rules, as failure to follow them will result in heavy penalties being imposed. This could result in disqualification from the exam.
• Turn up to the exam in plenty of time so your teachers can do a final check of your notes before you go in.

INTRO TO THE EXAM + THE TOPIC AREAS

THE CRITICAL RESEARCH EXAM

· 7 broad topics to choose from

· Each student selects a focus of study within their chosen topic area

· 2 hour paper, 2 compulsory questions

· Each question worth 45 marks

· 4 A4 sides of research data can be taken into the exam

Same questions every year:

Question 1 – analysis of, and reflection upon research methods
Question 2 – analysis of research findings

The topics are:
o Advertising
o Children and the Media
o Community Radio
o Crime and the Media
o Television Drama
o Women and Film
o World Cinema