Media

• Assessment Resources for Media Session 2020-21 (30 KB)
• October 2019 subject update (177 KB)
• October 2018 subject update (264 KB)

• National Course modification summary: Media

Information on National Course changes for session 2020/21

The following modification decisions are valid regardless of the agreed approach to assessment in session 2021-22.

National 3

Modifications for session 2021-22 will remain the same as session 2020-21.

Analysing Media Content: we reduced the number of concepts to be assessed for assessment standards 1.2 and 1.4. Candidates only need to describe one relevant context-based key aspect for 1.2, and only need to apply knowledge of one context-based key aspect for 1.4.

National 4

Modifications for session 2021-22 will remain the same as session 2020-21.

Analysing Media Content: we reduced the number of concepts to be assessed for assessment standards 1.2 and 1.4. Candidates only need to describe one relevant context-based key aspect for 1.2, and only need to apply knowledge of one context-based key aspect for 1.4.

There will be no requirement to complete the added value unit assessment.

National 5

Modifications for session 2021-22 will remain the same as session 2020-21.

Question paper: the 2022 question paper will only sample 'audience' (one from the three context-based key aspects - audience, institutions and society). It will also only sample 'meeting needs' (one from the three roles of media - meeting needs, meeting particular purposes, and influencing attitudes and behaviours).

Assignment: we reduced section 1 (planning) by 5 marks, as questions 2 and 3 can be replaced with a single question. We reduced section 2 (development) by 7 marks, as candidates only need to discuss and evaluate four instead of five examples from their media content.

Higher

Modifications for session 2021-22 will remain the same as session 2020-21.

Question paper 1: we introduced optionality in section 1 Analysis of Media Content - candidates only need to answer one question from questions 1 and 2, reducing the marks from 40 to 20 marks.

Assignment: we reduced the requirement for content research to one response (reducing the marks by 5 marks) and introduced the option to answer on production roles and/or institutional context research (reducing the marks by 5 marks).

Assessment of National 4 Added Value Units (March 2021)

Candidates will not be required to complete National 4 added value units in session 2020-21. This decision is supported by the National Qualifications 2021 Group. Removing the mandatory requirement to complete the added value unit will help to free up more time for learning and teaching and for assessing other units in National 4 courses, where this is needed.

To achieve the overall course award for National 4 this session, candidates must pass all contributing units in the National 4 course. Teachers and lecturers will still need to submit a 'pass' result for the added value unit to ensure candidates are certificated for the course award, however this does not need to be evidence-based.

While there is no requirement to gather evidence for the added value unit this session, it is still important that candidates have opportunities to develop and demonstrate the required skills, knowledge and understanding from across the course that are outlined in the National 4 added value unit specification, where possible. This will support candidates as they progress to further learning and assessment at SCQF level 5.

Please note that the modifications detailed in the following 'Arrangements for National 3 and National 4' document still apply for session 2020-21.

Arrangements for National 3 and National 4 

• Arrangements for National 3 and National 4: Media (129 KB)

Information on National Course changes for session 2020/21

More information is available from www.sqa.org.uk/nqsubjects