Paper 2 mock exam LR

Paper 2 mock exam: Learner response

1) Type up your feedback in full (you do not need to write mark/grade if you do not wish to).

WWW: Some excellent answers here; Q2 and Q3 are particularly strong.

EBI: It's just Q4 that holds you back from B+, is this a timing issue or is it about revising magazines?

2) Did you succeed in meeting or exceeding your target grade for A Level Media in this paper? If not, how many additional marks do you need to achieve your target grade in Paper 2?

45/96-- C-- quite off my target grade.

Now read through the real AQA mark scheme for Paper 2. 

3) Write a question-by-question analysis of your performance. For each question, write how many marks you got from the number available and identify any points that you missed by carefully studying the AQA indicative content in the mark scheme:

• Q1: 6/9 marks-- could have talked about verbal codes+ typography, and more of deconstruction 'the minimal style of the cover – in contrast to other magazines – places it as an alternative, independent publication – form of deconstruction'.
• Q2: 15/25 marks-- could of included media theorists names like Curran and Seaton, Livingstone and Lunt, and linked media theories more to the CSPs. 
• Q3: 17/25 marks--  needed to include an introduction (thesis statement) before analysing both CSPs. Could have talked about the immersive nature of the game means that the player is more vulnerable to accepting the values and beliefs being conveyed.
• Q4: 7/25 marks-- needed to revise this topic more! GW--  The mode of address is defined as serious but ‘playful’, constructing the audience as intellectual.  Focus on ‘long form’ journalism as opposed to celebrity-led profiles. Focus on literature, environment, design and architecture suggests the way the producers construct a specialised readership. GQ--  Aesthetic is positioned more with alternative magazine styles (eg Kinfolk, Frame) than mainstream (eg Men’s Health)  Representations of masculinity as fluid, with an interest in fashion and beauty as the norm – though the extent to which this can now be defined as specialised could be evaluated.  Audience is targeted through consumerism and notions of ideal images in a similar was to the construction of a mainstream, mass mode of address.

4) Look at question 4 - the synoptic question. How many of the four key concepts did you cover in your answer? Write a new essay plan for this question using the indicative content in the mark scheme and taking care to include at least three of Language - Representations - Audience - Industries. You can use bullet points but make sure you offer enough content to meet the criteria for Level 5 (top level). This will be somewhere between 3-4 well-developed paragraphs planned in some detail.

Thesis statement-- I agree with the statement that for magazines to survive, producers must target specialised audiences. In an age where digital content is free, traditional print magazines face intense competition and declining readership. The strategy of focusing on niche, specialised audiences is essential for maintaining a loyal customer base and ensuring higher profits.

GQ:

GQ is a well-established men’s fashion and lifestyle magazine, but it has increasingly shifted its focus towards a more specialised audience. Over time, it has evolved to cover not only fashion but also topics related to culture, fitness, grooming, and political commentary, all tailored for affluent, style-conscious men. This shift to a more niche demographic- professional men who care about both fashion and current affairs - has allowed GQ to maintain its relevance. It’s not trying to appeal to every man, but rather to a specific, high-end market. By providing content that speaks directly to this group’s interests, GQ has created a loyal and engaged readership.

The Gentlewoman:

Similarly, The Gentlewoman, a women’s fashion and lifestyle magazine, focuses on a niche demographic of intelligent, stylish women who are more concerned with personal style and individuality than trends. The magazine does not chase the mass-market audience, but rather offers content that appeals to a refined and progressive group of women. By positioning itself as a magazine for “intelligent” women who are stylish and modern, The Gentlewoman has built a dedicated following, allowing it to stand out from other fashion magazines that aim for broader appeal.
Specialisation in Content:

Both of these magazines succeed because they do not try to be everything for everyone. Instead, they have targeted their audience in a way and provided content that speaks to their specific tastes, values, and interests. This skill enables both publications to attract loyal readers who are willing to pay for a product that speaks to their individual needs.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that magazines must target specialised audiences to survive. By focusing on niche groups like those targeted by GQ and The Gentlewoman, magazines can develop a loyal readership base, offer more meaningful content, and stay relevant in a highly competitive media landscape.

5) Based on the whole of your Paper 2 learner response, plan FIVE topics / concepts / CSPs / theories that you will prioritise in your Easter Media revision timetable.

• when analysing unseen, try talk about all conventions, link media theorists
• practise more exam questions and remembering to link back to the question!!
• go over all of magazines topic!!!
• try include more media theorists to csps when analysing media product
• go over industries aspect in all csps (industries may be a weakpoint for me)