AQA GCSE Media Studies (8572) Past Papers & Mark Schemes
Prepare for AQA GCSE Media Studies (8572) with past papers and official mark schemes for Media One and Media Two, organised by exam year. Use them to practise media language, representations, industries and audiences, improve your extended responses and understand exactly how AQA awards marks. As Close Study Products can change, make sure you revise the current CSPs alongside these papers. You can also jump to our examiner tips or read the frequently asked questions for more guidance.
2025 AQA GCSE Media Studies (8572) Past Papers & Mark Schemes
2025 AQA GCSE Media Studies | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 1 Written (8572/1) – June 2025 | ||
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 2 Written (8572/2) – June 2025 |
2024 AQA GCSE Media Studies (8572) Past Papers & Mark Schemes
2024 AQA GCSE Media Studies | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 1 Written (8572/1) – June 2024 | ||
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 2 Written (8572/2) – June 2024 |
2023 AQA GCSE Media Studies (8572) Past Papers & Mark Schemes
2023 AQA GCSE Media Studies | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 1 Written (8572/1) – June 2023 | ||
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 2 Written (8572/2) – June 2023 |
2022 AQA GCSE Media Studies (8572) Past Papers & Mark Schemes
2022 AQA GCSE Media Studies | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 1 Written (8572/1) – June 2022 | ||
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 2 Written (8572/2) – June 2022 |
2021 AQA GCSE Media Studies (8572) Past Papers & Mark Schemes
2021 AQA GCSE Media Studies | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 1 Written (8572/1) – November 2021 | ||
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 2 Written (8572/2) – November 2021 |
2020 AQA GCSE Media Studies (8572) Past Papers & Mark Schemes
2020 AQA GCSE Media Studies | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 1 Written (8572/1) – November 2020 | ||
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 2 Written (8572/2) – November 2020 |
AQA GCSE Media Studies (8572) Sample Papers
AQA GCSE Media Studies Sample Papers | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 1 Written (8572/1) – Sample Set 1 | ||
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 2 Written (8572/2) – Sample Set 1 |
AQA GCSE Media Studies Sample Papers | Downloads | |
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 1 Written (8572/1) – Sample Set 1 | ||
AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 2 Written (8572/2) – Sample Set 1 |
Six Essential Examiner Tips for AQA GCSE Media Studies
1. Analyse Media Products Instead of Simply Describing Them
Students often identify features or describe what they can see and hear without explaining how meaning is created. For example, merely stating that an advert uses a red background or a close-up camera shot does not provide enough analysis.
How to improve: Link every media-language technique to its effect. Identify the technique, provide precise evidence and explain what it communicates about the subject, representation or narrative. For example: “The low-angle shot makes the character appear powerful and dominant, reinforcing their representation as an authoritative figure.”Always explain how and why a technique creates meaning.
2. Make a Reasoned Judgement in 20-Mark Essays
In extended responses, students sometimes describe the Close Study Products or state whether they agree without properly evaluating the claim. Phrases such as “I agree” receive little credit unless they are supported by analysis and evidence.
How to improve: Treat a “How far…” question as an invitation to test the statement. Develop arguments both supporting and challenging it, using precise evidence from the relevant CSPs. Weigh the strength of the evidence throughout the answer and finish with a clear, justified conclusion explaining the extent to which the statement is convincing.
3. Read the Exact Focus and Command Word
Students lose marks by answering a slightly different question. For example, they may explain how a magazine targets an audience when the question asks how it represents a social group, or discuss a whole media form instead of the named CSP.
How to improve: Underline the command word, media product and theoretical-framework area before writing. Remember that “describe” requires relevant details, “explain” requires developed reasons, and “analyse” requires close examination of how meaning is constructed. Keep returning to the wording of the question so that every paragraph remains relevant.
4. Use Media Studies Terminology Accurately
Students frequently give circular definitions or misuse specialist vocabulary. They may use the term being defined within its own definition or confuse concepts such as composition, convergence, enigma codes, active audiences, CGI and superimposition.
How to improve: Learn short, precise definitions for all specification terms and practise applying them to real media products. Do not merely insert terminology into an answer: explain how the concept works in the particular example. Keep terms within their correct boundaries—for instance, mise-en-scène includes setting, costume, props, lighting and performance, but not editing or non-diegetic sound.
5. Connect Context Directly to the Media Product
Students sometimes include long paragraphs about an artist, historical period or social issue without connecting that information to the media product being analysed. This becomes background knowledge rather than relevant contextual analysis.
How to improve: Only include contextual information that helps answer the question. Explain how a social, cultural, historical, political or industrial factor influenced a specific representation or media-language choice. A useful structure is: contextual factor → textual evidence → effect on meaning or representation. Biographical details should be used briefly and only when they clarify the product itself.
6. Follow Every NEA Requirement and Produce Original Material
Students sometimes change the required genre or target audience, overlook minimum content requirements, or use images, footage and written material found online. Missing part of the brief restricts how effectively the production can meet its purpose, while unoriginal material can seriously limit the available marks.
How to improve: Convert the NEA brief into a checklist covering the required audience, genre, format, word count, image count and technical features. Check the production against this list throughout the project—not only at the end. Create original photographs, footage and w
AQA GCSE Media Studies 2027 FAQs
1. What is the specification code for AQA GCSE Media Studies?
The specification code is AQA 8572. The course covers four main areas of the theoretical framework: media language, media representations, media industries and media audiences. Students apply this knowledge to Close Study Products, unseen media products and their Non-Exam Assessment.
Check the official AQA GCSE Media Studies specification for full details.
2. When are the AQA GCSE Media Studies exams in 2027?
The provisional 2027 examination dates are:
Media One (8572/1): Monday 17 May 2027, afternoon
Media Two (8572/2): Tuesday 25 May 2027, afternoon
Both papers last 1 hour and 30 minutes. The official AQA deadline for schools to submit NEA marks is 7 May 2027, although your school will probably set an earlier internal deadline. Always confirm dates using the AQA Media Studies key dates page.
3. How is AQA GCSE Media Studies assessed?
The qualification has two written papers and one Non-Exam Assessment:
Media One: 84 marks and 35% of the GCSE
Media Two: 84 marks and 35% of the GCSE
Non-Exam Assessment: 60 marks and 30% of the GCSE
This means that strong practical coursework can make a significant contribution to your final grade, but the two written examinations still account for 70% of the qualification. See the official AQA assessment structure.
4. What is tested in AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 1?
Media One contains two sections. Section A assesses media language and representation, while Section B assesses media industries and audiences. Questions may be based on unseen material, Close Study Products or both. The paper also includes a 20-mark extended-response question, so students must be able to construct a developed argument supported by detailed media evidence.
5. What is tested in AQA GCSE Media Studies Paper 2?
Media Two also lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes. Section A begins with a screened extract from one of the television Close Study Products. Section B focuses on either newspapers or online, social and participatory media and video games. Questions can assess any part of the theoretical framework, so do not revise each media product under only one heading.
6. What are Close Study Products in AQA GCSE Media Studies?
Close Study Products, usually called CSPs, are the set media products studied in detail during the course. You need to know their media language, representations, audiences, industries and relevant social, cultural, political or historical contexts. AQA updates CSP requirements periodically, so revise the 2027 CSP list provided by your school rather than relying on an old textbook or revision website.
7. How should I analyse an unseen media product?
Begin with what you can see or hear, and then explain what it suggests. Analyse elements such as camera shots, layout, typography, colour, editing, sound, setting, costume and language. Connect these choices to representation and audience response. Avoid simply describing the product. A useful structure is: identify the technique, give precise evidence, explain its connotations and connect it to the question.
7. What does the AQA GCSE Media Studies NEA involve?
For the NEA, students respond to one of AQA’s annually changing briefs and create a media product for a specified audience. Students also produce a statement of intent explaining their approach. To score highly, the finished product should use recognisable media conventions, communicate clear representations and consistently target the intended audience. Every creative decision should connect to the brief rather than being included only because it looks attractive.
