Year 12 Film Studies - Exam Advice

Exam Advice - Year 12 Film Studies

In order to achieve the best possible results in your exam you must obviously know your subject, revise and ensure you have a thorough understanding of all possible topics.

This is not all however - you can make a huge difference to your overall grade by learning and using good exam technique, knowing the common pitfalls that students fall into and avoiding them.

Common Mistakes (All exam sections)

Below is a list of common mistakes that students make or areas where they fall down.  Use it as a check list to ensure that you don't make the same mistakes.

Not enough reference to examples.
Not including (or mis-spelling) title, director, year.
Time organisation.
Not using specific terminology.
Presentation (illegible writing).
Not keeping focus on the question.
Not having wide or deep enough knowledge to draw from.
Not going into enough detail.
Not bringing in your own case study knowledge.
Not choosing/answering the right question.
Not structuring the response.
No close analysis used.
Not enough debate in the response.
Unsophisticated use of stimulus material.


SECTION A (Audiences and Producers) -
 STEP BY STEP EXAM PLAN

1.  Read both questions carefully
2.  Evaluate how much you know about each question
3.  Decide which question you want to answer
4.  Which point of view do you take on the question?
5.  Read the resource pack
6.  Annotate resource pack with brief notes or thoughts
7.  Weigh up 2 sides of the argument mentally
8.  Make very brief notes on structure using bullet points.
9.  Begin essay with an introduction in which you answer the question in brief.
10.  Argument 1 - try to make 3 points and back them up with evidence from your learning or from the resource pack.
11.  Argument 2 - try to make 3 points and back them up with evidence from your learning or from the resource pack.
12.  Conclude with the question and answer it finally.

SECTION B (British Film and Genre) -

 STEP BY STEP EXAM PLAN

1.  Read both questions carefully

2.  Evaluate how much you know about each question

3.  Decide which question you want to answer

4.  Write a list of conventions/characteristics/points to include very briefly.

5.  Create very brief plan/structure.

6.  Begin essay with introduction in which you refer to the question.

7.  Film 1

8.  Film 2

9.  Film 3

10.  Conclude with reference to the question again.