GCSE Media Studies - Cambridge OCR Level 1/Level 2 (9-1) J200 - Version 5.0

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Sarah

Qualification and specification for Cambridge OCR Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Media Studies (J200), for first assessment in 2025, version 5.0 (April 2026). Describes the rationale for choosing the qualification, outlines the specification overview including required content strands, and sets out assessment arrangements, objectives, and total qualification time. Provides administrative guidance covering pre-assessment, special consideration, results and certificates, malpractice, AI use in non-exam assessment, and includes appendices such as grade descriptors and accessibility information.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages68

Reading Time2 h 51 min

AccessFree to download

Why choose an OCR GCSE (9–1) in Media Studies?

Why choose an OCR qualification?

Why choose an OCR GCSE (9–1) in Media Studies?

What are the key features of this specification?

What is new in OCR’s GCSE (9–1) in Media Studies?

How do I find out more information?

The specification overview

OCR’s GCSE (9–1) in Media Studies (J200)

Content of GCSE (9–1) in Media Studies (J200)

Content of Television and promoting media (01)

Content of Music and news (02)

Content of non-exam assessment content—Creating media (03/04)

Prior knowledge, learning and progression

Assessment of GCSE (9–1) in Media Studies

Forms of assessment

Assessment Objectives (AO)

Total qualification time

Qualification availability outside of England

Language

Assessment availability

Retaking the qualification

Assessment of extended response

Internal assessment of non-exam assessment (NEA)

Synoptic learning and assessment

Calculating qualification results

Admin: what you need to know

Pre-assessment

Special consideration

External assessment arrangements

Admin of non-exam assessment

AI use in the NEA

Results and certificates

Post-results services

Malpractice

Appendices

Grade descriptors

Accessibility

Overlap with other qualifications

Glossary of terms from the specification content

Accepted file formats

Accessing the set media product

Qualification Accredited Specification GCSE Media Studies Cambridge OCR Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Media Studies J200 For first assessment in 2025 Version 5.0 (April 2026) [ocr.org.uk/gcsemediastudies](ocr.org.uk/gcsemediastudies) i ~~ ~~AboutAs~~ ~~of~~ ~~Septeomurber2ne025w,~~ ~~ounamer~~ ~~name~~ ~~isCambridge~~ ~~OCR.~~ ~~ Students who sat an exam in summer 2025 will receive a Cambridge OCR branded exam certificate (our new brand), which will be the same for all future exam series. You’ll continue to see the OCR or Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations name while we work to update our material to our new name, Cambridge OCR. This will take some time, and you can still access all up-to-date qualification resources and materials via Teach Cambridge. Important: We’ll keep the OCR/Oxford Cambridge and RSA name on existing teaching resources while the content of these remains applicable to the specification being taught. New and refreshed resources will be produced using the Cambridge OCR name/logo. Are you using the latest version of this specification? The latest version of our specifications will always be on our website and may differ from printed versions. We will inform centres about changes to specifications. Tell us what you think Your feedback plays an important role in how we develop, market, support and resource qualifications now and into the future. We want you and your students to enjoy and get the best out of our qualifications and resources, but to do that we need your honest opinions to tell us whether we’re on the right track or not. You can email your thoughts [to](to support@ocr.org.uk or visit our feedback page to learn more about)[ ](to support@ocr.org.uk or visit our feedback page to learn more about)[support@ocr.org.uk](to support@ocr.org.uk or visit our feedback page to learn more about)[ or visit our](to support@ocr.org.uk or visit our feedback page to learn more about)[ ](to support@ocr.org.uk or visit our feedback page to learn more about)[feedback page](to support@ocr.org.uk or visit our feedback page to learn more about)[ to learn more about](to support@ocr.org.uk or visit our feedback page to learn more about) how you can help us improve our qualifications. Designing and testing in collaboration with teachers and students Helping young people develop an ethical view of the world Equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) are part of everything we do Contents | 1 | Why choose an OCR GCSE (9–1) in Media Studies? | 2 | | --- | --- | --- | | | 1a. Why choose an OCR qualification? | 2 | | | 1b. Why choose an OCR GCSE (9–1) in Media Studies? | 3 | | | 1c. What are the key features of this specification? | 4 | | | 1d. What is new in OCR’s GCSE (9–1) in Media Studies? | 4 | | | 1e. How do I find out more information? | 5 | | 2 | The specification overview | 6 | | | 2a. OCR’s GCSE (9–1) in Media Studies (J200) | 6 | | | 2b. Content of GCSE (9–1) in Media Studies (J200) | 10 | | | 2c. Content of Television and promoting media (01) | 13 | | | 2d. Content of Music and news (02) | 20 | | | 2e. Content of non-exam assessment content-Creating media (03/04) | 32 | | | 2f. Prior knowledge, learning and progression | 35 | | 3 | Assessment of GCSE (9–1) in Media Studies | 36 | | | 3a. Forms of assessment | 36 | | | 3b. Assessment Objectives (AO) | 40 | | | 3c. Total qualification time | 41 | | | 3d. Qualification availability outside of England | 41 | | | 3e. Language | 41 | | | 3f. Assessment availability | 41 | | | 3g. Retaking the qualification | 41 | | | 3h. Assessment of extended response | 41 | | | 3i. Internal assessment of non-exam assessment (NEA) | 41 | | | 3j. Synoptic learning and assessment | 48 | | | 3k. Calculating qualification results | 48 | | 4 | Admin: what you need to know | 49 | | | 4a. Pre-assessment | 49 | | | 4b. Special consideration | 50 | | | 4c. External assessment arrangements | 50 | | | 4d. Admin of non

FAQs

What qualification is covered by this specification and what is its first assessment date?

It covers Cambridge OCR Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Media Studies (J200), with first assessment in 2025.

What content areas are included in the GCSE Media Studies specification overview?

The overview includes content for Television and promoting media (01), Music and news (02), and non-exam assessment creating media (03/04), along with guidance on prior knowledge, learning, and progression.

How is non-exam assessment (NEA) administration and AI use addressed?

The document includes an administration section covering admin of non-exam assessment and a dedicated point on AI use in the NEA, alongside other assessment and results procedures.

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Sarah