What’s the NEA?

The “Creating Media” Coursework

The Creating Media project (specification code J200/03/04) is your practical coursework, worth 30% of your GCSE grade. It’s internally marked by your teacher and externally moderated by OCR—scored out of 30 and then weighted up to 60 marks.Save My Exams+15OCR+15OCR+15

What you’ll do:

• You will do the Magazine design released every year on 1 March for submission the following year.

  • OCR+8OCR+8OCR+8gcsemediastudieswlp.wordpress.com+1OCR+1

You’ll need to create a media product aimed at a clearly defined audience (either 10–13 or 14–18-year-olds), using media language, representation, production style and audience address from the theoretical framework.

gcsemediastudieswlp.wordpress.com+5OCR+5OCR+5

What’s included:

• A statement of intent outlining your creative and theoretical approach

• Your final media product produced independently (though you may log any help from unassessed peers)

• OCR+5support.ocr.org.uk+5Save My Exams+5OCR+9OCR+9OCR+9

• Completed OCR coursework coversheets and centre authentication forms (e.g. CCS160 form) before submission

• OCR+5support.ocr.org.uk+5gcsemediastudieswlp.wordpress.com+5

How it’s assessed:

Assessment focuses on four key areas:

1. Media language — How you use codes, conventions and style

2. Representation — How images/language construct meaning

3. Audience address — Tone and targeting for your chosen group

4. Realisation of the brief & production quality — How well you deliver the NEA requirementsOCR+5support.ocr.org.uk+5Save My Exams+5OCR+4OCR+4gcsemediastudieswlp.wordpress.com+4

You’ll be judged using the official mark scheme in your specification (pages 44–47) and the brief’s indicative content, but you don’t need to include everything—it’s a set of guiding ideas, not mandatory requirements.support.ocr.org.uk

Why should you care?

• It’s your chance to combine theory with creativity and apply what you’ve learned.

• Well‑executed coursework can boost your overall GCSE grade significantly.

• OCR allows submission of prototypes with supporting evidence if you haven’t completed a full production—perfect if time or resources are tight.OCR+4OCR+4OCR+4OCR

Timeline Snapshot:

TaskDeadline

OCR publishes NEA briefs1 March annually

Research, planning & developmentYear 10–Year 11

Final submissionFollowing summer exam series

.OCR+15OCR+15support.ocr.org.uk+15OCR+1support.ocr.org.uk+1gcsemediastudieswlp.wordpress.com

 Want to do well? Tips:

• Read the brief carefully and align your creative choices to your intended audience.

• Use consistent style—house fonts, layout, colour palette, tone.

• Document your process clearly in your statement of intent.

• Review how the examiners will mark each area (language, representation, audience, realisation) and aim to address all four.

In short:
The NEA lets you design and produce real media—from a magazine spread to a video—using the skills and theory you’ve learned. Well thought-through planning, clear intention, and polished production make for strong marks—and a personal project you can be proud of.