In terms 1 & 2 students prepare for and complete the Pearson Set Assignment (PSA) for Component 1: Exploring Media products. Two PSAs are released each academic year for each coursework component, and each PSA has their own theme, which students must address in their work. Component 1 comprises of two parts:

• Task 1 - Investigate Media Products. Students choose media products from each of the three media sectors - publishing, moving image/audio and interactive, with one product from pre-2000. Students analyse the purpose and audience for each product and how producers target their intended audience.

• Task 2 - Explore how media products are created to provide meaning and engage audiences. Students focus on media from one sector and explore genre codes and conventions, narrative, representation and production techniques, analysing how they engage, and are interpreted by, different audiences.

In Term 3, students prepare for Component 2: Developing Digital Media Production Skills.

In the example of Component 1 given below, students must investigate media using the theme of 'the action-adventure genre'.

Term 1 consists of continuing to develop skills for Component 2: Developing Digital Media Production Skills. Students generate ideas and produce planning material for their own media product based on a brief in the PSA, including ideas linked to the theme of the PSA. Students create material and assets for their product, before producing it using relevant media software. During the course of their work, students must reflect on their processes, evaluating strengths and areas for improvement. In the example given below for Component 2, students must create a media product that is "innovative".

Component 3 is comprised of three elements completed under exam conditions over 9 hours in which they plan and produce a media product based on a brief set by Pearson. The exam elements are:

1. Ideas log (2 hours)

2. Planning Material (3 hours)

3. Final Product (4 hours)

Prior to the first exam element, students can carry out independent research on existing products based on the brief. The information from the research should be referred to in students' ideas logs. In the second exam element, students have access to their ideas logs to help with the planning material. Between exam 2 and 3, students have time to collate material and create assets etc. ready for their final product.