Use of non-original material — AQA GCSE Media Studies
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Use of non-original material explained
This guidance outlines the strict requirement for original content creation in the non-exam assessment (NEA).
Read the full explanation
Students must generate all their own images, footage, and text for their media products. The only permitted exception is musical performances. If a student includes non-original visual or written elements, such as stock photos or copied articles, their marks will be capped according to the marking criteria. Any non-original material, including permitted music, must be explicitly declared on the Candidate Record Form. For example, if creating a magazine cover, the student must take the main photograph themselves rather than downloading an image from the internet.
Your focus
- Identify the types of media content that must be originally created for the non-exam assessment.
- Explain the consequences of including non-original images, footage, or text in a media product.
- Complete a Candidate Record Form accurately by declaring any permitted non-original material.
Use of non-original material exam tips
Examiner Tips
- 💡Plan your production schedule to ensure you have enough time to shoot all original photography and video footage required for your brief.
- 💡Keep a detailed production log of all the original assets you create, which will help you verify your work and complete the Candidate Record Form accurately.
- 💡If you are unsure whether an element counts as original, consult your teacher before including it in your final media product to avoid unexpected mark caps.
Common Mistakes
- Misunderstanding: Students believe they can use a few stock images as long as they edit them. Correction: All images, footage, and text must be entirely original; using edited stock images will limit marks.
- Misunderstanding: Students think they only need to declare non-original material if it forms the main part of the product. Correction: Every piece of non-original material, no matter how small, must be acknowledged on the Candidate Record Form.
- Misunderstanding: Students assume that using non-original text for background articles in a magazine is acceptable. Correction: All text must be created by the student, and using copied text will result in a penalty under the marking criteria.