A Level Media Studies Topics By Exam Board: Full List

Key Takeaways

• Three UK exam boards currently offer A Level Media Studies: AQA, Eduqas (including the Welsh offering, WJEC CBAC) and OCR

• Every exam board has the same theoretical framework, which covers four areas: media language, representation, industries and audiences

• You’ll learn about media products – also known as Close Study Products (CSPs) – drawn from nine media forms, including television, magazines, newspapers, video games and online media

• CSPs are exam board-specific and rotate every two to four years, so make sure you only study the media products on your exam board’s specification

• Use this list as your A Level Media Studies specification shortcut, so you can revise without the lengthy PDFs

With three different exam boards and specifications that range from around 35-80 pages, knowing exactly what you need to revise for A Level Media Studies can be hard.

While AQA, Eduqas and OCR all cover the same core content – four theoretical framework areas and nine media forms – the media products (also known as CSPs) are reviewed annually (AQA), periodically (Eduqas) or every three years (OCR).

To help you avoid wasting time revising content you won’t be tested on, we’ve put together a clear, up-to-date, exam board-specific guide for all the topics you need to revise.

How A Level Media Studies topics are structured

Every UK A Level Media Studies exam board uses the same theoretical framework, which covers four areas:

Media Language is how the media communicate meaning through forms, codes and conventions, such as different genres, layouts and camera angles.

Media Representation covers how the media portray events, issues, individuals and social groups, including the use of stereotypes and the portrayal of minority groups.

Media Industries looks at how media industries’ processes of production, distribution and circulation affect media forms and platforms, considering factors like regulation and new digital technologies.

Media Audiences examines how media forms target, reach and address audiences (such as using categories like age, gender and class),  and how audiences interpret and respond to them. It also explores how audiences become producers themselves, particularly through user-generated content.

You’ll apply these four areas to in-depth analysis of media products from up to nine media forms: television, film, radio, newspapers, magazines, advertising and marketing, online, social and participatory media, video games and music video. If you've taken GCSE Media Studies, you’ll notice that the same media forms apply at A Level.

Your exam board specifies which media products you need to study.

AQA A Level Media Studies topics

In addition to the broad coverage of all nine media forms, AQA A Level Media Studies 7572 (opens in a new tab) also requires in-depth study of at least one audio-visual, one print and one online social and participatory media form.

Note that AQA reviews its CSPs annually, and publishes the product list on a secure area of the AQA website on 1st June preceding the start of the course. Your teacher will have access to the relevant list too.

Listed below are AQA’s media products for 2026:

CSPs for 2026:

• Television: choose from Capital and Deutschland 83, The Responder and Lupin or No Offence and The Killing

• Film: Blinded by the Light (2019)

• Radio: The War of the Worlds (1938), BBC’s Newsbeat

• Newspapers: The Daily Mail, The Guardian

• Magazines: GQ, The Gentlewoman

• Advertising and marketing: Score (1967), Sephora’s Black Beauty Is Beauty

• Online, social and participatory media: Taylor Swift’s social media presence, The Voice

• Video games: The Sims FreePlay, Horizon Forbidden West

• Music videos: Old Town Road by Lil Nas X, Ghost Town by The Specials

AQA assesses students with two written exams (Media One and Media Two) plus a non-exam assessment (NEA). The NEA requires you to create a cross-media production made for an intended audience. Because the NEA briefs change annually, check with your teacher that you’re using the right one.

Eduqas A Level Media Studies topics

Alongside broad coverage of all nine media forms, Eduqas A Level Media Studies specification (opens in a new tab) also requires in-depth study of particular newspapers, magazines, television, and online, social and participatory media.

Since Eduqas reviews its media products periodically, check with your teacher to make sure you’re studying products from the correct list.

Listed below are Eduqas’s media products on the current specification (the September 2025 version):

Media Products:

• Television: choose from Peaky Blinders and The Bridge, Black Mirror and The Returned or Killing Eve and Tehran

• Film: Black Panther (2018), I, Daniel Blake (2016)

• Radio: BBC’s Woman’s Hour or Have You Heard George’s Podcast?

• Newspapers: Daily Mirror, 1st February 2022 – front page and article on ‘Partygate’ and The Times, 1st February 2022 – front page (for assessment in 2026 and 2027); Daily Mirror, 20th May 2025 – front page and article on UK-EU trade deal and The Times, 23rd July 2025 – front page (for assessment from 2028)

• Magazines: choose from Woman (23rd-29th August 1964) and Adbusters (May/June 2016, Vol. 23 No. 3), Woman’s Realm (7th-13th February 1965) and Huck (February/March 2016, Issue 54) or Vogue (July 1965) and The Big Issue (17th-23rd October 2016, No. 1227)

• Advertising and marketing: Tide (1950s), Super. Human. (Tokyo Paralympics, 2020), Kiss of the Vampire (1963) film poster

• Online, social and participatory media: one option from Group 1 (Zoe Sugg or JJ Olatunji/KSI) and one option from Group 2 (Thiiird or Attitude)

• Video games: Assassin’s Creed franchise

• Music videos: choose one from Group 1 (Formation by Beyoncé, Turntables by Janelle Monáe or Underdog by Alicia Keys) and one from Group 2 (Riptide by Vance Joy, Seventeen Going Under by Sam Fender or Little Bit of Love by Tom Grennan)

Eduqas’s assessment consists of two written exams (Component 1: Media Products, Industries and Audiences and Component 2: Media Forms and Products in Depth) plus the NEA (Component 3). The NEA involves creating a cross-media production based on two media forms and a choice of briefs set by the exam board. The production briefs change annually, so make sure you’re working with up-to-date NEA information.

WJEC CBAC A Level Media Studies topics

WJEC CBAC is part of Eduqas. While Eduqas is used in England, WJEC CBAC is for Wales.

The WJEC A Level Media Studies specification (opens in a new tab), like Eduqas, also requires in-depth coverage of certain media forms.

Since WJEC CBAC also reviews its media products periodically, check with your teacher to make sure you’re studying products from the correct list.

Listed below are WJEC CBAC’s media products on the current specification (the April 2024 version):

Media Products:

• Television: three complete television crime dramas, including Y Gwyll/Hinterland (Wales), Series 1, Episode 1 (2013); one European production from The Bridge (Denmark/Sweden), Season 1, Episode 1 (2012), The Disappearance (France), Series 1, Episode 1 (2015), The Killing (Denmark), Series 1, Episode 1 (2007) or Arne Dahl (Sweden), Series 2, Episode 1 (2015); and one UK production from Prime Suspect, Season 1, Episode 1 (1991), Touching Evil, Season 1, Episode 1 (1997), Morse, Season 8, Episode 1 (1995) or Cracker (Series 2, Episode 1)

• Film: choose from Don’t Knock Twice (2016) and Drag Me to Hell (2009), Submarine (2010) and Clueless (1995), The Machine (2013) and Blade Runner (1982), Y Llyfrgell/The Library Suicides (2016) and Shutter Island (2010) or Yr Ymadawiad/The Passing (2015) and The Village (2004)

• Radio: Today (BBC Radio 4), Radio Wales Drive (BBC Radio Wales) or Post Prynhawn (BBC Radio Cymru)

• Newspapers: The Guardian, The Daily Mirror or The Times

• Magazines: three magazines, including one historical magazine from Vogue (July 1965), Woman (23rd-29th August 1964) or Woman’s Realm (7th-13th February 1965); one contemporary mainstream magazine online from Cosmopolitan, Hello, Men’s Health or Vogue; and one contemporary non-mainstream magazine online from Adbusters, Attitude, Huck or Pride

• Video games: three contrasting video games, including two from the action-led franchises of Assassin’s Creed, Grand Theft Auto, Mass Effect and Tomb Raider; and one simulation or sandbox game out of Wii Sports, Cooking Mama, Minecraft and The Sims

Note that your teacher will choose examples of products from advertising and marketing, online, social and participatory media and music videos.

WJEC CBAC’s assessment structure is split into two AS units (a written exam for Unit 1 and the NEA for Unit 2) and two A2 units (a written exam for Unit 3 and the NEA for Unit 4). The A2 NEA involves creating a cross-media production based on a choice of briefs set by the exam board. The production briefs change annually, so make sure you’re working with up-to-date NEA information.

OCR A Level Media Studies topics

OCR A Level Media Studies (H409) (opens in a new tab) also requires in-depth study of various media products.

OCR reviews its media products every three years, so check with your teacher to make sure you’re studying products from the correct list.

Listed below are OCR’s media products on the current specification (the April 2026 version):

Media Products:

• Television: two complete episodes, one from Mr Robot, Killing Eve, Atypical or Stranger Things and one from Lupin, Money Heist, Trapped or Deutschland 83

• Film: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

• Radio: one complete episode of The BBC Radio One Breakfast Show

• Newspapers: two front covers and one complete edition of both The Daily Mail and The Guardian

• Magazines: two front covers of The Big Issue

• Advertising and marketing: River Island, Dove and Shelter posters

• Online, social and participatory media: at least two articles from both The Mail Online and The Guardian websites, and relevant Facebook, X and Instagram feeds from each news organisation where available

• Video games: Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020)

• Music videos: choose one from List A (Stop Where You Are by Corinne Bailey Rae, SUN GOES DOWN by Lil Nas x or Heaven by Emeli Sandé) and one from List B (Sugar by Sufjan Stevens, Burn the Witch by Radiohead or Titanium by David Guetta)

OCR consists of three components: two written exams (Media Messages and Evolving Media) and the NEA (Making Media). Like the other exam boards, OCR gives you a choice of briefs for the NEA. These briefs change every year, so check with your teacher to make sure you’re using the right one.

Choosing a board: where the differences matter

Most schools pick the exam board, but if you have any input or you're self-studying, consider the following:

Media product lists. AQA, Eduqas and OCR each set their own media products. Since you’ll have to analyse these specified products in a lot of detail, pick an exam board with ones that genuinely interest you.

The NEA. The cross-media production briefs vary by exam board. AQA’s briefs tend to be more open and creative – some include video games, for instance – while OCR particularly stresses the need for preparation and research before starting your NEA. Eduqas sits between the two.

AS availability. OCR is withdrawing its AS Level Media Studies qualification after the next academic year, meaning its final first teaching date is September 2026 (with the last assessment opportunity being June 2027). Keep this in mind if you’re considering taking AS Level Media.

If you need any more help choosing your A Level subjects, use our guide to A Level subjects explained.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Pearson Edexcel offer A Level Media Studies?

No. The three UK exam boards for A Level Media Studies are AQA, Eduqas (including the Welsh offering, WJEC CBAC) and OCR. If your school mentions "Edexcel Media", they most likely mean the Edexcel BTEC in Creative Media.

Is A Level Media Studies an easy A Level?

No. The "easy" reputation is outdated. You'll analyse media products using a broad theoretical framework, engage with the works of leading academics in complex areas like postmodernism, and work independently on a cross-media NEA.

To understand more about what makes an A Level ‘easy’, see our article on the easiest A Levels.

Do universities accept A Level Media Studies?

Yes! Most universities accept Media Studies as a full A Level. While it is not listed as one of the Russell Group universities’ ‘facilitating subjects’, it does pair well with one: English Literature. It is also a desirable qualification for university degrees in media, communication, journalism and the arts.

Our guide to A Level grades explained covers how grades convert to UCAS points.

How often do A Level Media Studies CSPs change?

It all depends on your exam board. AQA reviews its CSPs annually, Eduqas does it periodically, and OCR is every three years.

If you’re not sure which media products you should be studying, ask your teacher or check your exam board's latest specification on their website.

A Level revision can feel overwhelming, but with simplified specifications, it doesn’t have to be.

If A Level Media Studies is one of your subjects, confirm which exam board your school uses. Treat this article as a shortcut to a revision checklist, but always cross-check against the latest published specification before exam season.
For more on the subject overall, see our What Is A Level Media Studies? guide.