AQA GCSE EXAM PLC 2017: TV GAME SHOWS
How confident do you feel?
RED/ AMBER/GREEN
The Exam
Number of Questions, type of questions (eg written, practical etc)
Mark Scheme
Timings of the exam and working under timed conditions
What is a pitch and how to write one
How to make your pitch persuasive and memorable
How to tackle the knowledge / bullet point based question
Different ways of presenting your answers in the exam
What is the preliminary material and why it is important
How to show your understanding of the preliminary material in your answers
Genre, Narrative The conventions of TV Game Shows in general (eg mise-en-scene, sound, editing,
& Language
camera, particpants, presenters, structure, format etc.)
Different subgenres of TV Game Shows (Language, mathematical, puzzle, physical,
panel, general knowledge, dating)
The conventions (common features) of these different subgenres (e.g. how do they
differ in the way they are put together? Why?)
Applying narrative theories such as Barthes' Enigma Codes, Levi Strauss's binary
opposites / conflict, Propp's hero on a quest, Todorov's 3 part narrative structure
etc to TV Game show formats - what do these elements add to a show and why do
they appeal?
Audiences
Who watches / doesn’t watch the different types of TV Game Shows
Reasons why people watch / don’t watch TV Game Shows
Theories about why people watch TV Game Shows (Uses & Gratifications)
Facts or statistics about audience figures for different TV Game Shows (most
popular, least popular and why audiences liked them / didn’t like them)
How TV Game Shows try and keep existing audiences and engage new ones
(including examples)
Representation
The way that TV Game Shows often represent contestants (plus reasons and
examples)
The way that TV Game Shows often represent presenters (plus reasons and
examples)
Applying Propp's Character theory of heroes / villains / prize / donor / dispatcher to
TV Game Shows - why these characters are used, why they appeal etc..
Institutions
Key Information about the main TV Channelseg BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, SKY, etc
(how they function, funding, their reputations and values, most popular Game
Shows..)
The differences between big budget, mainstream, prime time game shows and low
budget, non prime time, niche game shows.
Differences between Public Service Broadcasting and Commercial broadcasting and
the impact this has on programming / game shows
Regulation of TV Channels eg Ofcom, and how this impacts Game Shows, including
examples of scandals such as Telephone Voting, Exploitation of contestants etc..
Titles / Opening
Sequences
The conventions (using key terminology) of the titles / opening sequences of
different TV Game Shows
Examples of opening sequences / titles, including how they engage the audience /
what they connote
Ideas about how opening sequences differ, depending on the audience, sub genre,
institution etc
How to storyboard your own titles / opening sequence for a TV Game Show
Posters / Print
The conventions (using key terminology) of posters / print ads / Print Articles / Print
magazine covers for TV Game Shows
Ideas about how print products for TV Game Shows differ depending on sub genre,
audience, budget etc
Pros and cons of using print products to help to market TV Game Shows
Examples of successful / unsuccessful print products for TV Game Shows
How to draw diferent print products in the exam for your own TV Game Show
RED/ AMBER/GREEN
Trailers / Promos The conventions (using key terminology) of promos of TV Game Shows
Pros and cons of using moving image to help to market TV Game Shows
Ideas about how promos differ depending on subgenre, budget, audience etc
Examples of successful / unsuccessful TV Game Show promos
How to do a storyboard for a TV Game Show promo in the exam
Websites
Social Media
Apps / Games /
Other
The conventions (using key terminology) of TV Game Show websites
Pros and cons of having a website to market a TV Game Show
Examples of successful / unsuccessful TV Game Show websites
Ideas about how websites for TV Game Shows differ depending on subgenre,
audience, budget etc
How to draw a TV Game Show website in the exam
The conventions (using key terminology) of social networking sites used to market
TV Game Shows
Pros and cons of using social networking sites to promote TV Game Shows
Ideas about how social media use for TV Game Shows differ depending on the
subgenre, audience, budget etc
Examples of social media use used by real channels for their game shows
How to discuss your own ideas for social media ideas for TV Game shows in the
exam
The conventions and use of apps and computer games for TV Game Shows -, their
purpose, examples, and effectiveness
TV Game Show board games – their purpose, examples and effectiveness in
marketing
Other Merchandise – toys, action figures, clothing, music – purpose, examples,
effectiveness
Spin offs – eg celebrity specials, kids specials, Christmas specials, etc – purpose,
examples and effectiveness