Film subject report · May 2016

May 2016 extended essay reports Page 1 Film Overall grade boundaries Grade: E D C B A Mark range: 0 - 7 8 - 15 16 - 22 23 - 28 29 - 36 The range and suitability of the work submitted There was a relatively wide range of work presented but of concern is the number of candidates wi th marks in the D/E boundary. Most of the essays were predictable responses to very commonplace topics. However, there were essays that reflected thorough knowledge and engagement with topics that were chosen with great care and thought. The best essays reflected intellectual flair enlivened by substantial research, mature analysis and a real understanding of the subject language required for a Film Extended Essay. A significant minority of the topics chosen were not sufficiently concerned with film. The candidates used film as a starting point to discuss other topics. In some cases topics classed as Film essays would have been more suitably classed as English Literature, Social Anthropology or History. This most frequently occurred when a candidate had not undertaken the Film course and when neither the student nor their supervisor were aware of what properly constituted an appropriate topic or appropriate research for film as a subject. Where suitable topics were chosen the most prominent weakness was the i nclusion of far too much superficial description or narrative summary. Many essays were written with the enthusiastic engagement of a film fan but lacked academic substance. Using appropriate film terminology and focusing upon how film constructs meaning