Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
35% of qualification
- This component assesses knowledge and understanding of three US films chosen from a range of options.
- Assessment consists of four questions on one pair of US mainstream films and one US independent film:
Section A: US film comparative study
- one stepped question on the first of the chosen pair of films (produced between 1930 and 1960)
- one stepped question on the second of the chosen pair of films (produced between 1961 and 1990)
- one question requiring a comparison of the chosen pair of films
Section A Films for Examination 2025
Learners must choose one of the following pairs of mainstream films for a comparative study:
- Dracula (Browning, USA, 1931), U and The Lost Boys (Schumacher, USA, 1987), 15
- Singin' in the Rain (Donen & Kelly, USA, 1952), U and Grease (Kleiser, USA, 1978), PG
- Pillow Talk (Gordon, USA, 1959), U and When Harry Met Sally (Reiner, USA, 1989), 15
- Rebel without a Cause (Ray, USA, 1955), PG and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (Hughes, USA, 1986), 12A
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Siegel, USA, 1956), PG and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial* (Spielberg, USA, 1982), U
Section B: Key developments in film and film technology
- one multi-part question on developments in film and film technology
Section C: US independent film
Section C Films for Examination 2025
Learners must choose one of the following independently produced films:
- Juno (Reitman, USA, 2007), 12
- The Hurt Locker (Bigelow, USA, 2008), 15
- Whiplash (Chazelle, USA, 2014), 15
- Ladybird (Gerwig, USA, 2017), 15
- The Hate U Give (Tillman Jr. USA, 2018), 12
