A-Level CAIE Media Studies: 2026 Exam Changes and Trends | A-Level CAIE 媒体:2026年考试变化与趋势

📚 A-Level CAIE Media Studies: 2026 Exam Changes and Trends | A-Level CAIE 媒体:2026年考试变化与趋势

The Cambridge International AS and A Level Media Studies syllabus (9607) is evolving for the 2026 examination series, with updated set products, a stronger focus on digital and social media, and refined assessment expectations. This article summarises the key changes and trends so that students can prepare effectively and align revision with the 2026 exam requirements.

剑桥国际 AS 与 A Level 媒体研究(9607)在 2026 年考试季迎来新变化,包括更新设定媒体产品、更重视数字与社交媒体,以及评估要求更加精细。本文梳理主要变化与趋势,帮助考生有针对性地备考,贴合 2026 年考试要求。

1. 2026 CAIE Media Studies Update at a Glance | 2026年CAIE媒体研究考试更新概览

For the 2026 examination series, CAIE has updated the 9607 Media Studies syllabus to reflect current media industries and academic debates. While the overall four-component structure of AS and A Level remains stable, students will notice new set products, revised wording in assessment objectives, and increased emphasis on digital, participatory and global media.

在 2026 年考试季,CAIE 已更新 9607 媒体研究大纲,以反映当下的媒体产业与学术讨论。虽然 AS 与 A Level 四大考核结构整体保持稳定,但考生会看到新的设定产品、评估目标措辞的调整,以及对数字媒体、参与式媒体和全球媒体的更多强调。

The four components are still Component 1 Foundation Portfolio, Component 2 Media Texts and Contexts, Component 3 Advanced Portfolio, and Component 4 Critical Perspectives. The 2026 update is not a complete rewrite, but it does change the material and analytical emphasis enough to require an updated revision plan.

四大考核部分仍为:第一部分基础作品集、第二部分媒体文本与语境、第三部分高阶作品集和第四部分批判性视角。2026 年的更新并非彻底重写,但所考核的材料与分析重点变化足够大,考生必须调整复习计划。


2. Updated Set Media Products | 更新后的设定媒体产品清单

The most visible change for 2026 is the updated list of set media products. CAIE replaces some older products with contemporary examples across newspapers, magazines, advertising, music video, television, online news and social media campaigns. Students must study the latest set product list rather than relying on previous years’ notes.

2026 年最直观的变化是设定媒体产品清单的更新。CAIE 用当代案例替换了部分旧产品,涵盖报纸、杂志、广告、音乐视频、电视、在线新闻和社交媒体活动。考生必须研读最新设定产品清单,而不能继续依赖往年笔记。

Typical 2026 set products may include a major news website homepage, a global streaming television episode, a mainstream music video, a brand advertising campaign, and a social media campaign across Instagram or TikTok. Exact products should be confirmed against the official Cambridge 9607 syllabus for 2026.

2026 年常见设定产品可能包括主流新闻网站首页、全球化流媒体剧集、主流音乐视频、品牌广告活动,以及跨 Instagram 或 TikTok 的社交媒体活动。具体产品应以剑桥 9607 官方 2026 年大纲为准。

Centres must check the Cambridge International website for the 2026 set product list and any supporting notes, as some products may be region-specific or subject to copyright-based substitution. Using an outdated list is one of the most common avoidable errors in this syllabus.

各考试中心必须查看剑桥国际官网上的 2026 年设定产品清单及配套说明,因为部分产品可能因地区或版权原因被替换。使用过时清单是本大纲考生最容易犯、也最可以避免的错误之一。


3. Component 2 Media Texts and Contexts | 第二部分:媒体文本与语境

Component 2, the written paper for AS and A Level, asks candidates to analyse media language, representation, audience and industry using the set products and unseen texts. In 2026, questions are likely to pair a set product with an unseen digital text to test transferable analytical skills.

第二部分是 AS 与 A Level 的笔试,要求考生运用设定产品与陌生文本,分析媒体语言、表征、受众与产业。2026 年的题目很可能将设定产品与一篇数字陌生文本组合,以考查可迁移的分析能力。

Students should practise comparing a print magazine extract with a website home page, or a television sequence with a short social video. The examiner expects precise terminology, close reference to mise-en-scène, editing, layout, typography and multimodal codes.

考生应练习将印刷杂志片段与网站首页进行对比,或将电视片段与短视频进行对比。考官期待精确的术语运用,以及对场面调度、剪辑、版式、字体和多模态符码的细致引用。

For media language questions, always connect a visual or linguistic choice to a possible meaning. For example, a high-angle shot may construct a character as vulnerable, but you must also explain how editing or sound reinforces or challenges that reading. Avoid feature-spotting without interpretation.

在回答媒体语言题时,一定要把视觉或语言选择与可能的含义联系起来。例如,俯拍镜头可能将人物建构为弱势,但你还必须解释剪辑或声音如何强化或挑战这一解读。避免只罗列特征而不做诠释。


4. Component 4 Critical Perspectives | 第四部分:批判性视角

Component 4, the second written paper for A Level, focuses on media debates, theories and global media. The 2026 update encourages stronger engagement with digital platforms, datafication, algorithmic culture, media regulation, and the relationship between global formats and local adaptations.

第四部分是 A Level 的第二份笔试,聚焦媒体争论、理论与全球媒体。2026 年更新鼓励考生更深入讨论数字平台、数据化、算法文化、媒体监管,以及全球格式与本土改编之间的关系。

Candidates should not merely describe theories; they must evaluate how far a theory explains a contemporary media phenomenon and use opposing arguments. For example, a question on audience may invite discussion of uses and gratifications alongside critical concerns about passive consumption or algorithmic influence.

考生不应只描述理论,而要评估理论在多大程度上能解释当代媒体现象,并使用对立论点。例如,关于受众的题目可能要求同时讨论使用与满足理论,以及被动消费或算法影响的批判性担忧。

Typical 2026 debates include whether citizen journalism has improved democratic participation, whether global streaming platforms erode local cultural identity, and whether regulation can keep pace with social media. Prepare evidence from at least two set products and one familiar recent example for each debate.

2026 年常见争论包括:公民新闻是否改善了民主参与、全球流媒体平台是否侵蚀本土文化认同、监管能否跟上社交媒体的发展。为每个争论准备至少两个设定产品和一个熟悉的近期案例作为证据。


5. Digital Media and Social Media Weighting | 数字媒体与社交媒体的权重增加

A clear 2026 trend is the higher weighting of digital and social media in both exam papers and non-exam assessment. Students need to know how social media platforms construct feeds, how influencers generate engagement, and how user-generated content challenges traditional producer-consumer boundaries.

2026 年的一个明显趋势是数字媒体与社交媒体在笔试和非考试评估中的权重提高。学生需要了解社交媒体平台如何构建信息流、网红如何制造互动,以及用户生成内容如何挑战传统的生产者与消费者边界。

Key concepts include algorithmic personalisation, echo chambers, participatory culture, networked publics, platform capitalism and data privacy. Revision should link these concepts to concrete case studies from the 2026 set products and familiar global platforms.

关键概念包括算法个性化、信息茧房、参与式文化、网络化公众、平台资本主义与数据隐私。复习时应将这些概念与 2026 年设定产品中的具体案例以及熟悉的全球平台联系起来。

To revise digital concepts, create a glossary of terms such as ‘algorithm’, ‘platform’, ‘hashtag activism’, ‘virality’, ‘influencer marketing’ and ‘datafication’, with a short definition and one real-world example for each. This will give you ready-to-use evidence in the exam.

复习数字概念时,可以制作一份术语表,包括“算法”“平台”“标签行动主义”“病毒式传播”“网红营销”“数据化”等,每个术语写一条简短定义和一个真实案例。这样在考试中就有现成的证据可用。


6. Media Theories and Critical Frameworks | 媒体理论与批判框架

The 2026 syllabus continues to expect named theorists and critical frameworks. Useful starting points include Barthes and semiotics, Hall and representation, Blumler and Katz for uses and gratifications, Curran and Seaton for media power, Hesmondhalgh for cultural industries, and Livingstone and Lunt for regulation.

2026 年大纲继续要求掌握指定理论家与批判框架。实用的起点包括巴特的符号学、霍尔的表征理论、布卢姆勒与卡茨的使用与满足理论、柯伦与西顿的媒体权力理论、赫斯蒙德哈尔什的文化产业理论,以及利文斯通与伦特的监管理论。

In 2026, students should also engage with newer perspectives such as platformisation, data-driven media, algorithmic gatekeeping and the attention economy. These debates are increasingly used to assess AO2 evaluation and independent judgement.

2026 年,考生还应关注平台化、数据驱动媒体、算法把关和注意力经济等较新视角。这些争论越来越多地用于考查 AO2 评估与独立判断能力。

A common weakness is treating theory as a label rather than an argument. Instead of saying ‘this product uses Uses and Gratifications’, write ‘this product offers diversion and personal identity, which supports Blumler and Katz, but the algorithm also restricts active choice, complicating the theory’.

一个常见弱点是只把理论当作标签,而不是论证。不要写“这个产品使用了使用与满足理论”,而应写“这个产品提供了消遣与个人认同,这支持布卢姆勒与卡茨的理论,但算法也限制了主动选择,使该理论变得复杂”。


7. Assessment Objective Refinements | 评估目标调整

CAIE has refined the wording of assessment objectives, placing greater value on evaluation and critical application rather than

Published by TutorHao | A-Level 媒体 Revision Series | aleveler.com

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