Give Your Students the Chance to Sit in the Director’s Chair with MN Awards Filmmaking Grades
The first ever graded exams in Filmmaking — designed for classrooms, not film sets.
From step-by-step resources to a complete curriculum, everything you need to start teaching filmmaking with confidence.
Exam Content & Assessment
While MN Filmmaking grades assess each learner’s ability to plan, shoot, and edit their own projects, collaboration remains central to the process, reflecting the teamwork at the heart of professional film production. At the core of the curriculum is the development of each learner’s creative voice — honing their point of view as a director while building essential technical filmmaking skills along the way.
From Level 1’s guided one-shot exercises to Level 3’s independently produced short films, every stage of the qualification builds towards a deeper understanding of how individual creativity fits within a collective production process. This ensures learners build both the practical skills and the collaborative mindset essential for success in the Film & TV industry.
Results & Certification
We’re committed to a smooth and reliable turnaround. Each exam is carefully reviewed and quality-assured before results are released, with digital certificates issued within two weeks of submission. Every certificate carries the same official recognition as a printed version, just faster, greener, and easier to share.
As part of our sustainability pledge, we plant a tree for every exam entered, meaning every achievement contributes to a growing global impact. Our two-week turnaround ensures learners are recognised promptly while helping keep the creative industries and the planet thriving.
Marking & Attainment Bands
Each task within every graded examination is accompanied by a comprehensive set of assessment criteria, organised into the following categories:
Audience
Engagement & Knowledge
Technical
Each task within the graded examinations is defined by specific assessment criteria, each is assigned a maximum score. Upon the conclusion of the exam, the average score for each criterion is calculated and subsequently summed to determine the total marks and the resulting percentage. This structured approach ensures that learners are evaluated equitably, utilising evidence-based decision-making to maintain the integrity and fairness of the assessment process.
OVERALL PERCENTAGE
0 – 32%
56 – 85%
86 – 100%
33 – 55%
STANDARD NOT YET ATTAINED
PASS
DISTINCTION
GRADE AWARDED
MERIT
GRADE
GRADE 1
GRADE 2
GRADE 3
GRADE 4
GRADE 5
GRADE 6
GRADE 7
GRADE 8
MIN AGE
APPROX 8+
APPROX 8+
APPROX 8+
APPROX 12+
APPROX 12+
APPROX 14+
APPROX 14+
APPROX 14+
COST
£38.00
£42.00
£46.00
£53.00
£58.00
£63.00
£73.00
£83.00
Inspiring the Next Generation of Creators
In 2025, young people are creating more content than ever — from YouTube to TikTok, filmmaking has become their language of expression. MN Filmmaking qualifications channel that creativity into structured, project-based learning that teaches students to plan, shoot, and edit their own stories with purpose.
Introducing Film Production opens the door to a different type of learner. The creative problem-solver, the visual storyteller, the student who thrives behind the camera. It strengthens students’ passion for Film & TV while offering an alternative to traditional stage productions, giving students a tangible project to be proud of at the end of term.
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Attract & retain learners with something new and industry-relevant.
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Stand out from nearby academies with a clear screen pathway.
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Support your team with training and practical resources.
UCAS & UCAS POINTS
Ofqual-Regulated Screen Acting Grades and UCAS Points
Our Filmmaking Grades are regulated by Ofqual, ensuring that our Level 3 qualifications carry UCAS points. This accreditation aids learners in progressing into higher education by providing recognised credentials that universities value.
Understanding UCAS and UCAS Points
UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is the UK's central organisation responsible for managing applications to undergraduate courses at universities and colleges. UCAS points are a numerical system used to measure the relative value of post-16 qualifications, such as A-levels and BTECs. Points are allocated based on the grades achieved, enabling universities to assess and compare applicants effectively for their undergraduate programmes.
MN Qualifications That Carry UCAS Points
Our Level 3 Filmmaking Grades carry UCAS points. By completing these qualifications, learners earn points that enhance their university applications, providing a competitive edge in the admissions process. This integration of UCAS points into our qualifications underscores our commitment to supporting learners' academic and professional aspirations within the film and television industries.
QUALIFICATION
PASS
MERIT
DISTINCTION
Filmmaking Grade 6
8 UCAS POINTS
PASS
8 UCAS POINTS
MERIT
10 UCAS POINTS
DISTINCTION
12 UCAS POINTS
10 UCAS POINTS
12 UCAS POINTS
Filmmaking Grade 7
12 UCAS POINTS
14 UCAS POINTS
16 UCAS POINTS
Filmmaking Grade 8
24 UCAS POINTS
27 UCAS POINTS
30 UCAS POINTS
PASS
12 UCAS POINTS
MERIT
14 UCAS POINTS
DISTINCTION
16 UCAS POINTS
PASS
24 UCAS POINTS
MERIT
27 UCAS POINTS
DISTINCTION
30 UCAS POINTS
UCAS POINTS
QUALIFICATION & UCAS POINTS
Screen Acting Grade 6
PASS
8 UCAS POINTS
MERIT
10 UCAS POINTS
DISTINCTION
12 UCAS POINTS
Screen Acting Grade 7
PASS
12 UCAS POINTS
MERIT
14 UCAS POINTS
DISTINCTION
16 UCAS POINTS
Screen Acting Grade 8
PASS
24 UCAS POINTS
MERIT
27 UCAS POINTS
DISTINCTION
30 UCAS POINTS
Recognised. Specialist. A decade in the making.
MN Awards is the first Ofqual-recognised awarding body specialising in Film & TV. Building on the success of our Screen Acting grades, we’ve now produced the first ever graded exams in Filmmaking. Together, these qualifications open the door to a wider range of learners — building real skills, nurturing creative ambition, and laying the foundations for the future of the Film & TV industry in the UK.
"Adding Screen Acting with MN Awards kept our senior groups full and gave us a clear point of difference."
Sarah Hitchen - Director of Drama First
Effortless Assessment
Uploaded films are externally assessed by an mN examiner. Means no minimum learner requirements!
Free Online Resources
Access to extensive lesson plans & classroom resources.
Online Exam System
Online teacher portal for easy submission.
No Min Learner Requirements
Clear guidance on facilitating coursework & engaging students.
Ofqual Recognised
Qualifications recognised within Ofqual’s framework.
Get Started in Three Simple Steps
Get Free Class Plans
Top up your toolkit today
Register Your School (Free)
Access the portal and resources.
Book CPD Training
Turn teachers into filmmakers.
MN Awards Membership & Exams Overview
Member & Centre Status | Free Access, 24/7 Submission
When you register with MN Awards, you’re automatically granted Member Status — giving you full, free access to our Filmmaking syllabus, teaching guidance, and coursework submission portal. Both Members and Centres can deliver Filmmaking qualifications and submit coursework at any time, once they’ve signed the Terms & Conditions for facilitating coursework.
Each coursework submission follows three simple steps:
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Register learners and complete the Intent-to-Submit form (ideally at the start of term).
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Prepare and record learner projects following the MN Filmmaking Specification and Teacher Handbook guidance.
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Upload your film to your preferred platform (YouTube, Vimeo, Google Drive, etc.), submit the link and pay for the exam — our examiner will assess the learner’s work and send results digitally.
There’s no minimum number of learners per session, so you can enter one student or an entire class.
Flexible Coursework Entry
MN Awards keeps things simple. Members and Centres can submit coursework at any time during the academic year, choosing a pace that suits their teaching schedule — from short-term projects to full-year study.
MN Awards does not impose a minimum number of learners, allowing you to book a single exam or multiple exams simultaneously to suit your needs.
Simple Digital Submission
Filmmaking qualifications are 100% digital and coursework-based.
Teachers simply upload films to their chosen hosting platform, submit the link via the MN Portal, and pay for the exam. Our examiners assess learner work remotely and issue digital results — no live exams, no editing, no manual uploads.
Teacher Support & Guidance
All registered teachers gain access to a complete suite of support materials designed to make teaching filmmaking straightforward and inspiring:
Extensive guidance alongside the specification, covering every grade and task in detail.
Complete lesson plans that can enrich your existing provision or form a full scheme of work — all mapped directly to our Filmmaking Specification.
Classroom resources to aid delivery, including scripts, terminology sheets, creative starting points, and video examples ready to show in class.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, our team is always on hand to help – just get in touch directly.
Free Resources?
Grab some free simple to follow Class Plans that students love, kick-start your filmmaking journey now.
We'll email you a free MN Lesson plan pack. A set of original, ready-to-go plans with teacher guidance notes and exam alignment, taken from our Filmmaking Resource Bank (free to access once you register).
