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Give Your Students the Chance to Sit in the Director’s Chair with MN Awards Filmmaking Grades

The first ever graded exams (Levels 1-3, Grades 1-8) in Filmmaking - designed for classrooms, not film sets. For students aged 8+.

From step-by-step resources to a complete curriculum, everything you need to start teaching filmmaking with confidence. 

Exam Content & Assessment

Worried about budgets or technical barriers? Don't be, this is filmmaking for everyone.

Introduction: MN's Filmmaking Grades turn "screen time" into a disciplined craft. We’ve stripped away the need for intimidating, expensive equipment to focus on what matters: the story. Our curriculum is designed to be taught with whatever camera you have available - including the smartphones your students already use.

 

Creativity Without Barriers:

  • Zero-Budget Innovation: We teach the fun and beauty of DIY solutions. From using practical lights to shape a scene's mood, to layering sound effects recorded on phones, students learn that creativity solves problems better than money can.

For Primary Ages: We focus on "The Audience’s Eye." At this level, the technology becomes invisible, allowing the camera to act simply as a creative extension of the performance. Students learn through movement and fun, physical challenges - like the "One-Shot" film - allowing them to focus entirely on acting, blocking, and collaboration without getting bogged down in complex editing software.

For Young Adults: We focus on "The Director’s Vision." This stage sharpens the learner's artistic eye, proving that a compelling thriller or moving drama is defined by craft, not expensive gear. Students explore genre, intentional lighting, and sound design to create sophisticated, edited short films. The result is a tangible portfolio defined by their Authorial Voice - perfect for those looking to enter the industry or higher education.

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

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Turn Screen Time into Screen Skills

In 2025, filmmaking is the language of young people. MN Filmmaking qualifications channel that creative energy into structured, project-based learning - teaching students to create with purpose.

A Powerful Differentiator: For your school or academy, offering Film Production is a statement of intent. Whether you are looking to justify tuition fees or enrich your curriculum, this qualification keeps your provision fresh, relevant, and distinctive in a competitive landscape.

Real Industry Experience: MN isn’t just an awarding body; we are rooted in production. With our parent company, Middleweek Newton, producing feature films for platforms like Netflix and Amazon, we understand the process from the inside out. We know exactly what skills the modern industry demands because our team has applied them.

Engage a New Type of Learner: Filmmaking opens the door to the student who thrives behind the camera: the visual storyteller and the creative problem-solver. It offers a tangible, exciting alternative to traditional stage work, ensuring every student creates a project to be proud of.

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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

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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

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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.

Effortless Assessment

Just upload your students’ films and click submit.

Register Free. Get Instant Access.

No minimum Learner Requirements. No commitment.

Teachers will be able to submit Filmmaking grades from January 2026.

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.

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Register for FREE

Register for free and gain instant access to over 50 ready-to-use MN class plans - everything you need to start teaching today.

Check Out Our CPD Training

Book a CPD session to fast-track your skills and gain the practical confidence to deliver filmmaking grades effectively.

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Be the First

Get Started in Two Simple Ways

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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:

  1. Register learners and complete the Intent-to-Submit form (ideally at the start of term).

  2. Prepare and record learner projects following the MN Filmmaking Specification and Teacher Handbook guidance.

  3. 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.

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