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🧬 GCSE Design and Technology

AQA Pearson Edexcel OCR Eduqas CCEA

Complete revision notes for GCSE Design and Technology covering all topics across AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA specifications.

Design And Technology — AQA (24 Topics)

DT1 New And Emerging Technologies DT10 Ferrous And Non Ferrous Metals DT11 Thermoplastics And Thermosets DT12 Textiles And Fibres DT13 Composites And Smart Materials DT14 Electronic And Electrical Components DT15 Selection Of Materials And Components DT16 Forces And Stresses On Materials DT17 Improving Functionality DT18 Finishing Techniques DT19 Manufacturing Processes DT2 Energy Generation And Storage DT20 Investigating Design Contexts DT21 Developing And Communicating Ideas DT22 Selecting And Working With Materials DT23 Nea Coursework Guide DT24 Exam Technique And Preparation DT3 Developments In New Materials DT4 Systems Approach To Designing DT5 Mechanical Devices DT6 Materials And Their Working Properties DT7 Environmental Ecological And Social Issues DT8 Papers And Boards DT9 Natural And Manufactured Timber

Design And Technology — Pearson Edexcel (24 Topics)

DT1 New And Emerging Technologies DT10 Ferrous And Non Ferrous Metals DT11 Thermoplastics And Thermosets DT12 Textiles And Fibres DT13 Composites And Smart Materials DT14 Electronic And Electrical Components DT15 Selection Of Materials And Components DT16 Forces And Stresses On Materials DT17 Improving Functionality DT18 Finishing Techniques DT19 Manufacturing Processes DT2 Energy Generation And Storage DT20 Investigating Design Contexts DT21 Developing And Communicating Ideas DT22 Selecting And Working With Materials DT23 Nea Coursework Guide DT24 Exam Technique And Preparation DT3 Developments In New Materials DT4 Systems Approach To Designing DT5 Mechanical Devices DT6 Materials And Their Working Properties DT7 Environmental Ecological And Social Issues DT8 Papers And Boards DT9 Natural And Manufactured Timber

Design And Technology — OCR (24 Topics)

DT1 New And Emerging Technologies DT10 Ferrous And Non Ferrous Metals DT11 Thermoplastics And Thermosets DT12 Textiles And Fibres DT13 Composites And Smart Materials DT14 Electronic And Electrical Components DT15 Selection Of Materials And Components DT16 Forces And Stresses On Materials DT17 Improving Functionality DT18 Finishing Techniques DT19 Manufacturing Processes DT2 Energy Generation And Storage DT20 Investigating Design Contexts DT21 Developing And Communicating Ideas DT22 Selecting And Working With Materials DT23 Nea Coursework Guide DT24 Exam Technique And Preparation DT3 Developments In New Materials DT4 Systems Approach To Designing DT5 Mechanical Devices DT6 Materials And Their Working Properties DT7 Environmental Ecological And Social Issues DT8 Papers And Boards DT9 Natural And Manufactured Timber

Design And Technology — Eduqas (24 Topics)

DT1 New And Emerging Technologies DT10 Ferrous And Non Ferrous Metals DT11 Thermoplastics And Thermosets DT12 Textiles And Fibres DT13 Composites And Smart Materials DT14 Electronic And Electrical Components DT15 Selection Of Materials And Components DT16 Forces And Stresses On Materials DT17 Improving Functionality DT18 Finishing Techniques DT19 Manufacturing Processes DT2 Energy Generation And Storage DT20 Investigating Design Contexts DT21 Developing And Communicating Ideas DT22 Selecting And Working With Materials DT23 Nea Coursework Guide DT24 Exam Technique And Preparation DT3 Developments In New Materials DT4 Systems Approach To Designing DT5 Mechanical Devices DT6 Materials And Their Working Properties DT7 Environmental Ecological And Social Issues DT8 Papers And Boards DT9 Natural And Manufactured Timber

Design And Technology — CCEA (24 Topics)

DT1 New And Emerging Technologies DT10 Ferrous And Non Ferrous Metals DT11 Thermoplastics And Thermosets DT12 Textiles And Fibres DT13 Composites And Smart Materials DT14 Electronic And Electrical Components DT15 Selection Of Materials And Components DT16 Forces And Stresses On Materials DT17 Improving Functionality DT18 Finishing Techniques DT19 Manufacturing Processes DT2 Energy Generation And Storage DT20 Investigating Design Contexts DT21 Developing And Communicating Ideas DT22 Selecting And Working With Materials DT23 Nea Coursework Guide DT24 Exam Technique And Preparation DT3 Developments In New Materials DT4 Systems Approach To Designing DT5 Mechanical Devices DT6 Materials And Their Working Properties DT7 Environmental Ecological And Social Issues DT8 Papers And Boards DT9 Natural And Manufactured Timber

🧭 Board Differences

AQA

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with a product design task and technology examinations. Check your unit list; CCEA includes local manufacturing contexts.

Pearson Edexcel

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with a product design task and technology examinations. Check your unit list; CCEA includes local manufacturing contexts.

OCR

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with a product design task and technology examinations. Check your unit list; CCEA includes local manufacturing contexts.

Eduqas

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with a product design task and technology examinations. Check your unit list; CCEA includes local manufacturing contexts.

CCEA

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with a product design task and technology examinations. Check your unit list; CCEA includes local manufacturing contexts.

🧭 Board Differences

AQA

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with a product design task and technology examinations. Check your unit list; CCEA includes local manufacturing contexts.

Pearson Edexcel

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with a product design task and technology examinations. Check your unit list; CCEA includes local manufacturing contexts.

OCR

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with a product design task and technology examinations. Check your unit list; CCEA includes local manufacturing contexts.

Eduqas

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with a product design task and technology examinations. Check your unit list; CCEA includes local manufacturing contexts.

CCEA

Unitised assessment (Northern Ireland) with a product design task and technology examinations. Check your unit list; CCEA includes local manufacturing contexts.

🎯 Coursework & NEA Guide

How it is assessed (AQA 8552; other boards similar — check): written exam ~50% (core technical principles, specialist knowledge, designing) plus a design-and-make NEA ~50% responding to a contextual challenge released in June of Year 10.

Your NEA frame — folder structure (roughly 20–30 pages):

  • Context analysis + client/user interview (named user needs)
  • Design brief + measurable specification (each point testable)
  • Research: existing products, materials, anthropometrics — each page ending in a design decision
  • Initial ideas (annotated sketches) → development (models, testing, iteration evidence with dates and photos)
  • Final prototype: manufacturing plan, cutting list, quality-control checks
  • Evaluation against EVERY specification point + client feedback

Top pitfalls: undated evidence (iteration cannot be seen); no real user feedback; specification points that cannot be tested; skipping modelling evidence because 'it looked messy' — messy models are marks.