GCSE Design and Technology Unit 1 Exam Notes

Examination Details

• Exam Title: GCSE Design and Technology Unit 1 Written Paper
• Date: Monday 19 June 2023
• Time Allowed: 2 hours

Materials Required

• Normal writing and drawing instruments
• Calculator
• Protractor

Instructions

• Use black ink or black ball-point pen. Pencil is only permitted for drawing.
• Candidates must fill in the boxes at the top of each page.
• All questions must be answered in the spaces provided. Writing outside the designated areas is prohibited.
• If additional space is needed for answers, candidates should use the lined pages at the end of the book and mark the question number on those pages.
• Rough work should also be done in this book, with any unwanted work crossed out.

Marks Distribution

• The marks for questions are indicated in brackets.
• Total Available Marks: 100
  • Section A: 20 marks
  • Section B: 30 marks
  • Section C: 50 marks

Section A – Core Technical Principles

• Instructions: Answer all questions in this section (Questions 01 to 10).
  • Each question has four responses (A, B, C, D). Candidates must completely fill in the circle beside the correct answer.
  • If changing an answer, candidates must properly cross out the original and indicate the new selection.

Questions

1. Composite Material

   • Question: Which one of the following is a composite material?
   • Options: A. Carbonfibre reinforced plastic (CRP) B. Graphene C. High impact polystyrene (HIPS) D. Titanium
   • Correct Answer: A. Carbonfibre reinforced plastic (CRP) [1 mark]

2. True Statement

   • Question: Which one of the following statements is true?
   • Options: A. Coal is used to generate hydro-electric power. B. Fossil fuels produce argon when they burn. C. Gas is a renewable resource extracted from the ground. D. Oil is extracted from the ground to produce petroleum.
   • Correct Answer: D. Oil is extracted from the ground to produce petroleum. [1 mark]

3. Batteries Safety

   • Question: Which one of the following statements is true?
   • Options: A. Batteries can be safely thrown away with household rubbish. B. Rechargeable batteries can only be used ten times. C. Toys that use batteries do not have any safety features. D. Zinc carbon batteries leak and corrode.
   • Correct Answer: D. Zinc carbon batteries leak and corrode. [1 mark]

4. Thermoforming Polymer

   • Question: Which one of the following is a thermoforming polymer?
   • Options: A. Epoxy resin (ER) B. High density polythene (HDPE) C. Melamine formaldehyde (MF) D. Polyester resin (PR)
   • Correct Answer: B. High density polythene (HDPE) [1 mark]

5. Material Property

   • Question: Which one of the following is a working property of a material?
   • Options: A. Absorbency B. Density C. Fusibility D. Malleability
   • Correct Answer: A. Absorbency [1 mark]

6. Waste Reduction

   • Question: When manufacturers focus on the reduction of waste during production, it is called:
   • Options: A. batch manufacture B. flexible manufacture C. lean manufacture D. mass manufacture
   • Correct Answer: C. lean manufacture [1 mark]

7. Motion Description

   • Question: What type of motion best describes the action of the sewing machine needle in Figure 1 when in operation?
   • Options: A. Linear B. Oscillating C. Reciprocating D. Rotary
   • Correct Answer: C. Reciprocating [1 mark]

8. Design Focus

   • Question: Which one of the following is a feature of design in society?
   • Options: A. Focus on machines B. Focus on materials C. Focus on people D. Focus on resources
   • Correct Answer: C. Focus on people [1 mark]

9. Renewable Energy Source

   • Question: Name the renewable energy source in Figure 2.
   • Options: A. Solar B. Tidal C. Wave D. Wind
   • Correct Answer: C. Wave [1 mark]

10. Colour-changing Material

    • Question: Identify the colour-changing smart material used in the thermometer below.
    • Options: A. Liquid crystal display B. Nanomaterial C. Photochromic pigment D. Thermochromic pigment
    • Correct Answer: D. Thermochromic pigment [1 mark]

Section B – Specialist Technical Principles

• Instructions: Answer all questions in this section.

Questions

11. Manufactured Board

    1. Question: Name one manufactured board. [1 mark]
    2. Question: Explain one advantage of using manufactured boards. [2 marks]

12. Planned Obsolescence

    • Question: Explain the term ‘planned obsolescence’. Give an example of a product designed for ‘planned obsolescence’ in your answer. [3 marks]

13. Crowdfunding Advantages

    • Question: Give two advantages of ‘crowd funding’. [2 marks]
      • Advantage 1:
      • Advantage 2:

14. Gear Train Analysis

    • Question: Describe the direction and speed of movement of part C in the gear train shown below when gear A turns clockwise. [2 marks]

15. Button Cost Calculation

    • Question: A clothing manufacturer is producing 1500 coats for retail. Each coat will need four buttons and one extra for a spare. Each button costs 14 pence. What is the total cost of the buttons required to complete the order? Show your working. Give your answer in £s. [3 marks]
      • Answer:

16. Aesthetic Considerations

    • Question: Give two aesthetic considerations when selecting materials and/or components to make prototypes. [4 marks]
      • Consideration 1:
      • Consideration 2:

17. Vehicle Fuel Statistics

    • Data Table: Percentage of vehicles sold in the UK in 2021 by fuel/power type:
      • Petrol: 54%
      • Diesel: 10%
      • Hybrid: 17.5%
      • Plug-in hybrid: 7.5%
      • Electric: 11%
    • Question: Use the information in the table above to complete the pie chart. Show your working. [4 marks]

18. Commercial Process Selection

    • Question: Choose one commercial process from the table below:
      • Paper and board die cutting
      • Wood turning
      • Metal casting
      • Polymer extrusion
      • Textile weaving
      • Electronic pick and place assembly
    • Chosen Process:
    • Question: 1.8.1 Name a specific main material used with this process. [1 mark]
    • Question: 1.8.2 Name a stock form of the material used in your chosen process. [1 mark]
    • Question: 1.8.3 Give two reasons that make your chosen process suitable for commercial manufacture. [4 marks]
      • Reason 1:
      • Reason 2:

19. Tool Function and Safety

    • Question: Name one of the tools shown below. [1 mark]
    • Question: Explain what the tool you have named in Question 19.1 is used for. [2 marks]
    • Question: Give two safety points that need to be considered when using the tool you have named in Question 19.1. [2 marks]
      • Safety Point 1:
      • Safety Point 2:

20. Production Methods

    • Question: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of manufacturing in quantity compared to producing a one-off item. Refer to the production methods in the table and give examples in your answer. [8 marks]

Section C – Designing and Making Principles

• Instructions: Answer all questions in this section.

Questions

21. Prototype Importance

    • Question: Describe how prototypes help designers to ensure a product is fit for its intended purpose. Give examples in your answer. [6 marks]

22. Product Evaluation

    • Question: The two bags below are used by children to carry belongings and equipment.
    • Specifications:
      • Rucksack:
      • Lightweight
      • Waterproof
      • High visibility
      • Adjustable straps
      • Carrying handle
      • Compartments
      • Drawstring Bag:
      • Lightweight
      • Compact design
      • Large single storage space
      • Simple construction
      • Waterproof
    • Question: Analyze and evaluate both products in terms of:
      • 22.1: The suitability for the user. [6 marks]
      • 22.2: Ergonomics and anthropometrics. [6 marks]

23. Component Specification

    • Question: The component below is to be manufactured with seven circular holes. Each hole is:
      • 7 mm in diameter
      • Equally spaced from each other and from each end of the component
      • Equally spaced from the top and bottom of the component
    • Question 2.3.1: What distance will the centre line need to be from either long side? [1 mark]
      • Answer:
    • Question 2.3.2: What is the required distance from the centre of one hole to the centre of the next hole to ensure the holes are equally spaced? Show your working. [2 marks]
      • Answer:
    • Question 2.3.3: Work out the shortest distance between the circumferences of any two holes. Show your working. [2 marks]
      • Answer:
    • Question 2.3.4: The holes are to be drilled 7 mm with a tolerance of ±0.5 mm. State the maximum and minimum acceptable diameters of the holes. [1 mark]
      • Max:
      • Min:

24. Design Inspiration

    • Question: Explain why designers look at the work of others before creating new designs. [3 marks]

25. User-Centered Design Approach

    • Question: Explain how a user-centered design approach can ensure that products are fit for purpose. Give examples in your answer. [6 marks]

Visual and Audio Recording Advantages

26. Design Development

    • Question: Explain two advantages of using audio and/or visual recordings when developing design ideas. [4 marks]
      • Advantage 1:
      • Advantage 2:

27. Ethical Considerations in Design

    • Question: Explain how each of the following issues may be considered before designing and manufacturing new products. [4 marks]
      • Fair Trade
      • Global Warming

Additional Information

• Copyright Information: For confidentiality purposes, all acknowledgments of third-party copyright material are published in a separate booklet. This booklet is published after each live examination series and is available for free download from www.aqa.org.uk. Permission to reproduce all copyright material has been applied for. Copyright © 2023 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.