Year 10 D&T Mock Exam 2026 Revision Guide

Examination Overview and Structure

  • Exam Identity: Year 10 Design & Technology (D&T) Mock Examination (2026).
  • Total Duration: The examination will last exactly 11 hour.
  • Paper Format: Students will complete what is classified as 'half' a GCSE paper. The paper is designed to cover a broad range of questions across multiple subject areas to provide a comprehensive assessment early in the GCSE course.
  • Required Equipment:
    • Protractor.
    • Ruler.
    • Calculator (11 unit).
  • Advice and Strategy:
    • Candidates are warned that although only a few math questions appear on this mock, a full GCSE D&T paper contains a significantly higher volume of mathematical content.
    • Revision should focus heavily on Sections B and C, as the questions in these sections carry a higher mark weight compared to Section A.
    • The Collins revision guide is recommended as the primary study resource.

Section A: Core Technical Principles

  • Nature of Questions: This section primarily consists of one-mark multiple-choice questions (MCQs). It is designed to test core technical knowledge across all material areas but does not require extensive depth in any single topic.
  • Key Topics for Revision:
    • Types of Textiles: Identification and categorization of various textile fibers and fabrics.
    • Forces: Understanding mechanical forces and how they act upon structures and materials.
    • Smart Materials: Knowledge of materials that respond to external stimuli (e.g., light, temperature, or pressure).
    • Electronics: Basic principles of electronic components and systems.
    • Mechanisms including Cams: Analysis of mechanical systems, with a specific focus on cams (rotary motion converted to linear motion).
    • Types of Wood: Classification and properties of natural and manufactured timbers.
    • Types of Papers and Boards: Understanding different weights and applications of paper-based materials.
    • Metals: Properties and classifications of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Section B: Specialist Technical Principles

  • Focus Areas: This section allows students to demonstrate in-depth knowledge by focusing on a specific material area they feel most confident in, such as textiles, woods, or metals.
  • Manufacturing Processes:
    • Candidates must be prepared to detail how to carry out a chosen manufacturing process.
    • There will be a total of 66 different processes available to choose from in the examination.
  • Digital Manufacturing:
    • Specific focus on the use of a laser cutter to cut a shape precisely.

Section C: Designing and Making Principles

  • Content Focus: This section revolves around product evaluation, graphics skills, and general design knowledge.
  • Product Evaluation:
    • Candidates will be presented with a photograph of a specific product.
    • Note: There is no choice of product in this task; students must evaluate the specific item provided in the image.
  • Graphic Skills:
    • Orthographic Drawing: Candidates must be proficient in creating or interpreting multi-view orthographic projections (typically showing the front, top, and side views of an object).
  • Design History and Industry:
    • Famous Designers and Companies: Knowledge of influential figures in the design world and the companies that have shaped the industry.