GCSE Design and Technology
Exam Board - EDEXCEL
The Course
There are four options for students who wish to continue studying Design and Technology:
- Food Technology
- Graphic Products
- Resistant Materials
- Systems and Control
Food
In Food Technology you will learn about the value of nutrition, develop practical skills which enable you to process food, understand the health and safety implications of processing food on a commercial and industrial level. The GCSE course will also teach the importance of hygiene and cover industrial food practices which can be seen first hand on an industrial visit to a food manufacturer. The course combines both the practical and theoretical aspects of Food Technology.
Graphic Products
In Graphic Products you will develop your skills in analysing products, model making, learning various drawing techniques and develop ICT skills in producing creative designs. You will learn about various industrial processes including printing processes, blow moulding, which can be seen first hand on an industrial visit. The course will teach you to analyse, research, design and manufacture a graphic product of your choice for your major project.
Resistant Materials
In Resistant Materials you will develop a better understanding of the design process. You will carry out product analysis taking products apart and analysing them constructively and proposing improvements.
The course involves short practical projects through which you will learn about various manufacturing processes and gain a better understanding of materials. A visit to the Design Museum promotes a better understanding of British design and how design is implemented in industry. The course combines both the practical and theoretical aspects of Product Design.
Systems & Control: Electronics
In Systems and Control you will learn about the theoretical and practical aspects of electronics including input, output and control components, circuit manufacture and industrial manufacturing techniques. The course promotes an awareness of environmental issues such as sustainable energy and recycling, as well as good citizenship and an awareness of moral and social aspects of industrial design and manufacturing.
Assessment
Coursework
The coursework is the major part of the Design and Technology course. It accounts for 60% of the total marks. You may decide on the project topic yourself or you may be given guidance by your teacher. You will be expected to produce a 3D product in your chosen material area with an accompanying A3 design folder of around 15-20 pages. The coursework project is expected to be produced within 40 hours. Examples of coursework projects have been prepared by Edexcel to give you a guide to common approaches and good practices.
Examination
There will be one 1½ hour exam (2 hour for Food) at the end of your course worth 40% of the total marks. Pupils apply their knowledge and understanding of their chosen DT subject through multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-writing type questions. The exam paper is structured as follows:
- Questions 1-10: Multiple-choice (10 marks)
- Questions 11: Knowledge and understanding. Structured questions based on a theme (19 marks)
- Question 12: Designing products (16 marks)
- Question 13: Analysing products (16 marks)
- Question 14: Knowledge and understanding. Structured questions based on a theme (19 marks)
