BSW GCSE Design & Technology (Resistant Materials)


Exam Board: AQA

Course Aims

Candidates are encouraged to:

  • demonstrate fully their design and technology capability, which requires them to combine skills with knowledge and understanding in order to design and make quality products in quantity;
  • acquire and apply knowledge, skills and understanding through:
  • analysing and evaluating products and processes;
  • engaging in focused tasks to develop and demonstrate techniques;
  • engaging in strategies for developing ideas, planning and producing products;
  • considering how past and present design and technology, relevant to a designing and making context, affects society;
  • recognising the moral, cultural and environmental issues inherent in design and technology.
Assessment:
  • Written paper
2hrs 40% of the overall mark: Questions will test the application of knowledge and understanding of three materials (metal, plastics and wood); components, processes, techniques, technologies and the evaluation of commercial practices and products. All questions will be compulsory.

A Preparation Sheet will be issued to candidates at the beginning of March in the year of the examination. This sheet is common to the foundation and higher tiers and will give advance notice of the design context for the design questions on the written papers.
  • Coursework Project
40hrs 60% of the overall Mark: The coursework project will be internally assessed and externally moderated. The project should address all three assessment objectives in an integrated way. Candidates are required to submit a concise design folder and/or the appropriate ICT evidence and a 3-dimensional outcome.

Throughout the project candidates should address the industrial and commercial practices, and the moral, social, cultural and environmental issues, arising from their work.