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  • Design and Technology (9-1) - J310 (from 2017)

GCSE Design and Technology (9-1) - J310 Teaching from 2017

Design and Technology (9-1) - J310 (from 2017)

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Specification at a glance

Assessment overview

The specification offers schools flexibility in how to deliver the content for assessment, dependent on the needs and capabilities of the department and the specific interests of students.

ComponentMarksDurationWeightinginsert text

Principles of design and technology (01)

1002 hours50%

Iterative design challenge (02/03)

100Approx. 40 hours50%Non-exam assessment

Content overview

There is distinct content for the examined component (01) and the non-exam component (02/03), however all learning should be delivered through the following topic areas:

  • Identifying requirements
  • Learning from existing products and practice
  • Implications of wider issues
  • Design thinking and communication
  • Material considerations
  • Technical understanding
  • Manufacturing processes and techniques
  • Viability of design solutions.

Component 01: Principles of design and technology

This includes both the ‘core’ principles that all students must know, and ‘in-depth’ principles that are more specific to the materials or systems they have deeper practical and design experience of.

Students should:

  • Analyse existing products
  • Demonstrate applied mathematical skills
  • Demonstrate their ‘core’ design and technical knowledge and understanding
  • Demonstrate and apply their in-depth technical knowledge of working with materials, ensuring functionality of products or systems and manufacturing processes and techniques.

For a number of these principles, mathematical and/or scientific knowledge is also required; this is indicated in the specifications.

Component 02/03: Iterative design challenge

Central to this non-examined assessment is the requirement for learners to understand and apply processes of iterative designing in their design and technology practice: exploring needs, creating solutions and evaluating how well the needs have been met. This component does not limit the range of materials or processes a learner uses when developing their design solutions.

Students produce a chronological portfolio and final prototype(s). This demonstrates their understanding and independent management of and skills in iterative designing, in particular:

  • The interrelated nature of the processes used to identify needs and requirements (explore)
  • Creating solutions to meet those needs (create)
  • Evaluating whether the needs have been met (evaluate).
Download GCSE specification
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