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Design and Technology
Design Technology
EXAMINATION BOARD: AQA
The A Level Design and Technology qualification gives pupils the practical skills, theoretical knowledge and confidence to succeed in a number of careers, especially those in the creative industries.
FURTHER STUDY/CAREERS:
Design and technology can set you up for a career in a wide variety of industries. Careers for people with Design and Technology qualifications include: Product Designer, Architect, Software Engineer, Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Plastic Surgeon, Material Scientist, or even the next James Dyson or Jonathan Ive.
COURSE CONTENT:
Pupils will produce their own design portfolio, researching a specific problem area of their choice, working with a live client to enhance and improve a situation. They will be working with many different materials, testing outcomes to see how successfully they meet the requirements of their client, before building a completed working prototype, which will be evaluated based on the success of it fulfilling the requirements set out at the beginning of the specification.
The exam component will test pupils’ knowledge of materials and manufacturing techniques, look at their understanding of various manufacturing process, examine their working knowledge of the design process, identify the role of a designer, and their responsibilities in this role, as well as enable them to show off their talent and passion as a designer.
ASSESSMENT:
Technical principles written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes (30% of the A Level). Design and Making principles written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes (20% of the A Level). This looks at product analysis and commercial manufacture. Non-exam assessment: 50% of the A Level, submitted as a written or digital portfolio and photographic evidence of the final prototype.
