GCSE Design & Technology: Product Design (3-D Design)
Examination Board AQA Specification: 2550

What will I learn?
This specification comprises 4 Units of work completed over two years. Students wishing to gain the AS qualification will be able to do this and will complete two Units of work.
You will be working mainly with graphic materials and resistant materials though project work that involves additional materials, such as electronics and ceramics, which is encouraged by the exam board. Communication is an essential part of any Design and Technology work and you must be able to communicate your thinking clearly and represent your ideas graphically. Aspects of the course would benefit from ICT based knowledge.
If you:
- Are interested in all Product Design areas
- Like designing and making products
- Fancy a career related to the Design Industry
- Have a good imagination and like practical applications
- Like experimenting with materials and trying out new techniques
- Are hard working with a good sense of fun
- Are self motivated and enjoy working in a relaxed, mature atmosphere
What are the entry requirements?
5 A* - C in any subjects at GCSE. This course is ideally suited to those students who have studied GCSE Product Design, though students who have studied other areas of Design and Technology will also be able to undertake this course.
How will I be assessed?
- AS Unit 1: 25% total - this is a written examination testing your knowledge of materials and component.
- AS Unit 2: 25% total - this is a portfolio of coursework which assess your design and making capability.
- A2 Unit 3: 25% total - this is a written examination based on design and manufacture of products.
- A2 Unit 4: 25% total - this is a single piece of coursework designing and making a product.
What facilities do we have?
The Product Design Department currently has two ICT suites which are shared across the DT subjects and 5 multi purpose workshops with a range of machines and tools. We can also offer a range of CAD/CAM including Micro-router, Novamill, CAMM1 machines, STIKKA machines and a laser cutter in the new ACE centre.
Future opportunities:
A large proportion of our previous students have gone on to related courses in Further Education. This is an excellent course for opening up opportunities for a very wide variety of careers. These could include Product Design, Industrial Design, Graphic Products, Architecture, Interior Design, Automotive Design, Furniture Design, Engineering, Product Marketing, Research and Development of Products, CAD/ CAM programming, Construction Industry, Electronic Engineer and Town Planning. The opportunities are endless!!!! That’s what makes this course so exciting!
Is there anything I need to know?
The course offered at Driffield School is achieving excellent results and is becoming a very popular course. The students here are happy with the range of projects we offer and highly recommend the course to others. With 50% of your assessment being based on coursework it offers a break from only being assessed on examination performance.
For further information you may like to look at the AQA website or contact Miss Warner about the course we offer at Driffield School.