Comprehensive Guide to
Edexcel A Level Design and
Technology (Product Design)
Questions with Answers.
How can sustainability be considered in material selection? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅By researching the environmental costs of extracting and processing
materials, as well as the prototype's lifespan and disposal.
How can the effectiveness of the iterative design process be assessed? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅By evaluating the appropriateness of the final prototype in meeting the
specification needs.
How do scientific skills relate to design and technology? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Scientific skills underpin the theory and practice of design and technology
and will be embedded within the examination.
How should designs and prototypes made by others be evaluated? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅By reviewing strengths, weaknesses, and relevant information to form
independent judgments.
How should ongoing developmental changes be informed? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅By technical application of research, experimenting, and client/end user
feedback.
How should students approach the design process according to the qualification aims? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Students should identify market needs, initiate design
solutions, and make and test prototypes.
How should technical knowledge be applied in design? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅To
inform the development of designs and ensure they meet performance and user
requirements.
How should the design brief reflect client/end user influence? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅It should reflect the needs, wants, and values of the client/end user.
How should the prototype be manufactured according to the guidelines? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Under immediate guidance and direct supervision of a teacher in
school/college.
,List one value target of Six Sigma. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Reduce process cycle
time.
What are commercial printing papers? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Commercial printing
papers include bond and coated papers.
What are common printing techniques? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Common printing
techniques include offset lithography, flexography, screen-printing, and gravure.
What are ferrous metals? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Ferrous metals include mild steel,
carbon steels, and cast iron.
What are manmade fibres? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Manmade fibres include nylon,
polypropylene, and polyester.
What are natural fibres? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Natural fibres include cotton, linen,
and wool.
What are non-ferrous metals? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Non-ferrous metals include
aluminium, copper, zinc, and tin.
What are patents? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Legal rights granted to inventors to
protect their inventions from being used without permission.
What are safe working practices in design and technology? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Practices that ensure safety when using machinery and tools, including
risk assessments and hazard recognition.
What are smart and modern materials? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Smart materials
include thermo-ceramics, shape memory alloys, reactive glass, LCDs, photo-chromic
materials, thermo-chromic materials, and quantum tunnelling composites.
What are some casting methods? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Casting methods include
sand casting, die casting, resin casting, and plaster of Paris casting.
What are some examples of alloys? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Examples of alloys
include stainless steel, duralumin, and brass.
What are some finishing techniques for materials? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Finishing
techniques include painting, varnishing, anodising, electro-plating, and powder coating.
, What are some joining techniques? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Joining techniques
include adhesives, mechanical fasteners (screws, nuts, bolts), and heat methods
(welding, brazing).
What are some moulding techniques? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Moulding techniques
include blow moulding, injection moulding, vacuum forming, extrusion, and rotational
moulding.
What are some performance characteristics of materials? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Performance characteristics include conductivity, strength, elasticity,
plasticity, malleability, ductility, hardness, toughness, durability, and biodegradability.
What are some textile treatments? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Textile treatments
include flame resistant treatments and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
What are some types of boards used in design? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Types of
boards include mounting board, corrugated board, foam board, folding box board, and
foil-lined board.
What are some types of composites? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Types of composites
include carbon fibre (CFRP), glass fibre (GRP), MDF, hardboard, chipboard, and
plywood.
What are students required to understand about materials in product design? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Students must apply knowledge of materials' properties,
characteristics, applications, advantages, and disadvantages.
What are teachers allowed to provide during task setting? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Broad parameters for design contexts, health and safety considerations,
and general feedback.
What are the characteristics of automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS)? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Systems that automate the storage and retrieval of goods,
enhancing efficiency in materials handling.
What are the characteristics of one-off production? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Production of a single item tailored to specific requirements, often
involving high customization.
What are the effects of mass production on employment? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Mass production can lead to job displacement and changes in the labor
market due to automation and efficiency.
Edexcel A Level Design and
Technology (Product Design)
Questions with Answers.
How can sustainability be considered in material selection? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅By researching the environmental costs of extracting and processing
materials, as well as the prototype's lifespan and disposal.
How can the effectiveness of the iterative design process be assessed? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅By evaluating the appropriateness of the final prototype in meeting the
specification needs.
How do scientific skills relate to design and technology? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Scientific skills underpin the theory and practice of design and technology
and will be embedded within the examination.
How should designs and prototypes made by others be evaluated? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅By reviewing strengths, weaknesses, and relevant information to form
independent judgments.
How should ongoing developmental changes be informed? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅By technical application of research, experimenting, and client/end user
feedback.
How should students approach the design process according to the qualification aims? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Students should identify market needs, initiate design
solutions, and make and test prototypes.
How should technical knowledge be applied in design? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅To
inform the development of designs and ensure they meet performance and user
requirements.
How should the design brief reflect client/end user influence? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅It should reflect the needs, wants, and values of the client/end user.
How should the prototype be manufactured according to the guidelines? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Under immediate guidance and direct supervision of a teacher in
school/college.
,List one value target of Six Sigma. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Reduce process cycle
time.
What are commercial printing papers? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Commercial printing
papers include bond and coated papers.
What are common printing techniques? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Common printing
techniques include offset lithography, flexography, screen-printing, and gravure.
What are ferrous metals? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Ferrous metals include mild steel,
carbon steels, and cast iron.
What are manmade fibres? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Manmade fibres include nylon,
polypropylene, and polyester.
What are natural fibres? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Natural fibres include cotton, linen,
and wool.
What are non-ferrous metals? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Non-ferrous metals include
aluminium, copper, zinc, and tin.
What are patents? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Legal rights granted to inventors to
protect their inventions from being used without permission.
What are safe working practices in design and technology? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Practices that ensure safety when using machinery and tools, including
risk assessments and hazard recognition.
What are smart and modern materials? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Smart materials
include thermo-ceramics, shape memory alloys, reactive glass, LCDs, photo-chromic
materials, thermo-chromic materials, and quantum tunnelling composites.
What are some casting methods? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Casting methods include
sand casting, die casting, resin casting, and plaster of Paris casting.
What are some examples of alloys? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Examples of alloys
include stainless steel, duralumin, and brass.
What are some finishing techniques for materials? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Finishing
techniques include painting, varnishing, anodising, electro-plating, and powder coating.
, What are some joining techniques? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Joining techniques
include adhesives, mechanical fasteners (screws, nuts, bolts), and heat methods
(welding, brazing).
What are some moulding techniques? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Moulding techniques
include blow moulding, injection moulding, vacuum forming, extrusion, and rotational
moulding.
What are some performance characteristics of materials? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Performance characteristics include conductivity, strength, elasticity,
plasticity, malleability, ductility, hardness, toughness, durability, and biodegradability.
What are some textile treatments? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Textile treatments
include flame resistant treatments and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
What are some types of boards used in design? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Types of
boards include mounting board, corrugated board, foam board, folding box board, and
foil-lined board.
What are some types of composites? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Types of composites
include carbon fibre (CFRP), glass fibre (GRP), MDF, hardboard, chipboard, and
plywood.
What are students required to understand about materials in product design? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Students must apply knowledge of materials' properties,
characteristics, applications, advantages, and disadvantages.
What are teachers allowed to provide during task setting? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Broad parameters for design contexts, health and safety considerations,
and general feedback.
What are the characteristics of automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS)? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Systems that automate the storage and retrieval of goods,
enhancing efficiency in materials handling.
What are the characteristics of one-off production? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Production of a single item tailored to specific requirements, often
involving high customization.
What are the effects of mass production on employment? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Mass production can lead to job displacement and changes in the labor
market due to automation and efficiency.
