AQA A-LEVEL PRODUCT DESIGN
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS 2025/2026
Layout paper - correct answersA thin translucent paper used for sketching and technical
drawings
Cartridge paper - correct answersAn off-white paper which a textured surface used for
sketching and rendering. Can also be used for printing
Tracing paper - correct answersA paper used to transfer images from one surface to another
Bleedproof paper - correct answersA paper similar to cartridge paper, but has a layer on top
to avoid colours running. Usually used for marker rendering
Watercolour paper - correct answersA paper used for watercolour painting and has textured
surface
Corrugated cardboard - correct answersA board used for most packaging boxes, is fairly
impact resistant and brown in colour
Duplex card - correct answersA card made up from two layers one paper, one side being
glossy. Usually used for food packaging
Treated paper - correct answersA paper which has a dye layer on top, making it suitable for
photographic printing
Bleached card - correct answersA card which has been chemically treated to give it a lighter
colour. Mostly used in greeting cards and high quality packaging
Mount board - correct answersA board made from compressed fine cotton fibres to made a
rigid board. Mostly used for presenting artwork
Formed paper pulp - correct answersA board which is made from recycled paper, a
sustainable alternative for packaging
Metal effect card - correct answersA card which has a thin metal layer to enhance aesthetics,
used for gift packaging
Foil back/laminated card - correct answersA card which has a polymer film or foil to provide
a water resistant layer. Used for drinks packaging
Oak - correct answersA hardwood which is hard, tough, durable, high density. Has a good
grain aesthetic. Mainly used for indoor furniture and flooring
Mahogany - correct answersA hardwood which is hard, reddish-brown and from a tropical
tree, used for high-quality furniture.
,Beech - correct answersA hardwood which is close-grained, hard wearing, and strong, also
finishes well. Used for furniture, toys, and kitchen utensils
Birch - correct answersA hardwood which has smooth, white bark. Easy to form. Used for
laminating and furniture (plywood)
Teak - correct answersA hardwood which is high-quality and used to make buildings and
ships because it is strong and durable
Ash - correct answersA hardwood which is creamy yellow in colour, wide grained and
lightweight. Can be steam bent. Used for furniture and cricket stumps
Spruce - correct answersA softwood which has a creamy white colour, not very tough. Used
for indoor work including bedroom and bathroom furniture
Pine - correct answersA softwood which has a very light brown colour, straight grained and
sometimes knotty, fairly tough. Used for cheap quality furniture and simple joinery
Larch - correct answersA softwood which has a red hue, naturally resistant to rot. Used for
outdoor applications including decking and sheds
Cedar - correct answersA softwood which is lightweight but not very strong, expensive,
durable against moisture due to natural oils. Used for outdoor building and external wood
panelling (cladding)
Redwood - correct answersA softwood which has a red hue, high quality and expensive.
Used for joinery and furniture
Douglas fir - correct answersA softwood which has red undertones, heavier and cheaper
than pine. Used for framing of weight- bearing structures.
Planed all round (PAR) - correct answersA wood stock form which has been finished on all
surfaces
Planed square edge (PSE) - correct answersA wood stock form which has only been planed
on two sides
Rough sawn timber - correct answersA raw milled stock form
Natural timber - correct answersA wood stock form which hasn't been treated or planed
Mouldings - correct answersA wood stock form which is used for skirting boards
Manufactured boards - correct answersA wood stock form which has been manufactured
Plywood - correct answersA manufactured board made from birch, made up of an odd
number of layers, usually used for floorboards
Marineply - correct answersA form of plywood used for boat dashboards because of its
water resistance
, Areoply - correct answersA form of plywood used for aircraft applications such as gliders
Flexiply - correct answersA flexible form of plywood, used for curved panels
Chipboard - correct answersA manufactured board made from wood chips, used for kitchen
worktops and is usually covered by melamine formaldehyde
MDF - correct answersA manufactured board used for model making
Hardness test - correct answersA test to see how well a material resists scratching, e.g. with
a dot punch or a file
Toughness test - correct answersA test to see how well a material resists impact, e.g.
clamping into a vice and hitting with a hammer
Tensile strength test - correct answersA test to see how well a material resists pulling or
stretching forces e.g. clamping into a vice and weighing it down with weights
Corrosion test - correct answersA test to see how well a material resists corrosion when
exposed to environmental conditions
Conductivity test - correct answersMeasures the material's ability to transfer energy, both
thermal (heat) or electrical
Malleability test - correct answersA test to see how well a material resists cracking with
bending
Offset lithography - correct answersA paper printing process which is suited to medium-long
term runs. Has a constant quality, is expensive to set up, but has long lasting printing plates
e.g. magazines
Flexography - correct answersThe least expensive paper printing process, it can print on a
variety of substrates and is usually high speed. It is also suited for long runs e.g. newspapers
Digital printing - correct answersA paper printing process used for smaller batch runs, it is
high speed and efficient and is becoming more popular in many business offices e.g.
business cards or posters
Screen printing - correct answersA paper printing process used for small batch and one-off
production, it has minimal set up costs e.g. t-shirts
Embossing (paper) - correct answersA paper finishing process which created a raised design
on the paper's surface
Debossing (paper) - correct answersA paper finishing process which created a imprinted
depression on the paper's surface
Creasing - correct answersA paper forming process which uses the blunt rule in die cutting to
create a creased line in the paper
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS 2025/2026
Layout paper - correct answersA thin translucent paper used for sketching and technical
drawings
Cartridge paper - correct answersAn off-white paper which a textured surface used for
sketching and rendering. Can also be used for printing
Tracing paper - correct answersA paper used to transfer images from one surface to another
Bleedproof paper - correct answersA paper similar to cartridge paper, but has a layer on top
to avoid colours running. Usually used for marker rendering
Watercolour paper - correct answersA paper used for watercolour painting and has textured
surface
Corrugated cardboard - correct answersA board used for most packaging boxes, is fairly
impact resistant and brown in colour
Duplex card - correct answersA card made up from two layers one paper, one side being
glossy. Usually used for food packaging
Treated paper - correct answersA paper which has a dye layer on top, making it suitable for
photographic printing
Bleached card - correct answersA card which has been chemically treated to give it a lighter
colour. Mostly used in greeting cards and high quality packaging
Mount board - correct answersA board made from compressed fine cotton fibres to made a
rigid board. Mostly used for presenting artwork
Formed paper pulp - correct answersA board which is made from recycled paper, a
sustainable alternative for packaging
Metal effect card - correct answersA card which has a thin metal layer to enhance aesthetics,
used for gift packaging
Foil back/laminated card - correct answersA card which has a polymer film or foil to provide
a water resistant layer. Used for drinks packaging
Oak - correct answersA hardwood which is hard, tough, durable, high density. Has a good
grain aesthetic. Mainly used for indoor furniture and flooring
Mahogany - correct answersA hardwood which is hard, reddish-brown and from a tropical
tree, used for high-quality furniture.
,Beech - correct answersA hardwood which is close-grained, hard wearing, and strong, also
finishes well. Used for furniture, toys, and kitchen utensils
Birch - correct answersA hardwood which has smooth, white bark. Easy to form. Used for
laminating and furniture (plywood)
Teak - correct answersA hardwood which is high-quality and used to make buildings and
ships because it is strong and durable
Ash - correct answersA hardwood which is creamy yellow in colour, wide grained and
lightweight. Can be steam bent. Used for furniture and cricket stumps
Spruce - correct answersA softwood which has a creamy white colour, not very tough. Used
for indoor work including bedroom and bathroom furniture
Pine - correct answersA softwood which has a very light brown colour, straight grained and
sometimes knotty, fairly tough. Used for cheap quality furniture and simple joinery
Larch - correct answersA softwood which has a red hue, naturally resistant to rot. Used for
outdoor applications including decking and sheds
Cedar - correct answersA softwood which is lightweight but not very strong, expensive,
durable against moisture due to natural oils. Used for outdoor building and external wood
panelling (cladding)
Redwood - correct answersA softwood which has a red hue, high quality and expensive.
Used for joinery and furniture
Douglas fir - correct answersA softwood which has red undertones, heavier and cheaper
than pine. Used for framing of weight- bearing structures.
Planed all round (PAR) - correct answersA wood stock form which has been finished on all
surfaces
Planed square edge (PSE) - correct answersA wood stock form which has only been planed
on two sides
Rough sawn timber - correct answersA raw milled stock form
Natural timber - correct answersA wood stock form which hasn't been treated or planed
Mouldings - correct answersA wood stock form which is used for skirting boards
Manufactured boards - correct answersA wood stock form which has been manufactured
Plywood - correct answersA manufactured board made from birch, made up of an odd
number of layers, usually used for floorboards
Marineply - correct answersA form of plywood used for boat dashboards because of its
water resistance
, Areoply - correct answersA form of plywood used for aircraft applications such as gliders
Flexiply - correct answersA flexible form of plywood, used for curved panels
Chipboard - correct answersA manufactured board made from wood chips, used for kitchen
worktops and is usually covered by melamine formaldehyde
MDF - correct answersA manufactured board used for model making
Hardness test - correct answersA test to see how well a material resists scratching, e.g. with
a dot punch or a file
Toughness test - correct answersA test to see how well a material resists impact, e.g.
clamping into a vice and hitting with a hammer
Tensile strength test - correct answersA test to see how well a material resists pulling or
stretching forces e.g. clamping into a vice and weighing it down with weights
Corrosion test - correct answersA test to see how well a material resists corrosion when
exposed to environmental conditions
Conductivity test - correct answersMeasures the material's ability to transfer energy, both
thermal (heat) or electrical
Malleability test - correct answersA test to see how well a material resists cracking with
bending
Offset lithography - correct answersA paper printing process which is suited to medium-long
term runs. Has a constant quality, is expensive to set up, but has long lasting printing plates
e.g. magazines
Flexography - correct answersThe least expensive paper printing process, it can print on a
variety of substrates and is usually high speed. It is also suited for long runs e.g. newspapers
Digital printing - correct answersA paper printing process used for smaller batch runs, it is
high speed and efficient and is becoming more popular in many business offices e.g.
business cards or posters
Screen printing - correct answersA paper printing process used for small batch and one-off
production, it has minimal set up costs e.g. t-shirts
Embossing (paper) - correct answersA paper finishing process which created a raised design
on the paper's surface
Debossing (paper) - correct answersA paper finishing process which created a imprinted
depression on the paper's surface
Creasing - correct answersA paper forming process which uses the blunt rule in die cutting to
create a creased line in the paper
