A LEVEL DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY: Actual June 2025 PAST PAPER 1:
Principles of Design Engineering. All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme
[OCR H404/01]
Exam Resource Summary
The A Level Design and Technology June 2025 Paper 1: Principles of Design Engineering (OCR
H404/01) – All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme combines the official examination paper with
its complete mark scheme to provide a clear and comprehensive revision resource. This paper assesses
students’ understanding of the core principles that underpin design engineering, including materials
science, mechanical and electronic systems, design processes, sustainability, project management,
and technological innovation. It challenges students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical
contexts, analyse design scenarios, and justify engineering choices using technical and evaluative
reasoning. The merged format aligns each question with its marking criteria, offering transparent insight
into examiner expectations, mark allocation, and structured response techniques. This resource is
essential for targeted revision, self-assessment, and the development of strong analytical and design
reasoning skills, ensuring confident preparation for the June 2025 OCR A Level Design and
Technology Paper 1 and a solid foundation for future engineering and design studies.
© OCR 2025 [603/1131/9] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (WW/FC) 354310/2 Turn over
, 2
1 Fig. 1.1 shows an electric toothbrush.
Fig. 1.1
removable head thermosetting
polymer soft-grip
section of casing
thermo softening
polymer casing
control button
rechargeable
battery inside
battery indicator light
cordless charging port mode indicator light
(a)
(i) Identify three functional reasons why the electric toothbrush has a removable head.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
3 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[3]
(ii) Identify two properties of a thermo softening polymer that make it suitable for the casing of the
electric toothbrush.
Justify each of your answers.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
© OCR 2025
, 3
(iii) The manufacturer chose to include a soft-grip section on the casing of the electric toothbrush.
The soft-grip material is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) which is a type of thermosetting
polymer.
Describe two challenges to the manufacturer of including a soft-grip section on the casing of the
electric toothbrush.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
© OCR 2025 Turn over
, 4
Fig. 1.2 shows an electric toothbrush on a charging base. The base is used to charge the battery
inside the electric toothbrush.
Fig. 1.2
plugged into
mains power
supply
charging base
(b)
(i) The electric toothbrush contains a 3.7 V rechargeable battery.
A current of 0.1 A is passed through the battery when it is charging.
Calculate the power in watts (W) put into the battery during charging. Show your working. [2]
Power .............................................. W
(ii) The efficiency of the charging system for the electric toothbrush is 74%.
Use your answer from part (b)(i) to calculate the power drawn from the mains power supply
during the charging process. Give your answer in W and show your working. [2]
Power .............................................. W
© OCR 2025
Principles of Design Engineering. All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme
[OCR H404/01]
Exam Resource Summary
The A Level Design and Technology June 2025 Paper 1: Principles of Design Engineering (OCR
H404/01) – All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme combines the official examination paper with
its complete mark scheme to provide a clear and comprehensive revision resource. This paper assesses
students’ understanding of the core principles that underpin design engineering, including materials
science, mechanical and electronic systems, design processes, sustainability, project management,
and technological innovation. It challenges students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical
contexts, analyse design scenarios, and justify engineering choices using technical and evaluative
reasoning. The merged format aligns each question with its marking criteria, offering transparent insight
into examiner expectations, mark allocation, and structured response techniques. This resource is
essential for targeted revision, self-assessment, and the development of strong analytical and design
reasoning skills, ensuring confident preparation for the June 2025 OCR A Level Design and
Technology Paper 1 and a solid foundation for future engineering and design studies.
© OCR 2025 [603/1131/9] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (WW/FC) 354310/2 Turn over
, 2
1 Fig. 1.1 shows an electric toothbrush.
Fig. 1.1
removable head thermosetting
polymer soft-grip
section of casing
thermo softening
polymer casing
control button
rechargeable
battery inside
battery indicator light
cordless charging port mode indicator light
(a)
(i) Identify three functional reasons why the electric toothbrush has a removable head.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
3 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[3]
(ii) Identify two properties of a thermo softening polymer that make it suitable for the casing of the
electric toothbrush.
Justify each of your answers.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
© OCR 2025
, 3
(iii) The manufacturer chose to include a soft-grip section on the casing of the electric toothbrush.
The soft-grip material is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) which is a type of thermosetting
polymer.
Describe two challenges to the manufacturer of including a soft-grip section on the casing of the
electric toothbrush.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
[4]
© OCR 2025 Turn over
, 4
Fig. 1.2 shows an electric toothbrush on a charging base. The base is used to charge the battery
inside the electric toothbrush.
Fig. 1.2
plugged into
mains power
supply
charging base
(b)
(i) The electric toothbrush contains a 3.7 V rechargeable battery.
A current of 0.1 A is passed through the battery when it is charging.
Calculate the power in watts (W) put into the battery during charging. Show your working. [2]
Power .............................................. W
(ii) The efficiency of the charging system for the electric toothbrush is 74%.
Use your answer from part (b)(i) to calculate the power drawn from the mains power supply
during the charging process. Give your answer in W and show your working. [2]
Power .............................................. W
© OCR 2025
