GCSE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (9–1):
COMPONENT 1: TIMBERS PRACTICE
EXAMINATION 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ What is timber? [1 mark].
Answer: A wood that has come from a tree trunk that has been dried and cut
into planks.
◍ What is a hardwood? [3 marks].
Answer: - Comes from a tree with broad leaves.- Comes from a deciduous
tree.- Takes longer to grow than softwoods.
◍ Why are hardwoods more expensive than softwoods? [1 mark].
Answer: - Take much longer to grow.
◍ Compare oak to mahogany, list their advantages and disadvantages [6
marks].
Answer: Oak:Advantages:- Strong- Durable- Attractive
grainDisadvantages:- Corrodes iron/steel- Hard to work
withMahogany:Advantages:- Attractive grain- Easy to work
withDisadvantages:- Expensive- Rarer.- Oil it produces may cause rashes.
◍ What 2 woods would you use for model making? Why [4 marks].
Answer: - Balsa: *Lightweight *Easy to cut- Jelutong: *Even, closed grain
structure makes it easy to cut/shape.
◍ Which hardwoods are susceptible to rot and insect attacks? [2 marks].
Answer: - Birch- Ash
◍ List 3 advantages and 2 disadvantages of beech [5 marks].
Answer: Advantages:- Tough wood- Does not crack/split-
, HardDisadvantages:- Expensive- Not resistant to moisture
◍ What hardwood is often used as veneer? [1 mark].
Answer: Birch
◍ Synthetic polymer.
Answer: a synthetic material made mostly from oil, commonly referred to as
plastic
◍ Thermoforming polymer.
Answer: a material that can be reshaped by the application of heat, this type
of material can be recycled and made into other products
◍ What is a softwood? [3 marks].
Answer: Wood that- has needles and cones- has a lower density/growth time
than hardwood- is most commonly an evergreen.
◍ What two softwoods would be used for outdoor equipment? Why? [3
marks].
Answer: - Larch-Cedar - Oil makes it water-proof
◍ What disadvantage do both cedar and larch share?.
Answer: Expensive
◍ Why is pine used more frequently than other softwoods for interior
construction? [5 marks].
Answer: - Very durable- Easy to work with- Quite cheap- Reasonably
strong- Lightweight
◍ Thermosetting polymer.
Answer: a material that cannot be shaped by reheating, this type of material
cannot be recycled
◍ What is one disadvantage of pine? [1 mark].
Answer: Can wrap/crack/splinter more than some other woods.
◍ What are two disadvantages of cedar compared to pine?.
Answer: - More expensive- Not as strong
COMPONENT 1: TIMBERS PRACTICE
EXAMINATION 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ What is timber? [1 mark].
Answer: A wood that has come from a tree trunk that has been dried and cut
into planks.
◍ What is a hardwood? [3 marks].
Answer: - Comes from a tree with broad leaves.- Comes from a deciduous
tree.- Takes longer to grow than softwoods.
◍ Why are hardwoods more expensive than softwoods? [1 mark].
Answer: - Take much longer to grow.
◍ Compare oak to mahogany, list their advantages and disadvantages [6
marks].
Answer: Oak:Advantages:- Strong- Durable- Attractive
grainDisadvantages:- Corrodes iron/steel- Hard to work
withMahogany:Advantages:- Attractive grain- Easy to work
withDisadvantages:- Expensive- Rarer.- Oil it produces may cause rashes.
◍ What 2 woods would you use for model making? Why [4 marks].
Answer: - Balsa: *Lightweight *Easy to cut- Jelutong: *Even, closed grain
structure makes it easy to cut/shape.
◍ Which hardwoods are susceptible to rot and insect attacks? [2 marks].
Answer: - Birch- Ash
◍ List 3 advantages and 2 disadvantages of beech [5 marks].
Answer: Advantages:- Tough wood- Does not crack/split-
, HardDisadvantages:- Expensive- Not resistant to moisture
◍ What hardwood is often used as veneer? [1 mark].
Answer: Birch
◍ Synthetic polymer.
Answer: a synthetic material made mostly from oil, commonly referred to as
plastic
◍ Thermoforming polymer.
Answer: a material that can be reshaped by the application of heat, this type
of material can be recycled and made into other products
◍ What is a softwood? [3 marks].
Answer: Wood that- has needles and cones- has a lower density/growth time
than hardwood- is most commonly an evergreen.
◍ What two softwoods would be used for outdoor equipment? Why? [3
marks].
Answer: - Larch-Cedar - Oil makes it water-proof
◍ What disadvantage do both cedar and larch share?.
Answer: Expensive
◍ Why is pine used more frequently than other softwoods for interior
construction? [5 marks].
Answer: - Very durable- Easy to work with- Quite cheap- Reasonably
strong- Lightweight
◍ Thermosetting polymer.
Answer: a material that cannot be shaped by reheating, this type of material
cannot be recycled
◍ What is one disadvantage of pine? [1 mark].
Answer: Can wrap/crack/splinter more than some other woods.
◍ What are two disadvantages of cedar compared to pine?.
Answer: - More expensive- Not as strong
