OCR · J310
OCR GCSE Design and Technology
28 topics and 399 questions for the written paper, with OCR's specification references.
The written paper
- J310/01 Principles of Design and Technology. 100 marks, 120 minutes, calculator.
The paper is half the GCSE. The non-exam assessment, a design and make project done at school, is the other half.
Core technical principles OCR Areas 3, 5 and 6
- OCR 3.1, OCR 7.6LessonPractice
New and emerging technologies
- Explain how automation, robotics, CAD/CAM and the internet of things change industry and enterprise
- Weigh the impact of new technology on people, culture, society and the environment
- Evaluate products for planned obsolescence and design for maintenance
- OCR 3.2LessonPractice
Energy generation and storage
- Compare fossil fuels, nuclear and renewable energy sources
- Explain how energy is stored in batteries, kinetic pumped storage and other systems
- Choose a power source for a product and justify it
- OCR 5.1LessonPractice
Modern, smart and composite materials
- Tell modern materials from smart materials and give examples of each
- Explain how shape memory alloys, thermochromic pigments and photochromic materials respond to stimuli
- Explain why composites and technical textiles outperform their separate parts
- OCR 6.4LessonPractice
Systems, electronics and programmable components
- Break a system into input, process and output and name typical components
- Explain how sensors, control devices and outputs work together
- Explain what a microcontroller adds to a product
- OCR 6.3LessonPractice
Mechanical devices, levers and gears
- Name the four types of motion and the mechanisms that change one into another
- Classify levers and work out mechanical advantage
- Work out gear ratios, velocity ratios and output speeds
Materials and their properties OCR Area 5
- OCR 5.1LessonPractice
Papers and boards
- Name common papers and boards and their uses
- Describe paper weight in gsm and board thickness in microns
- Choose a paper or board for a product and justify it
- OCR 5.1LessonPractice
Natural and manufactured timbers
- Tell hardwoods, softwoods and manufactured boards apart
- Match common timbers to their properties and uses
- Explain why manufactured boards are made
- OCR 5.1LessonPractice
Metals and alloys
- Tell ferrous from non-ferrous metals and know what an alloy is
- Match common metals and alloys to their properties and uses
- Explain why alloys are made
- OCR 5.1LessonPractice
Polymers
- Tell thermoforming from thermosetting polymers and explain why they behave differently
- Match common polymers to their properties and uses
- Explain how polymers are recycled and why some cannot be
- OCR 5.1LessonPractice
Natural, synthetic and blended textiles
- Tell natural, synthetic and blended fibres apart
- Compare woven, knitted and non-woven fabrics
- Choose a fabric for a product and justify it
- OCR 5.2LessonPractice
Physical and working properties of materials
- Define strength, hardness, toughness, malleability, ductility and elasticity
- Define density, absorbency and electrical and thermal conductivity
- Work out a mass or density and pick the material a property points to
Specialist technical principles OCR Areas 5 to 7
- OCR 5.2, OCR 8.1LessonPractice
Selecting materials and components
- Weigh function, aesthetics, environment, availability, cost and social factors
- Justify a material choice for a given product
- Compare the cost of material options
- OCR 6.1LessonPractice
Forces, stresses and reinforcement
- Name tension, compression, bending, torsion and shear in a product
- Explain how materials are reinforced and stiffened: laminating, ribs, webs, fabric interfacing
- Choose a way to make a product stronger
- OCR 3.3LessonPractice
Ecological and social footprint
- Explain the six Rs and the life cycle of a product
- Explain the environmental cost of extracting and processing materials
- Weigh working conditions, fair trade and the carbon footprint of production
- OCR 5.3LessonPractice
Sources and origins of materials
- Trace a material from raw source to usable stock
- Explain how timber is seasoned, metals are extracted and polymers are made from crude oil
- Explain how paper and fibres are produced
- OCR 5.4LessonPractice
Stock forms, sizes and quantities
- Name stock forms and the units they are sold in
- Work out how much material a batch needs, with waste
- Work out how many parts fit a sheet
- OCR 7.5LessonPractice
Scales of production
- Tell one-off, batch, mass and continuous production apart
- Explain just-in-time and lean manufacturing
- Choose a scale of production and a process for a quantity
- OCR 7.2, OCR 7.4, OCR 7.5LessonPractice
Specialist techniques and processes
- Group processes as wasting, addition, deforming and reforming
- Explain how CAD/CAM, moulding, casting, joining and printing processes work
- Choose a process for a product and quantity
- OCR 6.2LessonPractice
Surface treatments and finishes
- Explain why materials are finished: protection and appearance
- Match finishes to materials: paints, varnishes, galvanising, powder coating, lamination, printing, dyeing
- Choose a finish for a product's use
Designing and making principles OCR Areas 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8
- OCR 1.1, OCR 1.2LessonPractice
Investigation, users and specifications
- Plan primary and secondary research and say what each gives
- Turn research into a design brief and a measurable specification
- Explain why usability and ergonomics matter, with anthropometric data
- OCR 3.3LessonPractice
Environmental, social and economic challenges
- Explain the challenges designers face: deforestation, waste, pollution, global warming
- Weigh inclusive design, fair trade and cultural and ethical factors
- Judge a product's impact across its life
- OCR 2.1, OCR 2.2LessonPractice
The work of others
- Analyse an existing product for strengths and weaknesses
- Explain how designers and companies have influenced design
- Explain how product analysis informs new designs
- OCR 4.2LessonPractice
Design strategies
- Explain iterative, user-centred and systems approaches
- Use strategies that avoid design fixation: collaboration, sketching, modelling
- Choose a strategy for a design problem
- OCR 4.1LessonPractice
Communicating design ideas
- Tell isometric, oblique, perspective, orthographic and exploded drawings apart
- Read dimensions, scales and drawing conventions
- Explain when CAD, models and schematics communicate best
- OCR 1.2, OCR 7.1LessonPractice
Prototypes, testing and evaluation
- Explain why designers model and prototype
- Test a prototype against its specification and its user
- Evaluate and suggest improvements
- OCR 7.3LessonPractice
Tolerances, marking out and quality
- Work out the limits of a tolerance
- Explain marking out, templates, jigs and patterns
- Explain quality control and quality assurance
- OCR 7.2LessonPractice
Tools, equipment and safe working
- Match tools and machines to tasks and materials
- Explain risk assessment and safe working
- Choose personal protective equipment for a task
- OCR 7.3, OCR 8.1LessonPractice
Maths in design and technology
- Work out costs, percentages, ratios and scale
- Work out areas, volumes and material quantities
- Read and interpret charts and data from user research