Why study design technology?
Design and technology is key ingredient in understanding how the world around works and functions. Everything we touch, use and interact with on a daily basis, started out as a raw material, and needed to designed, shaped and manufactured into something tangible for us to use.
Design and technology prepares you practically for a career in design or engineering, and gives you opportunities to translate your knowledge from other subjects such as chemistry, maths and physics into real world objects and artefacts. It provides essential skills for many engineering courses and will give you the knowledge and expertise that will set you apart from some of your peers. You will start university with an innate understanding and experience of how to manufacture products from the ground up, and how to uses tools and machinery to bring your ideas to life.
Entry requirements
Grade 5 in a design related subject at GCSE
Potential courses
- Product design
- 3D design
- Engineering
- Industrial design
- Architecture
- Art and design
- Architecture
- Product design
Potential careers
- Architecture
- Civil engineering
- Car design
- Mechanical engineering
- Product designer
- Industrial design
- Aerospace engineer
- Nautical engineer
The A-level course
% of A-level course | What's assessed | |
---|---|---|
Paper 1 Written exam | 30% | Technical principles through a mixture of short answer and extended response. |
Paper 2 Written exam | 20% | Designing and making principles. Section A Product analysis: 30 marks - up to 6 short answer questions based on visual stimulus of product(s). Section B Commercial manufacture: 50 marks - mixture of short and extended response questions. |
Non-exam assessment Practical design and make project | 50% | Practical application of technical principles, designing and making principles. Written or digital design portfolio and photographic evidence of final prototype. |
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