AQA A-Level Design and Technology
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24 topics
Course topics24 topics
- Design for manufacturing, maintenance, repair and disposal
- Performance characteristics of materials
- Design for manufacture and project management
- Design methods and processes
- Enterprise and marketing in the development of products
- Design processes
- The requirements for product design and development
- Health and safety
- Forming, redistribution and addition processes
- Design communication
- Feasibility studies
- Materials and their applications
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About this course
About AQA A-Level Design and Technology
AQA A-Level Design and Technology (Product Design) is a rigorous, creative qualification that equips you with the skills to become an innovative designer and problem solver. The course encourages you to think creatively, critically analyse existing products, and develop your own design proposals using iterative processes. You’ll investigate the broader social, moral, and environmental responsibilities of designers, gaining a deep understanding of how design shapes the world around us.
The specification is structured into three key components: two written exams and a substantial non-exam assessment (NEA). Throughout the two years, you’ll explore technical principles such as materials, manufacturing processes, and digital technologies, while also engaging with design theory, including user-centred design, design communication, and the work of influential designers. This blend of practical and theoretical study ensures you build a strong foundation in both making and critical thinking.
The NEA gives you the freedom to identify a real-world problem and design a product that solves it, following the iterative design approach championed by the industry. You’ll produce a portfolio of evidence and a final prototype, demonstrating your skills in research, modelling, testing, and evaluation. This project is a true reflection of professional design practice and is highly valued by universities and employers alike.
Assessment Structure
The A-Level is assessed through two written papers and a non-exam assessment (NEA). Paper 1 (Technical Principles) and Paper 2 (Designing and Making Principles) are each 2 hours 30 minutes long, worth 120 marks, and contribute 30% to the final grade. The NEA is a substantial design-and-make project where you identify a design opportunity, develop a solution, and create a final prototype. This practical unit is marked out of 100 and accounts for 40% of the qualification. The total marks available across all components are 340.
Why Choose AQA?
- AQA’s specification places a strong emphasis on the iterative design process, mirroring real-world design practices and ensuring you develop a genuine understanding of how designers work from concept to completion. This approach is highly respected by higher education and industry.
- The NEA allows complete freedom in project choice, so you can tailor your work to your own interests—whether that’s furniture, consumer electronics, or sustainable packaging. This personalisation makes the course engaging and helps you build a portfolio that stands out in university applications.
- AQA provides excellent support materials, including clear mark schemes, exemplar work, and detailed guidance for teachers. This transparency helps you understand exactly what’s expected and how to achieve top marks, reducing exam anxiety and promoting independent learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the AQA and other exam boards for A-Level Design and Technology?
How is the NEA (coursework) marked and what makes it successful?
Do I need to be good at drawing or have strong practical skills to take this course?
Can this A-Level help me get into engineering or architecture degrees?
How much time should I spend on the NEA outside of lessons?
Assessment and exam guidance
What Gets Top Grades
Knowledge & Understanding
Demonstrates comprehensive and accurate knowledge
- Uses correct subject-specific terminology
- Shows detailed understanding of concepts
- Makes accurate connections between topics
- Demonstrates depth beyond surface-level knowledge
Application
Applies knowledge effectively to new contexts
- Selects relevant knowledge for the question
- Adapts understanding to unfamiliar scenarios
- Uses examples appropriately
- Shows awareness of context
Analysis & Evaluation
Develops sophisticated analytical arguments
- Constructs logical chains of reasoning
- Considers multiple perspectives
- Weighs evidence to reach justified conclusions
- Acknowledges limitations and nuances
Key Command Words
Give a single fact or term
Name, select, or recognise
Set out main features briefly
Give an account of what something is like or what happens
Give reasons with developed cause→effect chains
State similarities AND differences (both required)
Examine in detail showing cause→effect→consequence chains
Weigh up BOTH sides, reach JUSTIFIED conclusion
Make judgments about importance with justification
Show formula→substitution→calculation→answer with units
Tips and common mistakes
Common Exam Mistakes
Pitfalls to avoid in your exams
- •Failing to link material choice to end-of-life disposal
- •Ignoring the importance of disassembly in the design phase
- •Confusing maintenance strategies with general product assembly
- •Lack of specific examples regarding how smart materials aid disassembly
- •Confusing performance characteristics with material classification.
- •Failing to link material properties to specific product applications.
- •Inability to distinguish between different types of manufactured boards or polymer types.
- •Neglecting to mention stock forms when discussing material selection.
Top Examiner Tips
Expert advice for exam success
- •Always relate design decisions back to the six Rs of sustainability
- •When discussing manufacturing efficiency, mention specific features like ribs, webbing, or snap fittings
- •Consider the full product lifecycle from raw material to disposal in extended response questions
- •Be prepared to explain how smart materials (like SMA) can facilitate active disassembly
- •Use specific terminology when describing material properties (e.g., malleability vs. ductility).
- •Always relate the material choice back to the product's function, aesthetics, and manufacturing requirements.
- •Be prepared to compare different materials for the same application.
- •Ensure you can identify and explain the function of smart and modern materials in contemporary design.
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