Northern Ireland · CCEA2026

CCEA A-Level Technology and Design: complete guide to the AS and A2 units, the exams, coursework and how to study each module

A complete guide to CCEA A-Level Technology and Design (specification 2016). Covers the AS Design and Manufacture core and the electronic or mechanical systems-and-control option, the A2 control systems options, the internally assessed Product Development and Product/System Design and Manufacture coursework, how the units are examined and how to study each module for top grades.

Browse guides →Syllabus dot points (39)

CCEA A-Level Technology and Design (specification first taught 2016) is a two-year course split into AS and A2, set and marked by CCEA in Northern Ireland. It combines a common Design and Manufacture core with a chosen Systems and Control route (electronic and microelectronic, or mechanical and pneumatic) and two internally assessed design-and-make tasks. This page is the index: below is a map of the modules, the assessment structure, and how to study each unit.

The CCEA Technology and Design modules

The specification groups the subject content across written units and coursework, studied through the AS and A2 years. Students take one systems-and-control route (electronic or mechanical) alongside the common design core.

AS 1 Design and Manufacture (core): The foundation studied by everyone: the iterative design process, the brief versus the specification, research, ergonomics and anthropometrics, graphical communication, the classification and properties of materials, composites and smart materials, manufacturing processes and scale of production, quality control and tolerance, evaluation, and sustainability and the 6 Rs.
AS 1 Systems and Control option: Either Electronic and Microelectronic Systems (the systems approach, sensors and the potential divider, the transistor and MOSFET as switches, op-amp comparators and amplifiers, logic gates and Boolean algebra, RC timing and the 555, output transducer drivers) or Mechanical and Pneumatic Systems (types of motion and mechanisms, levers and moments, gears and gear ratios, belt/pulley/chain drives, cams and followers, pneumatic cylinders, valves and thrust).
A2 1 Control Systems (chosen route, in greater depth): Either Electronic and Microelectronic Control Systems (sequential logic and counters, op-amps in control, analogue-to-digital conversion, the microcontroller/PIC, flowcharts and programming, open- and closed-loop control with PID) or Mechanical and Pneumatic Control Systems (structures and loading, stress, strain and the Young modulus, energy, power and efficiency, advanced mechanisms, pneumatic control circuits, sequencing and time delay). A Product Design route is also available.
AS 2 and A2 2 Coursework: AS 2 Product Development is an internally assessed design-and-make task applying the design core; A2 2 Product/System Design and Manufacture is the major, more independent and technical design-and-make project, integrating the taught A2 knowledge into a high-quality outcome.

Assessment structure

CCEA A-Level Technology and Design is split between AS (40 percent) and A2 (60 percent), with written units and internally assessed coursework.

AS 1 - a written paper on the Design and Manufacture core plus the chosen Systems and Control option.
AS 2 Product Development - internally assessed, externally moderated design-and-make coursework (a folder and prototype).
A2 1 - a written paper developing the chosen Systems and Control option (or Product Design) in greater depth.
A2 2 Product/System Design and Manufacture - the major internally assessed, externally moderated design-and-make project.

A formula/data context is provided where relevant, and calculations are common in the systems units.

How to study CCEA Technology and Design

The subject rewards precise definitions, applied reasoning and confident calculation.

Work from the specification statements. Each point is a checklist; questions are written from them.
Learn definitions and apply them. State each definition and apply it to a named product, justifying decisions against the specification and the user.
Drill your option's calculations. Potential divider, gain, LED resistor and 555 timing, or moments, gear/velocity ratios and thrust, then the A2 calculations, carrying units through.
Master the logic, mechanisms or control detail. Truth tables and Boolean, or mechanism analysis, plus open/closed-loop control and PID at A2.
Plan strong coursework. Map your folder to the assessment criteria: analysed research, a measurable specification, justified development, a quality make, and an honest evaluation with modifications.

The modules, dot point by dot point

Each module has a specification-level overview with worked questions and cross-links, plus dot-point pages and a quiz. Browse the full set at /ccea-a-level/technology-and-design/syllabus.

For the official specification

CCEA publishes the full specification, past papers and mark schemes at ccea.org.uk. Always revise from the current CCEA specification and CCEA's own past papers, because question style and coursework expectations are board-specific.

Technology and Design guides

In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.

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Technology and Design practice quizzes

Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.

The CCEA-A-LEVEL system, explained

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Common questions about Technology and Design

How is CCEA A-Level Technology and Design structured?

It is a two-year course split into AS and A2, with the AS counting for 40 percent of the full A-Level and A2 for 60 percent. AS has a written unit (AS 1) covering a Design and Manufacture core plus a Systems and Control option (electronic and microelectronic, or mechanical and pneumatic), and an internally assessed Product Development coursework task (AS 2). A2 has a written unit (A2 1) developing the chosen Systems and Control option (or Product Design) in greater depth, and an internally assessed Product/System Design and Manufacture coursework project (A2 2).

What is the difference between the electronic and mechanical systems options?

Students choose one systems-and-control route. The electronic and microelectronic route covers the systems approach, sensors, transistors and op-amps, logic, timing, and at A2 sequential logic, analogue-to-digital conversion, microcontrollers (PICs), programming and control. The mechanical and pneumatic route covers motion and mechanisms, levers, gears, pulleys, cams and pneumatics, and at A2 structures, stress and strain, energy and efficiency, advanced mechanisms and pneumatic control circuits. Both sit alongside the common Design and Manufacture core.

What coursework is in CCEA A-Level Technology and Design?

Two internally assessed, externally moderated design-and-make tasks. AS 2 Product Development is a design-and-make task applying the AS Design and Manufacture content, producing a design folder and prototype. A2 2 Product/System Design and Manufacture is the major project: a more independent, technical and substantial design-and-make outcome, usually for a real client, integrating the taught A2 systems-and-control or product-design knowledge. Both are marked against CCEA's criteria and the work must be the candidate's own.

What maths and calculations appear in Technology and Design?

Plenty, depending on the option. Common calculations include the potential divider, current gain, op-amp gain, LED current-limiting resistor and 555 timer timing (electronic route); moments and mechanical advantage, gear and velocity ratios, and cylinder thrust (mechanical route); and at A2 frequency division and ADC resolution, or stress, strain, the Young modulus, work, power, torque and efficiency. Tolerance and percentile calculations appear in the design core. Carry units through every calculation.

How should I revise CCEA A-Level Technology and Design?

Work unit by unit against the specification statements, because questions are written from them. Learn each definition and be ready to apply it to a named product, justifying decisions against the specification and the user. Drill the calculations for your chosen option until they are automatic, learn the logic, mechanism or control detail, and rehearse the design process, sustainability and quality content. For coursework, map your folder to the assessment criteria and evidence each one with analysis, a measurable specification, justified development, a quality make and an honest evaluation.

How does CCEA Technology and Design compare to other boards?

All A-level design and technology specifications share a regulated core of designing, materials, manufacturing and evaluation. CCEA's distinctive features are its AS and A2 unit structure, its explicit Systems and Control routes (electronic and microelectronic, or mechanical and pneumatic) alongside a Product Design option, and its two internally assessed design-and-make tasks. Always revise from the current CCEA specification and CCEA past papers, because question style and coursework expectations are board-specific.