CCEA A-Level Technology and Design AS 2 Product Development: a complete overview of the coursework task
A CCEA A-Level Technology and Design guide to the AS 2 Product Development coursework: the internally assessed design-and-make task, what the design folder and prototype must evidence across the design process, and how the work is marked against CCEA's criteria and externally moderated.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this unit demands
AS 2 Product Development is the internally assessed coursework of the AS year. It is where the AS 1 Design and Manufacture content is put into practice: the candidate works through the full design process to develop and make a product in response to a brief, producing a design folder and a prototype. The assessment rewards analysed research, a measurable specification, justified development, a quality make and an honest evaluation, all marked against CCEA's criteria and externally moderated.
This guide gives the shape of the task and the patterns that gain marks; the dot-point page walks through the stages and the assessment in detail.
The shape of the task
The folder follows the design process and must evidence each stage, because the marks are awarded against them. The strongest folders move logically from a clear brief, through analysed research (not just collected) that drives a measurable specification, to a range of ideas then developed designs with annotation and modelling, careful planning for manufacture with health and safety, a quality prototype, and testing and evaluation against the specification and with the user, with modifications.
What gains marks
- Analysis over description. Research must be analysed and linked to the specification.
- Measurable specification. Testable, justified points that are re-used for evaluation.
- Breadth then depth in design. A range of ideas, then justified development and modelling.
- Quality of make. Accuracy, appropriate processes and a well-finished prototype.
- Honest evaluation. Tested against the specification and the user, with modifications.
How it is assessed
The task is internally assessed against CCEA's criteria and externally moderated: the centre marks the work, CCEA moderates a sample to keep standards comparable between centres, and the work must be authenticated as the candidate's own. Marks reflect the quality of evidence against each criterion, not effort alone.
Check your knowledge
A few questions on the coursework requirements. Attempt them, then check against the solutions.
- Name three stages the design folder should evidence. (3 marks)
- Why must the design specification be measurable? (2 marks)
- What does external moderation achieve? (2 marks)
- State one thing that distinguishes a high-marking evaluation. (1 mark)
Sources & how we know this
- CCEA GCE Technology and Design specification — CCEA (2016)