β Wales Design and Technology
Wales Β· WJECSyllabus
Design and Technology syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the Wales Design and Technologysyllabus, with a focused answer for each one. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions, and links to related dot points. Written by Claude Opus 4.8, Anthropic's latest AI.
Unit 1: Core technical principles
Module overview β- Where does the energy in our products come from, and how is it stored?Energy generation from fossil fuels, nuclear power and renewable sources, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and energy storage in batteries and cells for portable products.9 min answer β
- How do mechanisms change the type, size or direction of movement?The four types of motion, levers and linkages, rotary systems of gears, pulleys and belts, and cams and followers, with mechanical advantage and gear ratio.10 min answer β
- How do new and emerging technologies change industry, society and the environment?The impact of new and emerging technologies on industry, enterprise, sustainability, people, culture, society and the environment, including automation, and the choice between meeting needs and wants.9 min answer β
- How do smart, modern and composite materials let designers do new things?Smart materials that respond to a change in their environment, modern materials developed through new processes, and composite materials that combine two or more materials for improved properties.9 min answer β
- How does a systems approach using inputs, processes and outputs control a product?The systems approach of input, process and output, the function of sensors and output devices, and the use of programmable components such as microcontrollers in electronic products.9 min answer β
Unit 2: Design and make task (NEA)
Module overview βUnit 1: Designing principles
Module overview β- How do designers communicate ideas through drawing, modelling and CAD/CAM?Methods of communicating design ideas, including freehand sketching, isometric and orthographic drawing, working drawings, modelling, and computer-aided design and manufacture (CAD/CAM).9 min answer β
- How do designers investigate a problem and turn it into a brief and specification?Identifying needs and wants, the design context and target market, writing a design brief, and producing a design specification with measurable, justified criteria.9 min answer β
- How can designers reduce the environmental and social impact of products?Sustainability and the 6 Rs, the life cycle of a product, the ecological and social footprint of design, and ethical issues such as fair trade and responsible sourcing.9 min answer β
- How do designers learn from the work of others and from design movements?The work of past and present designers and companies, major design movements and styles, and how studying the work of others informs and inspires new design.9 min answer β
Unit 1: Manufacturing and production
Module overview β- How do designers make products that fit the human body and are comfortable to use?Ergonomics and anthropometrics, the use of body measurement data and percentiles, and how designers apply them to make products comfortable, safe and usable.9 min answer β
- How are materials cut, shaped, joined and finished into products?Processes for shaping materials including cutting and wasting, forming such as vacuum forming and casting, joining and assembly, and surface finishing, and how these suit different materials and scales.10 min answer β
- How does the number of products to be made change how they are manufactured?The four scales of production, one-off, batch, mass and continuous, their features, advantages and disadvantages, and how to match a scale to a product and quantity.9 min answer β
- How do structures resist forces, and how can they be made stronger?The forces of tension, compression, bending, shear and torsion, how structures resist them, and ways to reinforce and stiffen a structure such as triangulation, webbing and folding.9 min answer β
Unit 1: Materials and their properties
Module overview β- How do ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys differ, and what is each used for?Ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys, named examples such as mild steel, aluminium, copper, brass and stainless steel, their properties and why alloys are made.9 min answer β
- What are the main papers and boards, and what is each one used for?Common papers and boards including layout, cartridge, tracing and grid paper, and corrugated card, foam board, mount board and duplex board, their properties, weights and uses.9 min answer β
- How do thermoforming and thermosetting polymers differ, and what is each used for?Thermoforming and thermosetting polymers, named examples such as acrylic, HIPS, PET, PP and epoxy resin, their properties and uses, and the difference in how they respond to heat.9 min answer β
- What physical and working properties make a material right for a job?The physical and mechanical properties of materials, including strength, hardness, toughness, ductility, malleability, elasticity, density and conductivity, and how they guide material selection.9 min answer β
- How are textiles classified, and what are natural, synthetic and blended fibres used for?Natural, synthetic and regenerated fibres and named examples, woven, knitted and non-woven fabric construction, and why fibres are blended.9 min answer β
- How do hardwoods, softwoods and manufactured boards differ, and what is each used for?Hardwoods and softwoods, named examples and their properties, and manufactured boards such as plywood, MDF and chipboard, with their advantages and uses.9 min answer β