AQA A LEVEL DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
PRODUCT DESIGN 7552 1 TECHNICAL
PRINCIPLES EXAM SCRIPT 2026 UPDATED
QUESTIONS WITH MARKING SCHEME
GRADED A+
⩥ Cartridge paper. Answer: Off-white, usually has a slightly textured
surface
➜ used in: sketching, ink and pastel drawings
⩥ Tracing paper. Answer: Translucent, slightly thicker than layout paper
➜ used in: copying images when sketching
⩥ Bleed-proof paper. Answer: Similar to cartridge paper, has a bleed-
proof layer on side so colours don't run
➜ used in: spirit-based marker rendering
⩥ Treated paper. Answer: Plain paper with a clear binder/dye applied to
hold the image on the surface and brighten it; can come in gloss or matte
➜ used in: photographic printing
,⩥ Watercolour paper. Answer: Came come as absorbent, smooth and
hot-pressed, more textured, cold-pressed, or heavily textured rough.
➜ used in: watercolour painting
⩥ Corrugated card. Answer: Carton board outer layers and a corrugated
middle layer to provide protection against impact
➜ used in: protective packaging, model making, food packaging
⩥ Bleached card. Answer: Chemically treated to brighten the card,
making it good for high-quality printing
➜ used in: greetings cards, high-quality packaging
⩥ Mount board. Answer: Made from compressed fine cotton fibres to
produce a rigid board
➜ used in: presenting artwork, modelling
⩥ Duplex card. Answer: Two layers of paper: the exterior coated to
make it water-resistant, and give it a glossy sheen and waxy feel
➜ used in: food packaging, disposable cups and plates
⩥ Foil backed and laminated card. Answer: Card with polymer film/foil
applied to one/both sides to provide a water-resistant or heat-insulating
layer. Foil/laminate layer must be removed before recycling
,➜ used in: drinks packaging, milk cartons
⩥ Metal effect card. Answer: High-quality card with a thin metal effect
layer applied to the exterior for aesthetics. Can be embossed
➜ used in: gift boxes + packaging, high-quality business cards
⩥ Moulded paper pulp. Answer: Recycled paper pulp moulded when
wet and dried to a specific shape. Usually smooth on the inside and
rough on the outside
➜ used in: moulded packaging, egg boxes, fruit packaging
⩥ polymer sheets w performance and uses. Answer: 1) Foam board: Two
outer layers of card with a foam middle, Mood board backing,
presentation boards
2) Fluted PP sheet: Sheet with fluting inside. Lightweight and easily bent
along the flutes, Estate agent signs
3) Translucent PP sheet: Tough polymer sheet. impossible to tear, water
resistant, Packaging products, folders etc
4) Styrofoam: Dense foam, usually blue in colour. Can be cut, shaped,
sanded with standard workshop
tools, Modelling, cups
5) Low density polyethylene (LDPE) sheet: Tough transparent, flexible
Food wrapping, bubble wrap, carrier bags
, 6) Plastazote foam: Tough, flexible, impermeable to liquids, swimming
floats
7) Cellulose acetate: Transparent, tough, naturally biodegrades,
Packaging film, photographic film
8) Polylactide: Transparent, tough, naturally biodegrades, Biodegradable
packaging film
⩥ Softwood (coniferous). Answer: Has needles and cones, grows
quickly, relatively cheap
➜ e.g. pine, spruce, douglas fir, cedar, larch
⩥ Hardwood (broad leaf). Answer: Has leaves and fruit, grows slower,
more expensive
➜ e.g. oak, ash, mahogany, teak, birch, beech
⩥ Man-made board. Answer: Not too cheap, have different properties,
usually come in big sheets
➜ e.g. plywood, marine plywood, aeroply, flexible plywood, chipboard,
MDF
⩥ Veneers. Answer: A layer of timber that has been taken from a tree.
Normally 0.4-1.5mm thick.
➜ used in: decorative coverings for manufactured boards
PRODUCT DESIGN 7552 1 TECHNICAL
PRINCIPLES EXAM SCRIPT 2026 UPDATED
QUESTIONS WITH MARKING SCHEME
GRADED A+
⩥ Cartridge paper. Answer: Off-white, usually has a slightly textured
surface
➜ used in: sketching, ink and pastel drawings
⩥ Tracing paper. Answer: Translucent, slightly thicker than layout paper
➜ used in: copying images when sketching
⩥ Bleed-proof paper. Answer: Similar to cartridge paper, has a bleed-
proof layer on side so colours don't run
➜ used in: spirit-based marker rendering
⩥ Treated paper. Answer: Plain paper with a clear binder/dye applied to
hold the image on the surface and brighten it; can come in gloss or matte
➜ used in: photographic printing
,⩥ Watercolour paper. Answer: Came come as absorbent, smooth and
hot-pressed, more textured, cold-pressed, or heavily textured rough.
➜ used in: watercolour painting
⩥ Corrugated card. Answer: Carton board outer layers and a corrugated
middle layer to provide protection against impact
➜ used in: protective packaging, model making, food packaging
⩥ Bleached card. Answer: Chemically treated to brighten the card,
making it good for high-quality printing
➜ used in: greetings cards, high-quality packaging
⩥ Mount board. Answer: Made from compressed fine cotton fibres to
produce a rigid board
➜ used in: presenting artwork, modelling
⩥ Duplex card. Answer: Two layers of paper: the exterior coated to
make it water-resistant, and give it a glossy sheen and waxy feel
➜ used in: food packaging, disposable cups and plates
⩥ Foil backed and laminated card. Answer: Card with polymer film/foil
applied to one/both sides to provide a water-resistant or heat-insulating
layer. Foil/laminate layer must be removed before recycling
,➜ used in: drinks packaging, milk cartons
⩥ Metal effect card. Answer: High-quality card with a thin metal effect
layer applied to the exterior for aesthetics. Can be embossed
➜ used in: gift boxes + packaging, high-quality business cards
⩥ Moulded paper pulp. Answer: Recycled paper pulp moulded when
wet and dried to a specific shape. Usually smooth on the inside and
rough on the outside
➜ used in: moulded packaging, egg boxes, fruit packaging
⩥ polymer sheets w performance and uses. Answer: 1) Foam board: Two
outer layers of card with a foam middle, Mood board backing,
presentation boards
2) Fluted PP sheet: Sheet with fluting inside. Lightweight and easily bent
along the flutes, Estate agent signs
3) Translucent PP sheet: Tough polymer sheet. impossible to tear, water
resistant, Packaging products, folders etc
4) Styrofoam: Dense foam, usually blue in colour. Can be cut, shaped,
sanded with standard workshop
tools, Modelling, cups
5) Low density polyethylene (LDPE) sheet: Tough transparent, flexible
Food wrapping, bubble wrap, carrier bags
, 6) Plastazote foam: Tough, flexible, impermeable to liquids, swimming
floats
7) Cellulose acetate: Transparent, tough, naturally biodegrades,
Packaging film, photographic film
8) Polylactide: Transparent, tough, naturally biodegrades, Biodegradable
packaging film
⩥ Softwood (coniferous). Answer: Has needles and cones, grows
quickly, relatively cheap
➜ e.g. pine, spruce, douglas fir, cedar, larch
⩥ Hardwood (broad leaf). Answer: Has leaves and fruit, grows slower,
more expensive
➜ e.g. oak, ash, mahogany, teak, birch, beech
⩥ Man-made board. Answer: Not too cheap, have different properties,
usually come in big sheets
➜ e.g. plywood, marine plywood, aeroply, flexible plywood, chipboard,
MDF
⩥ Veneers. Answer: A layer of timber that has been taken from a tree.
Normally 0.4-1.5mm thick.
➜ used in: decorative coverings for manufactured boards
