Latest 2025/2026 Edition: AQA A-Level Design and
Technology Product Design Paper 1 (7552/1)
Question Paper with Mark Scheme - June 2025 |
Ultimate Exam Prep to Pass First Time
Factors affecting material selection - ANSWER//Properties,
aesthetics, cost, function, manufacture, disposal. Physical
properties of materials - ANSWER//Density, thermal
conductivity, electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance.
Mechanical properties of materials - ANSWER//Strength,
hardness, toughness, malleability, ductility, elasticity. Examples
of modern materials - ANSWER//Kevlar, polymorph, precious
metal clay, high-density modelling foam. Examples of smart
materials - ANSWER//Shape memory alloys, thermochromic
,pigments, photochromic pigments, piezoelectric materials.
Difference between thermoplastics and thermosets -
ANSWER//Thermoplastics can be reheated and reshaped;
thermosets cannot. Key stock forms of timber -
ANSWER//Rough sawn, PSE, PAR, natural timber,
manufactured boards, mouldings. Common wood joints -
ANSWER//Dowel, mortise and tenon, dovetail, comb, half-lap,
housing. Key forming processes for metals - ANSWER//Press
forming, deep drawing, spinning, forging, casting. Common
joining methods for metals - ANSWER//Welding, soldering,
brazing, riveting, nuts and bolts. Common polymer forming
processes - ANSWER//Injection moulding, blow moulding,
vacuum forming, extrusion. Purpose of finishing materials -
ANSWER//Improve aesthetics, durability, corrosion resistance.
Scales of production - ANSWER//One-off, batch, mass, unit
production systems, quick response manufacturing. CAD/CAM -
ANSWER//Computer-aided design and manufacturing used for
efficiency and accuracy. Examples of digital modelling tools -
ANSWER//CFD (computational fluid dynamics), FEA (finite
element analysis). Just In Time (JIT) manufacturing -
ANSWER//A system where materials arrive as needed, reducing
storage. Sub-assembly - ANSWER//Manufacturing separate
parts of a product in parallel. Inclusive design -
ANSWER//Design usable by as many people as possible,
regardless of ability. Purpose of risk assessment - ANSWER//To
identify and reduce potential hazards in manufacturing.
Intellectual Property (IP) - ANSWER//Protects copyrights,
patents, trademarks, registered designs. Six Rs of sustainability
- ANSWER//Reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink, refuse, repair.
Quality assurance - ANSWER//Planned procedures to ensure
quality throughout production. Quality control -
ANSWER//Testing and checking products during/after
manufacture. National and international standards -
ANSWER//BSI, ISO, RoHS, WEEE, FSC, CE, Energy Star. User-
centred design - ANSWER//Designing to meet needs, wants,
, values of specific users. Anthropometric data -
ANSWER//Human body measurements used for product design.
Ergonomic design - ANSWER//Design focused on comfort,
efficiency, and usability. Iterative design - ANSWER//A cyclical
process of prototyping, testing, and refining. Stages of the
design process - ANSWER//Research, brief, specification,
concept, development, testing, evaluation. Design
specifications - ANSWER//Based on research, user needs, and
context. Feasibility testing - ANSWER//Evaluating if a design
can be realistically made and used. Key design movements -
ANSWER//Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, Modernism,
Postmodernism. Key designers to study - ANSWER//Phillipe
Starck, James Dyson, Margaret Calvert, Dieter Rams.
Technology influence on design - ANSWER//Enables new forms,
materials, production methods, user interfaces. Impact of
cultural and social changes on design - ANSWER//Shapes trends,
materials, inclusivity, and sustainability. Product life cycle -
ANSWER//Introduction, growth, maturity, decline, replacement.
Difference between QA and QC - ANSWER//QA is process-
based; QC is product-based. Planning tools in design -
ANSWER//Gantt charts, critical path analysis, scrum, Six Sigma.
Inclusive design - ANSWER//Designing products accessible to all
users. Ethical issues in design - ANSWER//Sustainability, fair
trade, cultural sensitivity, safety. Batch vs mass production -
ANSWER//Batch produces in set quantities; mass is continuous.
Critical evaluation - ANSWER//Judging the effectiveness and
quality of a product. Third-party feedback - ANSWER//Opinions
from people outside the design team to improve a product.
Responsible design - ANSWER//Minimising environmental and
social impact of products. Working characteristics of a material
- ANSWER//How a material behaves when manipulated or
processed, including its machinability, forming ability, and
response to heat or stress. Thermal conductivity in material
selection - ANSWER//It determines a material's ability to
transfer heat, which affects insulation, overheating, and energy
Technology Product Design Paper 1 (7552/1)
Question Paper with Mark Scheme - June 2025 |
Ultimate Exam Prep to Pass First Time
Factors affecting material selection - ANSWER//Properties,
aesthetics, cost, function, manufacture, disposal. Physical
properties of materials - ANSWER//Density, thermal
conductivity, electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance.
Mechanical properties of materials - ANSWER//Strength,
hardness, toughness, malleability, ductility, elasticity. Examples
of modern materials - ANSWER//Kevlar, polymorph, precious
metal clay, high-density modelling foam. Examples of smart
materials - ANSWER//Shape memory alloys, thermochromic
,pigments, photochromic pigments, piezoelectric materials.
Difference between thermoplastics and thermosets -
ANSWER//Thermoplastics can be reheated and reshaped;
thermosets cannot. Key stock forms of timber -
ANSWER//Rough sawn, PSE, PAR, natural timber,
manufactured boards, mouldings. Common wood joints -
ANSWER//Dowel, mortise and tenon, dovetail, comb, half-lap,
housing. Key forming processes for metals - ANSWER//Press
forming, deep drawing, spinning, forging, casting. Common
joining methods for metals - ANSWER//Welding, soldering,
brazing, riveting, nuts and bolts. Common polymer forming
processes - ANSWER//Injection moulding, blow moulding,
vacuum forming, extrusion. Purpose of finishing materials -
ANSWER//Improve aesthetics, durability, corrosion resistance.
Scales of production - ANSWER//One-off, batch, mass, unit
production systems, quick response manufacturing. CAD/CAM -
ANSWER//Computer-aided design and manufacturing used for
efficiency and accuracy. Examples of digital modelling tools -
ANSWER//CFD (computational fluid dynamics), FEA (finite
element analysis). Just In Time (JIT) manufacturing -
ANSWER//A system where materials arrive as needed, reducing
storage. Sub-assembly - ANSWER//Manufacturing separate
parts of a product in parallel. Inclusive design -
ANSWER//Design usable by as many people as possible,
regardless of ability. Purpose of risk assessment - ANSWER//To
identify and reduce potential hazards in manufacturing.
Intellectual Property (IP) - ANSWER//Protects copyrights,
patents, trademarks, registered designs. Six Rs of sustainability
- ANSWER//Reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink, refuse, repair.
Quality assurance - ANSWER//Planned procedures to ensure
quality throughout production. Quality control -
ANSWER//Testing and checking products during/after
manufacture. National and international standards -
ANSWER//BSI, ISO, RoHS, WEEE, FSC, CE, Energy Star. User-
centred design - ANSWER//Designing to meet needs, wants,
, values of specific users. Anthropometric data -
ANSWER//Human body measurements used for product design.
Ergonomic design - ANSWER//Design focused on comfort,
efficiency, and usability. Iterative design - ANSWER//A cyclical
process of prototyping, testing, and refining. Stages of the
design process - ANSWER//Research, brief, specification,
concept, development, testing, evaluation. Design
specifications - ANSWER//Based on research, user needs, and
context. Feasibility testing - ANSWER//Evaluating if a design
can be realistically made and used. Key design movements -
ANSWER//Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, Modernism,
Postmodernism. Key designers to study - ANSWER//Phillipe
Starck, James Dyson, Margaret Calvert, Dieter Rams.
Technology influence on design - ANSWER//Enables new forms,
materials, production methods, user interfaces. Impact of
cultural and social changes on design - ANSWER//Shapes trends,
materials, inclusivity, and sustainability. Product life cycle -
ANSWER//Introduction, growth, maturity, decline, replacement.
Difference between QA and QC - ANSWER//QA is process-
based; QC is product-based. Planning tools in design -
ANSWER//Gantt charts, critical path analysis, scrum, Six Sigma.
Inclusive design - ANSWER//Designing products accessible to all
users. Ethical issues in design - ANSWER//Sustainability, fair
trade, cultural sensitivity, safety. Batch vs mass production -
ANSWER//Batch produces in set quantities; mass is continuous.
Critical evaluation - ANSWER//Judging the effectiveness and
quality of a product. Third-party feedback - ANSWER//Opinions
from people outside the design team to improve a product.
Responsible design - ANSWER//Minimising environmental and
social impact of products. Working characteristics of a material
- ANSWER//How a material behaves when manipulated or
processed, including its machinability, forming ability, and
response to heat or stress. Thermal conductivity in material
selection - ANSWER//It determines a material's ability to
transfer heat, which affects insulation, overheating, and energy
