WACE MDT ATAR study plan

Map the design process stages and annotate each stage with the function it performs and the documentation it produces

Define the elements and principles of design and classify ten everyday products against at least four principles each

Explain how fitness for purpose, function and aesthetics interact when a designer sets a design brief

List the mechanical, physical and chemical properties used to compare materials and state one test method for each

Compare ferrous and non-ferrous metals, thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers, and hardwoods and softwoods on source, structure and typical use

Justify material selection for three specified products using at least three properties per product

Describe how alloying, tempering and work hardening change the properties of a metal

Sketch and label a design idea that resolves a stated need, applying two named design principles

Explain how the internal structure of timber, metals and polymers determines their behaviour under load and moisture

Match five named materials to five named manufacturing processes and give a reason for each pairing

Define the manufacturing categories of forming, joining, finishing and assembly and place ten processes under the correct heading

Describe safe handling and storage requirements for three workshop materials

Sequence the stages from design concept to finished product and identify the quality check at each stage

Compare one-off, batch, mass and continuous production on cost per unit, tooling and labour

Explain the purpose of jigs, fixtures and templates and describe one example of each

Draft a production plan for a simple product that names the processes, sequence and estimated time per step

Construct a work breakdown structure for a small manufacturing project and assign durations to each task

Draw a Gantt chart or critical-path network for that project and identify the critical path

Explain how quality control and quality assurance differ and state one technique for each

Describe how to control cost, time and scope when a project falls behind schedule

Explain the role of intellectual property, standards and safety legislation in product development

Apply a design brief to generate and screen three concepts against weighted criteria

Describe how market research and user feedback inform design decisions

Evaluate a product's lifecycle impacts and propose one design change that reduces them

Answer timed practice questions on design and materials under exam conditions and mark them against the syllabus

Answer timed practice questions on production and management and mark them against the syllabus

Compile and correct an error log of every recurring mistake found in the practice answers

Rehearse extended-response structure: definition, application to the scenario, evaluation, conclusion

Revise the highest-frequency content from all four domains using condensed summary sheets

Re-attempt the weakest question types from the error log and confirm improvement

Practise planning extended answers in five minutes using a scaffold

Rehearse definitions, formulas and process names aloud until recall is immediate