BGCSE Design & Technology study plan
BGCSE Design & Technology · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Design process and problem solving & Materials and their properties
Outline the stages of the design process and apply them to a simple everyday problem.
Classify ten common materials (wood, metal, plastic, ceramic) by their key properties.
Match five material properties (strength, hardness, ductility, conductivity, durability) to suitable uses.
Produce a one-page comparison table of three materials for a specific product application.
Your checkpoint
A written design brief and a material comparison table for a simple product (e.g., a phone stand).
Design process and problem solving & Materials and their properties
Generate at least six design ideas using sketching and annotation for a given problem.
Evaluate design ideas against a set of criteria and select the best one with justification.
Explain how manufacturing processes (e.g., injection moulding, casting) influence material choice.
Identify three sustainability considerations for material selection in a product.
Your checkpoint
A design portfolio section with six annotated sketches and a justified final design choice.
Tools, equipment and workshop safety & Manufacturing processes and techniques
Identify and name ten common workshop tools and their safe uses.
Demonstrate (or describe) the correct use of three measuring and marking tools.
List five workshop safety rules and explain the consequences of ignoring them.
Describe three basic manufacturing techniques (e.g., cutting, joining, finishing) with their tools.
Your checkpoint
A safety poster or checklist for a school workshop, plus a tool identification quiz (self-marked).
Tools, equipment and workshop safety & Manufacturing processes and techniques
Explain the difference between quality control and quality assurance in manufacturing.
Sequence the steps to manufacture a simple wooden or plastic product, listing tools and processes.
Describe two joining methods (e.g., screws, adhesives) and select one for a given product.
Identify three potential hazards in a manufacturing process and propose control measures.
Your checkpoint
A step-by-step manufacturing plan for a simple product, including a risk assessment table.
Technical drawing, sketching and communication & Structures, mechanisms and control
Produce a neat orthographic drawing (front, top, side) of a simple object to scale.
Use correct line types (construction, hidden, centre) and dimensioning in a technical drawing.
Explain how a simple mechanism (e.g., lever, linkage, gear) works and calculate its mechanical advantage.
Identify forces (tension, compression, bending) in a simple structure and suggest ways to strengthen it.
Your checkpoint
A hand-drawn orthographic drawing with dimensions and a written explanation of a mechanism.
Structures, mechanisms and control & Energy, electricity and electronics
Explain the difference between series and parallel circuits and give one advantage of each.
Calculate simple electrical quantities (voltage, current, resistance) using Ohm's law.
Describe the function of three electronic components (resistor, LED, switch) in a circuit.
Analyse a simple control system (input, process, output) and identify its parts.
Your checkpoint
A circuit diagram with calculations and a short written explanation of a control system.
Design in society, sustainability and ethics & Practical project and coursework
Discuss the social and environmental impacts of a chosen product throughout its life cycle.
Evaluate a product against ethical and sustainability criteria (e.g., fair trade, recyclability).
Outline the structure of a design coursework project (investigation, design, making, evaluation).
Set personal targets and a timeline for completing a coursework project.
Your checkpoint
A one-page sustainability evaluation of a product and a coursework project plan with timeline.
Design process and problem solving & Materials and their properties & Tools, equipment and workshop safety & Manufacturing processes and techniques & Technical drawing, sketching and communication & Structures, mechanisms and control & Energy, electricity and electronics & Design in society, sustainability and ethics & Practical project and coursework
Review all domains using summary notes and practice questions.
Complete a timed mock exam covering all domains.
Identify weak areas from the mock and create a focused revision list.
Finalise coursework project documentation and check against assessment criteria.
Your checkpoint
A completed mock exam with self-assessment and a final coursework checklist.
Milestones
Week 2: Completed design portfolio section with six annotated sketches and a justified final design choice.
Week 4: Completed manufacturing plan with risk assessment, demonstrating understanding of tools and processes.
Week 6: Completed orthographic drawing and circuit diagram with calculations, showing competence in drawing and electronics.
Week 8: Achieved at least 70% on the mock exam and completed all coursework documentation.