MATSEC AM Graphical Communication study plan

Set up a drawing station with the MATSEC-permitted instruments (drawing board, T-square or parallel rule, set squares 45° and 30°/60°, compass, dividers, scale rule, French curves, pencils graded H, 2H and HB) and verify each instrument works before starting.

Practise setting up a sheet: draw border lines, title block and centring lines for A3 and A2 formats to the standard layout conventions used in Graphical Communication.

Construct and label the main line types (continuous thick, continuous thin, dashed, chain, cutting-plane) at correct relative weights, and explain in one sentence where each is used.

Draft freehand lettering and standard numerals in vertical capitals to a consistent height, aiming for legibility at 5 mm and 3.5 mm.

Solve five basic geometric constructions from memory: bisecting a line and an angle, erecting a perpendicular at a point on a line, and dividing a line into equal parts.

Construct regular polygons (triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, octagon) both given the circumscribing circle and given the side length, using compass-and-straightedge methods.

Construct tangents to a circle from an external point and draw common external and internal tangents between two circles of unequal radius.

Build an ogee curve, an S-curve and a reverse curve between two given lines or circles using tangent construction.

Apply the principle of loci to trace the path of a point on a rolling circle (cycloid) and on a circle rolling inside a larger circle (hypocycloid), stating the construction steps in order.

Annotate each construction with the construction lines left visible in thin line, as required by marking schemes.

Read and set a plain scale, a diagonal scale and a comparative scale, and use each to measure a stated distance to the nearest millimetre.

Construct a diagonal scale of a given representative fraction (RF) capable of measuring to a stated smallest unit, and label it fully.

Convert between representative fraction, ratio and statement-of-scale forms, and compute the RF for a drawing where a 5 m wall is drawn as 25 mm.

Apply reduction and enlargement to a plane figure using radial-line and grid methods, and verify the scale factor by measuring two corresponding sides.

Produce a scale drawing of a simple room plan at 1:50, including a door swing and a window, with a scale bar on the sheet.

Project a point, a line and a plane figure onto the three principal planes using first-angle projection, and state the rule that distinguishes first- from third-angle symbol layout.

Determine the true length and true inclination of an oblique line by the auxiliary-plane (rebatment) method, and check the answer by calculation.

Project a plane lamina inclined to both the horizontal and vertical planes, and identify where the edge view appears.

Draw the front, end and plan views of a simple solid (prism, pyramid, cylinder, cone) and apply correct hidden-detail conventions.

Produce the standard first-angle projection symbol alongside a worked example so the convention becomes automatic.

Construct the complete interpenetration curve between two intersecting cylinders of unequal diameter, and between a square prism and a cylinder.

Develop the surface of a truncated cylinder and a truncated square prism (parallel-line development) and check the developed length against the calculated circumference or perimeter.

Develop a right cone and a truncated cone by the radial-line method, and develop an oblique pyramid by triangulation.

Draw the true shape of a sectioned face using an auxiliary view, and hatch the cut surface at the correct angle and spacing.

Assemble a net from your own development, fold it, and compare the physical result with the drawing to catch development errors.

Produce a one-point perspective of a simple box-form interior given a plan and elevation, correctly locating the station point, picture plane, horizon and vanishing point.

Produce a two-point perspective of a rectangular block using the visual-ray method, and place a second block correctly in front of and behind the picture plane.

Apply the measuring-line method to set off true heights and widths in perspective without guesswork.

Draw circles in perspective as ellipses in both horizontal and vertical planes, and place a simple archway or cylinder convincingly.

Add shade and shadow to a perspective view using a consistent 45° light direction.

Apply British Standard dimensioning conventions: dimension and extension lines, arrowheads or oblique strokes, leader lines, and the correct placement of radius, diameter, spherical and angular dimensions.

Assign and apply limits and fits notation to a shaft-and-hole pair, and interpret a stated tolerance band.

Draw the standard symbols for surface texture and weld/assembly features as used in Graphical Communication coursework.

Produce a fully dimensioned working drawing of a small bracket with no dimension stated twice and no dimension missing.

Redraw a given part using computer-aided drafting (any accessible free CAD tool) and compare the output with your manual drawing for consistency.

Complete two full past-paper-style questions under timed conditions (roughly 1 hour each) covering mixed topics, then mark them against the official marking criteria and log every lost mark by cause.

Rebuild the three weakest constructions identified in the timed papers from a blank sheet, without notes.

Consolidate a one-page formula and convention sheet (RF, true length, development lengths, perspective terms, dimensioning rules) and use it only for a final 20-minute recall test.

Finalise a portfolio index listing every sheet produced across the eight weeks, with the topic and the skill each one demonstrates.

Rehearse exam logistics: permitted instruments, sheet sizes, time allocation per question and a check-off routine for construction lines, labelling and neatness.