MATSEC SEC Engineering Technology study guide
MATSEC SEC Engineering Technology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
SEC Engineering Technology is a secondary-level qualification in Malta's MATSEC system. It is designed for students who have followed a school engineering technology programme and want certification of both theoretical understanding and practical workshop competence. The MATSEC SEC Engineering Technology study guide has 11 sections and about 3,076 words.
01Health, Safety and Workshop Practice
This domain tests hazard spotting, risk control and correct workshop conduct around hand tools, machines, electricity and fire. Expect applied scenarios rather than definitions alone.
296 words, about 1 min02Engineering Materials and Their Properties
The exam checks whether you can match material properties to service conditions: strength, hardness, toughness, ductility, malleability, elasticity, conductivity and corrosion resistance. Ferrous metals contain iron; mild steel has roughly 0.15–0.3% carbon, is ductile, weldable and cheap.
271 words, about 1 min03Hand Tools
This domain tests correct selection, safe use and maintenance of files, hacksaws, chisels, taps and dies, spanners, screwdrivers and pliers. Files cut on the forward stroke.
292 words, about 1 min04Portable Power Tools and Measuring Instruments
The exam tests safe use of drills, angle grinders, jigsaws, circular saws and sanders, plus correct reading of vernier calipers, micrometers, steel rules, squares and feeler gauges. Power tools: check voltage and insulation, use an RCD, keep guards fitted, unplug before changing blades or discs, and clamp the work.
299 words, about 1 min05Machine Tools and Machining Processes
This domain covers the centre lathe, drilling machine, milling machine and grinding, including cutting speeds, feeds, workholding and safe operation. Spindle speed: N = 1000 × Vc / (π × D), where Vc is cutting speed in m/min and D is diameter in mm.
288 words, about 1 min06Joining and Assembly Methods
The exam tests welding, soldering, brazing, adhesives and fasteners, and the reasons for choosing one method over another. Welding melts the parent metal.
285 words, about 1 min07Engineering Drawing, Orthographic Projection and CAD
This domain tests orthographic views, first-angle projection, dimensioning, sections, line types and basic CAD conventions. In first-angle projection the object sits between the observer and the plane: the top view is placed below the front view, and the left-side view is placed on the right.
282 words, about 1 min08Mechanical Systems, Mechanisms and Power Transmission
The exam tests levers, pulleys, gears, belts, chains, screws, cams and linkages, using mechanical advantage, velocity ratio and efficiency. Mechanical advantage MA = load / effort.
271 words, about 1 min09Electrical and Electronic Fundamentals and Control
This domain tests Ohm's law, series and parallel circuits, power, simple components and control devices such as switches, relays, sensors and logic. Ohm's law: V = I × R.
279 words, about 1 min10Design, Planning and Project Realisation
The coursework domain tests a full design cycle: brief, research, specification, ideas, selection, planning, making, testing and evaluation. A specification must be measurable: size, strength, cost, finish, safety and environmental impact.
252 words, about 1 min11Energy, Sustainability and Environmental Impact in Engineering
The exam tests energy units, efficiency, renewable and non-renewable sources, life-cycle thinking and the environmental consequences of material and process choices. Power is the rate of energy use (W or kW); energy is power × time (kWh).
261 words, about 1 min