NSSCO Design and Technology (6187) study plan

Map the full design cycle (brief, research, specification, ideation, development, evaluation) and write a one-page summary in your own words

Rewrite five weak design briefs into measurable specifications with at least three constraints and three criteria each

Classify 20 common workshop materials (softwoods, hardwoods, manufactured boards, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, thermoplastics, thermosets) by origin and key property

Produce a personal property-glossary table covering strength, hardness, toughness, ductility, malleability, conductivity and durability with one material example per term

Compare six materials against a real product (e.g. a chair or storage box) and justify a substitution for each

Sequence the stages of production from raw material to finished artefact for two different products

Explain the difference between wasting, addition and forming processes and give two workshop examples of each

Describe how heat treatment (annealing, hardening, tempering) changes the properties of a named steel

List five permanent and five temporary joining methods and state one suitable material pairing for each

Describe the correct setup and safety checks for three named machines before use

Draft a workshop risk assessment for a small project with five hazards, their likelihood, severity and control measures

Explain the purpose and correct use of five marking-out and measuring tools

Produce a set of orthographic drawings (front, plan, end view) of a simple artefact to a stated scale

Apply correct dimensioning, line types and a title block to one drawing

Sketch three isometric views of the same artefact and check consistency with the orthographic set

Start a portfolio contents page listing every piece of evidence you still need to produce

Calculate mechanical advantage, velocity ratio and efficiency for three lever, pulley and gear systems

Identify the four types of motion and match each to a mechanism that produces it

Explain the difference between series and parallel circuits and calculate total resistance in each

Draw and label a circuit using standard symbols for a simple switch-and-lamp control

Evaluate one product against the six Rs (rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, recycle) and recommend two improvements

Summarise the social and environmental impacts of one material from extraction to disposal

Revise your week 1 specification for a sustainability constraint and record what changed

Write a 300-word evaluation of a design decision using evidence rather than opinion

Assemble the portfolio into sections matching the design cycle, filling any gaps flagged in week 4

Annotate every drawing and photograph with what it shows and why the decision was made

Write a reflective evaluation of your project covering strengths, weaknesses and next steps

Check the portfolio against the assessment criteria and list remaining weaknesses

Answer 40 mixed questions across the four heaviest domains under timed conditions

Review every wrong answer and write the correct reasoning beside it

Re-test the two weakest topics from week 1 to week 7 and record your score change

Condense each heavy domain onto a single revision card of key facts and formulas