100+ Free A-Level Design Technology Practice Questions

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James Dyson's bagless vacuum cleaner used which technical innovation?

A self-emptying paper bag

Cyclonic separation of dust from air

Solar-powered batteries

Ultrasonic cleaning of carpets

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Key Facts: A-Level Design Technology Exam

A*-E

Grading scale

Ofqual

May-June

Exam series

AQA, Edexcel, OCR timetable

50%

NEA project weighting on AQA 7552

AQA 7552 specification

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

AQA, Edexcel, OCR A-Level Design and Technology is assessed through two written papers (50%) and a substantial NEA design-and-make project (50%). Content covers materials, manufacturing, design thinking, sustainability, mechanisms and electronics on 2026 specifications.

Sample A-Level Design Technology Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your A-Level Design Technology exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which property describes a material's ability to be drawn out into a thin wire without breaking?

A.Ductility

B.Malleability

C.Hardness

D.Toughness

Explanation: Ductility is the ability of a material to be drawn into wires under tensile load without fracturing. Copper and gold are the most ductile metals. Malleability is similar but refers specifically to being deformed by compression (rolling, hammering) into sheets.

2Paper weight is measured in gsm, while board thickness is measured in:

A.Microns

B.Millimetres

C.Grams per square metre

D.Newtons

Explanation: Paper weight uses grams per square metre (gsm), but board thickness is measured in microns (1 micron = 1/1000 mm). For example, business cards are typically 350gsm and around 400 microns thick. This distinction matters because gsm alone does not tell you how rigid a board feels.

3Which of the following is classified as a softwood?

A.Pine

B.Oak

C.Mahogany

D.Beech

Explanation: Softwoods come from coniferous (cone-bearing) evergreen trees and include pine, cedar, spruce and larch. They grow faster than hardwoods, making them cheaper and more sustainable. Hardwoods come from deciduous broadleaf trees and include oak, ash, beech, mahogany, walnut and birch.

4MDF (medium density fibreboard) is best described as a:

A.Manufactured board made from wood fibres and resin

B.Hardwood veneer laminate

C.Solid hardwood plank

D.Particle board made from large wood chips

Explanation: MDF is made by breaking down softwood and hardwood residuals into fine fibres, combining them with urea-formaldehyde resin and pressing them into dense panels. It has a smooth uniform surface ideal for painting and routing. Chipboard uses larger wood chips, while plywood uses thin wood veneers.

5What is the main difference between low carbon steel and high carbon steel?

A.High carbon steel is harder but more brittle

B.Low carbon steel is more expensive

C.High carbon steel is more ductile

D.Low carbon steel cannot be welded

Explanation: Low carbon (mild) steel contains 0.05-0.3% carbon, making it ductile, easy to weld and used for car body panels. High carbon steel contains 0.6-1.4% carbon, giving it greater hardness and strength but making it more brittle. High carbon steel is used for tools, blades and springs.

6Which of the following is a non-ferrous metal?

A.Aluminium

B.Cast iron

C.Stainless steel

D.High carbon steel

Explanation: Non-ferrous metals do not contain iron as the main component, so they do not rust. Common non-ferrous metals are aluminium, copper, brass, tin, zinc and lead. Ferrous metals contain iron (steels and cast iron) and are magnetic; stainless steel is ferrous despite being corrosion-resistant.

7Brass is an alloy of which two metals?

A.Copper and zinc

B.Copper and tin

C.Iron and carbon

D.Aluminium and copper

Explanation: Brass is a non-ferrous alloy of copper (about 65%) and zinc (about 35%), prized for its corrosion resistance, machinability and gold-like appearance. Copper and tin make bronze. Iron and carbon make steel. Aluminium and copper (with magnesium) make duralumin.

8Which polymer is a thermoset?

A.Epoxy resin

B.Polypropylene (PP)

C.Polyethylene (PE)

D.Acrylic (PMMA)

Explanation: Thermosetting polymers cross-link permanently when cured and cannot be remelted or reshaped. Examples include epoxy resin, polyester resin, urea-formaldehyde and melamine-formaldehyde. Thermoplastics like PP, PE and PMMA soften with heat and can be reshaped, making them more easily recyclable.

9Which polymer is commonly used for transparent drinks bottles?

A.PET (polyethylene terephthalate)

B.HIPS (high impact polystyrene)

C.ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)

D.Urea formaldehyde

Explanation: PET is a clear, lightweight, food-safe thermoplastic with excellent gas-barrier properties, making it ideal for fizzy drinks bottles. It is identified by recycling code 1. HIPS is used for vacuum-formed yoghurt pots, ABS for tough housings like LEGO, and urea-formaldehyde for electrical fittings.

10A shape-memory alloy (SMA) such as Nitinol can:

A.Return to a pre-set shape when heated above its transition temperature

B.Conduct electricity only at low temperatures

C.Glow when an electric current is applied

D.Change colour with UV light

Explanation: Nitinol (nickel-titanium) is a shape-memory alloy that remembers a pre-set shape; when deformed at low temperature and then heated above its transition temperature it returns to the original shape. SMAs are used in stents, spectacle frames and orthodontic wires.

About the A-Level Design Technology Exam

A-Level Design and Technology (Product Design) is offered by AQA, Edexcel, OCR. The AQA 7552 specification covers technical principles, designing and making principles, plus a substantial Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) project worth 50% of the qualification. Students study materials, manufacturing processes, mechanical and electronic systems, sustainability, and design history.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

5 hours total written papers (Paper 1: 3 hours, Paper 2: 2 hours) plus NEA project

Passing Score

Grade E is the minimum pass, Grades A*-E count as a pass

Exam Fee

£75-£130 per subject (school-set entry fee) (AQA, Edexcel, OCR)

A-Level Design Technology Exam Content Outline

20%

Materials and their working properties

Papers and boards, timbers (hardwood/softwood/manufactured), metals (ferrous/non-ferrous/alloys), polymers (thermoplastics/thermosets), smart and modern materials, composites

20%

Manufacturing processes and techniques

Forming, cutting and joining timber, metal and polymers; casting, welding, injection moulding, vacuum forming, CAD/CAM (laser, CNC, 3D printing); finishes and quality control

15%

Design thinking and processes

Iterative and user-centred design, anthropometrics and ergonomics, primary/secondary research, design specification, sketching conventions and orthographic projection

15%

Industry, enterprise, sustainability and environment

6 Rs, life cycle assessment, planned and perceived obsolescence, circular economy, BSI/CE/UKCA, ISO 9001 and 14001, Fairtrade, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

15%

Mechanical and electronic systems

Levers, gears, cams, pulleys, linkages, structures, electronic components (resistor, capacitor, LED, transistor, op-amp, microcontroller), sensors and logic gates

10%

Designers, design history and movements

Bauhaus, Memphis Group, Modernism, Arts & Crafts, Eames, Dieter Rams, Philippe Starck, Jonathan Ive, James Dyson, William Morris, Alessi, IKEA

Maths in design

Gear ratios, mechanical advantage, velocity ratio, stress (force/area), Young's modulus, percentage yield

How to Pass the A-Level Design Technology Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Grade E is the minimum pass, Grades A*-E count as a pass
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 5 hours total written papers (Paper 1: 3 hours, Paper 2: 2 hours) plus NEA project
Exam fee: £75-£130 per subject (school-set entry fee)

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

A-Level Design Technology Study Tips from Top Performers

1Learn the material property keywords precisely — ductility, malleability, toughness, hardness and elasticity have specific definitions in the mark scheme

2Memorise the 6 Rs in order (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle, Rethink) — they appear in almost every sustainability question

3Practise gear ratio, mechanical advantage and stress calculations until they are second nature — Paper 1 always includes maths-in-design questions

4Build a one-page summary for each named designer (Bauhaus, Eames, Rams, Dyson, Starck, Morris) so you can drop quick contextual references into 9- and 12-mark answers

Frequently Asked Questions

What exam boards offer A-Level Design and Technology?

A-Level Design and Technology (Product Design) is offered by AQA (7552), Edexcel/Pearson and OCR. All follow Ofqual subject content but vary in NEA briefs, optional materials focus, and paper structure.

When is the A-Level Design Technology exam taken?

Written papers are sat in the May-June series at the end of the two-year linear A-Level course. The NEA project is completed across Year 13 and submitted in spring of the final year.

How is A-Level Design Technology graded?

A-Levels are graded A*-E with A* being the highest and E the minimum pass. On AQA 7552 the written papers contribute 50% and the NEA project contributes 50% of the final mark.

How many papers does A-Level Design Technology have?

AQA 7552 has two written papers: Paper 1 (3 hours, 120 marks) on technical principles and Paper 2 (2 hours, 80 marks) on designing and making principles, plus the NEA worth 100 marks.

100+ Free A-Level Design Technology Practice Questions

A-Level Design and Technology