Exam Board: OCR
In GCSE Engineering Design you will study the following four units:
R105: Design briefs, design specifications and user requirements (externally moderated exam)
This unit provides the opportunity for you to develop your understanding of the requirements of design briefs and design specifications for the development of new products. Through research and practical activities, you will understand how consumer requirements and market opportunities inform design briefs. You will understand the overall design process through study of the design cycle, existing product and life cycle analysis, study of new and improved materials and manufacturing processes, and how these and other factors influence a design solution. (60 marks)
R106: Product analysis and research (coursework)
You will research existing solutions and assess the development of engineered products. You will develop dextrous skills and gain practical experience of product assembly and disassembly to appreciate manufacturing processes, design features and materials used. This unit develops your creativity and critical analysis through an understanding of the principles behind good design. You will consider what makes a good product sell by analysing existing solutions. On completion of this unit, you will understand how to perform effective product analysis and evaluation through research and product assembly and disassembly procedures to appreciate product design features. (60 marks)
R107: Developing and presenting engineering designs (coursework)
This unit develops techniques in generation, concept development and the communication of design ideas using hand rendering and computer-based presentation techniques including computer aided design software (CAD). You will generate design ideas using a mixture of detailed hand rendering and computer-based presentation techniques including computer aided design in 2 and 3 dimensions. You will gain skills in annotation and labelling techniques, such as showing key features, functions, dimensions, materials, construction/manufacture methods. (60 marks)
R108: 3D design realisation (coursework)
This unit requires you to apply practical skills to produce a prototype product or model using craft-based modelling materials alongside computer-controlled or rapid-prototyping processes. You will produce a prototype product in the form of a model and test design ideas in a practical context, to inform further development utilising more complex production processes. You will evaluate the prototype making a comparison of the outcome against the product specification and evaluate potential improvements in design such as features, function, materials, aesthetics and ergonomics and make suggestions on improvements to the final product. (60 marks)
Each unit is assigned 60 marks.
R105 external exam: 25% weighting of the overall grade.
R106, R107 and R108 coursework: 75% weighting of the overall grade.