Final Revision Checklist and Exam Day Preparation

This is your final revision guide for AQA GCSE Design and Technology (8552). Use this checklist to ensure you have covered everything, and follow the exam day preparation advice to perform at your best.

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Paper 1 Revision Checklist: Core Technical Principles

Section 3.1: Core Technical Principles

Topic	Revised?	Confident?
New and emerging technologies (automation, AI, IoT, CAD/CAM, drones, 3D printing)
Energy generation and storage (fossil fuels, nuclear, renewable, batteries, kinetic)
Developments in new materials (graphene, smart materials, composite materials, technical textiles)
Systems approach to designing (input → process → output → feedback; open/closed loop)
Mechanical devices (gears, cams, linkages, pulleys, levers — types, calculations)
Materials and working properties (all 6 material areas)

Section 3.2: Specialist Technical Principles

Topic	Revised?	Confident?
Selection of materials and components
Forces and stresses (tension, compression, shear, torsion, bending)
Ecological and social footprint (6 Rs, LCA, carbon footprint, Fair Trade)
Sources and origins of materials (timber from trees, metals from ores, polymers from oil)
Using and working with materials (marking out, cutting, shaping, joining for each area)
Stock forms, types and sizes (sheet, bar, rod, tube, angle, channel, fabric rolls)
Scales of production (one-off, batch, mass, continuous)
Specialist techniques and processes (jigs, fixtures, moulds, quality control, go/no-go)
Surface treatments and finishes (timbers, metals, polymers, textiles)

Calculations

Calculation	Formula	Practised?
Gear ratio	Driven teeth ÷ Driver teeth
Output speed	Input RPM ÷ Gear ratio
Mechanical advantage	Load ÷ Effort
Velocity ratio	Varies by system
Efficiency	(MA ÷ VR) × 100
Electrical energy	Power × Time
Electrical power	Voltage × Current
Energy cost	Power (kW) × Time (h) × Price per kWh
Stress	Force ÷ Area

AQA Exam Tip: Tick each box as you revise each topic. Any gaps in the "Confident?" column should be your priority in the final week.

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Paper 2 Revision Checklist: Designing and Making Principles

Topic	Revised?	Confident?
Investigation methods (primary and secondary research, questionnaires, interviews, focus groups)
Product analysis (ACCESS FM framework)
Human factors (ergonomics, anthropometrics, percentile data)
Environmental, social and economic challenges (6 Rs, Fair Trade, planned obsolescence, LCA)
Influential designers (at least 2 in depth with products, philosophy, influence)
Influential companies (at least 2 in depth with products, approach, ethics)
Design strategies (user-centred design, iterative design, systems thinking, collaboration, design fixation)
Communication techniques (freehand sketching, isometric, perspective, orthographic, exploded diagrams)
2D and 3D modelling (CAD software, physical modelling, rendering)
Annotation and design specifications
Prototype development (form vs function, aesthetics, innovation, marketability)

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Key Facts Quick-Fire Review

Materials Quick Reference

Material	Category	Key Property	Common Use
Oak	Hardwood	Hard, durable, attractive grain	Furniture, flooring
Pine	Softwood	Easy to work, cheap, widely available	Construction, furniture
MDF	Manufactured board	Smooth, consistent, no grain	Cabinets, shelving
Mild steel	Ferrous metal	Strong, cheap, easy to weld	Car bodies, structural steel
Aluminium	Non-ferrous metal	Lightweight, corrosion-resistant	Aircraft, drinks cans
Stainless steel	Ferrous alloy	Corrosion-resistant, hygienic	Kitchen sinks, surgical tools
ABS	Thermoplastic	Tough, good surface finish	Phone cases, LEGO bricks
Acrylic (PMMA)	Thermoplastic	Transparent, rigid, laser-cuttable	Signage, display cases
Polypropylene (PP)	Thermoplastic	Living hinge, flexible, cheap	Bottle caps, food containers
Epoxy resin	Thermoset	Strong, bonds well, heat-resistant	Adhesive, composite matrix

Processes Quick Reference