Marking criteria for Coursework

Because of the ongoing impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there are some changes to how A-level Design and Technology: Product Design will be assessed in 2022.

These changes are for 2022 only!

Development of design prototypes

• This section has been reduced from 25 to 15 marks - The effect of this is that your Design Ideas & Development sections will now be worth more marks overall. 

• Students will no longer be assessed on the skill of making but will be required to show their ‘intentions of prototypes’ and demonstrate their understanding of the processes involved in making

• The assessment no longer requires students to make a final prototype. Instead, they can show their understanding of the processes involved in making by writing about them. Documenting these processes is one way of gaining marks in the 2022 'Development of design prototypes' section. However, making skills are important for students' understanding, so we’d encourage you to continue to allow students to make wherever possible. 

Analysing and evaluation

• This section has been reduced from 20 to 15 marks - The effect of this is that your initial Research, Design Ideas & Development sections will now be worth more marks overall. 

• Analysis and evaluation throughout the design process can take place in relation to prototype ideas and models

• There’s no expectation to test a final made prototype but students should find ways of testing prototype designs.