CCEA AS Technology and Design splits evenly between a compulsory materials and design paper and one option paper. This page shows the timing, and the precise material naming and circuit-unit habits that cost marks every year.
閱讀時間 3 分鐘更新於: 2026年9月3日
試卷概覽
卷數
2
總分
80
考試時間
2小時
題型
12
試卷
時間
分數
題數
比重
題型
STE11: Design and materials
1小時
40
7
50%
Short recall and material property definition, Manufacturing process description and sketch, Industrial management, quality and CIM explanation, Product analysis, ergonomics and safety (QWC), Detailed design sketching and specification
STE12: Systems and control or product design
1小時
40
2
50%
Option question part 1: theory, circuit or mechanism diagram, and applied calculations, Option question part 2: system design, sequential logic or pneumatics, or creative sketching
評級
ABCDEU
計算機規定
A calculator is needed for the manufacturing, circuit and mechanism calculations in this subject, and CCEA's general rule applies: no calculator with a computer algebra system, no borrowing a calculator from another candidate, and nothing stored in memory that could be retrieved during the exam, including formulae, notes or text. If your calculator has an exam mode, switch it on. It clears stored data far more reliably than the reset button, which only resets display settings and leaves stored programs or text in memory.
AO1: AO1: demonstrate specific knowledge and understanding; apply that knowledge and understanding in combination with appropriate skills in designing; communicate ideas and outcomes and demonstrate strategies for evaluation (53%)
AO2: AO2: demonstrate and apply skills, knowledge and understanding of relevant materials, processes and techniques; use equipment and materials to produce suitable and appropriate outcomes; communicate ideas and outcomes and demonstrate strategies for evaluation (47%)
Convert circuit prefixes with the EXP key before calculating
Casio fx-83/85 series (scientific)
用途: Stops a kilohm, microfarad or milliamp value being substituted into a formula in the wrong units.
使用時機: Any circuit calculation, timing constant, or resistance and current question with prefixed units.
步驟
Enter the prefixed value using the calculator's EXP or power key, for example 4.7 EXP 3 for 4.7 kilohms, so the base-unit figure is stored correctly before it goes into the rest of the calculation.
考試提示: This is a live, in-exam technique only. CCEA and JCQ ban anything stored in a calculator's memory before the exam, including formulae or old working, so clear your calculator and switch on exam mode if it has one before you sit down.
Subtract the piston rod area before multiplying by pressure
Casio fx-83/85 series (scientific)
用途: Removes the risk of forgetting the piston rod area, or rounding it too early, in an instroke pneumatic force calculation.
使用時機: Any pneumatic cylinder force question involving the piston rod area on the instroke.
步驟
Calculate the full piston area, subtract the rod area, and multiply by pressure in one continuous calculator entry using brackets, so no intermediate area needs to be written down and retyped.
考試提示: Use this only for figures calculated live in the exam. No stored programme or formula list is permitted in the calculator you bring in.
Chain a 555 timer or RC time constant calculation
Casio fx-83/85 series (scientific)
用途: Keeps a resistance and capacitance time constant calculation accurate when the capacitance is given in microfarads or nanofarads.
使用時機: Any timing or oscillator question giving resistor and capacitor values for a time constant or frequency calculation.
步驟
Convert the capacitance to farads using the EXP key first, store it with the memory-store key (M+), then recall it (MR) when multiplying by resistance to find the time constant.
考試提示: This works only with values entered live during the exam. Clear your calculator's memory beforehand: a manual reset does not remove stored data, so use exam mode if your calculator has one.
常見錯誤
1medium涉及分數: 1Material selection
Confusing a mechanical property with a working characteristic, for example citing flexibility when the question asks about ease of machining.
如何避免: Keep a clear mental split between mechanical properties (strength, toughness, hardness), physical properties (density, conductivity) and working characteristics (how easy something is to cut, bend or mould), and answer with the category the question actually asks for.
2high涉及分數: 2Material selection
Giving single-word material descriptions such as 'strong' rather than the precise technical term the mark scheme wants, such as 'high tensile strength' or 'tough'.
如何避免: Answer material questions with the named property and, where relevant, a comparison, for example 'higher tensile strength than mild steel', not a one-word judgement.
3medium涉及分數: 2Methods of processing materials
Omitting clear manufacturing details, such as split mould lines, the heat source, or clamping, on industrial process sketches.
如何避免: Treat a process sketch as incomplete until it shows how the material is held, heated and separated, not just the final shape.
4high涉及分數: 2Electronic and Microelectronic Control Systems
Neglecting to convert prefix scales such as kilohms to ohms, microfarads or nanofarads to farads, or milliamps to amps, during circuit calculations.
如何避免: Convert every value to base units as a separate first step, written on its own line, before it goes into a formula.
5medium涉及分數: 2Design and manufacture
Relying on glue or a friction fit in pro forma design answers instead of showing a positive, tool-free fastening mechanism where a product needs to be assembled or adjusted.
如何避免: Wherever two parts need to come apart or adjust, show a specific fixing, a thread and locknut, a clip, a catch, rather than leaving the join implied.
6high涉及分數: 2Mechanical and Pneumatic Control Systems
Calculating pneumatic instroke force from the full piston area, forgetting to subtract the piston rod's cross-sectional area first.
如何避免: Work out the full piston area and the rod area as two separate steps, subtract them, and only then multiply by pressure.
7medium涉及分數: 2Quality and safety
Treating quality assurance and quality control as interchangeable terms, when QA is a preventative, systemic process and QC is post-manufacture defect inspection.
如何避免: Define both terms separately before using them: QA prevents defects happening, QC catches defects after they have happened.