AQA A Level Design & Technology: Product Design specification (7552)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your AQA A Level Design & Technology: Product Design exam. It lays out exactly what you need to learn, how you'll be assessed, and what skills the examiners seek. Whether you're working through the course for the first time or revising for your final exams, the specification helps you stay focused and confident in your preparation.
We've included helpful revision tools to support you in putting the specification into practice. Wherever you're starting from, you'll find everything you need to feel prepared, from the official specification to high-quality resources designed to help you succeed.
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In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official AQA A Level Design & Technology: Product Design specification, along with a breakdown of key topics, assessment structure, and useful study resources. We've also included links to topic-level guides and revision tools to help you put the specification into practice.
Contents
Disclaimer
This page includes a summary of the official AQA A Level Design & Technology: Product Design (7552) specification, provided to support your revision. While we've made every effort to ensure accuracy, Save My Exams is not affiliated with the awarding body.
For the most complete and up-to-date information, we strongly recommend consulting the official AQA specification PDF.
Specification overview
This A Level qualification in Design & Technology: Product Design gives students the opportunity to explore and understand the design process through a balance of practical and theoretical study. It develops creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for designers and engineers, while encouraging innovation, enterprise, and environmental responsibility. Students gain insight into how products are developed, manufactured and evaluated within real-world contexts, acquiring technical knowledge of materials, components and systems. The course supports progression to higher education and careers in product design, engineering, architecture and other creative industries.Subject content breakdown
3.1 Technical principles
- Materials and their applications: properties, suitability, classifications, testing
- Performance characteristics of papers, boards, polymers, woods, metals, elastomers, biodegradable polymers, composites, smart and modern materials
- Enhancement of materials: methods for polymers, woods and metals
- Forming, redistribution and addition processes for paper, polymers, metals, woods
- Adhesives and fixings; use of jigs and fixtures
- Finishing processes for different materials
- Modern industrial and commercial practice: production scales, efficiency, use of computer systems, digital design and manufacture, rapid prototyping, PPC
- Product design requirements: development, inclusive design
- Health and safety: legislation, workshop safety, consumer protection
- Protecting designs: IP rights, open design
- Design for manufacture: maintenance, disposal, disassembly
- Feasibility studies: user data, anthropometrics
- Enterprise and marketing: branding, costing, collaboration
- Design communication: sketching, reports, data representation
3.2 Designing and making principles
- Design methods: iterative process, user needs, primary and secondary data
- Design theory: movements (e.g. Bauhaus, Memphis), designers (e.g. Dyson, Rams)
- Technology and culture: socio-economic and ethical influences, sustainability
- Design processes: specification, modelling, planning, industrial iteration
- Evaluation: testing, third-party feedback
- Tools and processes: safe and correct equipment use, industrial techniques
- Accuracy in manufacture: templates, jigs, measuring
- Responsible design: environmental impact, conservation, circular economy
- Quality assurance and control: TQM, testing methods
- National and international standards: BSI, ISO, eco-labelling
Assessment structure
Paper 1
- Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
- 120 marks; 30% of A Level
- Focus on technical principles
- Combination of short and extended responses
Paper 2
- Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 80 marks; 20% of A Level
- Focus on designing and making principles
- Section A: Product analysis based on visuals (30 marks)
- Section B: Commercial manufacture (50 marks)
Non-exam assessment (NEA)
- Design and make project
- 100 marks; 50% of A Level
- Includes written/digital portfolio and photographic evidence of prototype
- Assessed across AO1–AO4 covering investigation, development, evaluation and final outcome
Key tips for success
Doing well in your AQA A Level Design & Technology: Product Design isn't just about how much you study, but how you study. Here are a few proven tips to help you stay on track
- Start with a clear plan: Break the subject into topics and create a revision schedule that allows enough time for each. Start early to avoid last-minute stress.
- Focus on understanding, not memorising: Use our revision notes to build a strong foundation in each topic, making sure you actually understand the material.
- Practise regularly: Attempt past papers to familiarise yourself with the exam format and timing. Mark your answers to see how close you are to full marks.
- Be strategic with your revision: Use exam questions by topic to focus on weaker areas, and flashcards to reinforce important facts and terminology.
- Learn from mistakes: Whether it's from mock exams or practice questions, spend time reviewing what went wrong and why. This helps prevent repeat mistakes in the real exam.
- Stay balanced: Don't forget to take regular breaks, eat well, and get enough sleep, a healthy routine makes revision much more effective.
With the right approach and consistent practice, you'll build confidence and improve your chances of exam success.
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