Full details of the awards can also be obtained from the Awarding Bodies, AQA, Edexcel and OCR. In brief, the qualification covers three key areas:

Unit 1 Design and Graphical Communication (Internal assessment)
Unit 2 Engineered Products (Internal assessment)
Unit 3 Application of Technology (External assessment)

The Units covers the following topics:

Design and graphical communication (Unit 1)
This unit is about the process of designing. Students will learn about the following aspects of the design process:

	analysing client design briefs
	developing design specifications and solutions
	applying scientific principles producing and reading engineering drawings
	selecting appropriate drawing techniques
	communicating a design solution

Assessment of the unit will be based on a student’s design specification and design solution for an engineered product or an engineering service from a given customer design brief. The design specification and design solution must include:

	details of the design brief and associated information
	how key features were identified and a design selected from a range of ideas
	the stages of manufacture including health and safety and quality control procedures
	sketches, notes, working drawings and other appropriate means considered and used to
	present design ideas and a final manufacturing design solution
	a workable solution drawing upon details of materials, processes and quality standards that affect the design solution

Engineered products (Unit 2)
In this unit students will make an engineered product. The unit will develop their understanding of the process of designing a product and producing it. In the unit they will learn to:

	use product specifications
	read and interpret engineering drawings and diagrams
	select suitable materials, parts and components for a product create a production plan
	use processes, tools and equipment, including Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM), required to make an engineered product
	check that the quality of the work conforms to the standards required
	apply health and safety procedures

Assessment of the unit will be based on the student’s ability to produce an engineered product that includes at least one process from each of the following categories: material removal; joining and assembly; treatment processes and surface finishing. Students will produce a finished workable product or component and a portfolio which must include:

	evidence of a simulated engineering process with details of a production plan
	manufacturing processes and quality control
	a schedule for manufacture with the key features identified
	detailed description of the production technique and critical control points
	evidence of the use of ICT in the simulation of an engineering process a finished workable product

Application of technology (Unit 3)
In this unit students will investigate the impact of modern technology on the design and manufacture of a range of products in different engineering and manufacturing sectors. They will learn how new technology has helped to develop design and manufacturing processes and to improve the quality of products and the service offered to customers. They will also learn about the benefits and implications modern technology has for the work force, the wider community, and the global environment and sustainability. This will include investigation of the impact of:

	information and communications technology (ICT)
	new components and a range of modern materials, including smart materials
	control technology

Assessment of this unit is with a single test paper.