Sustainability for GCSE Design and Technology
GCSE Design and Technology, Designing. Usually met in years 9 to 11.
Learn how designers reduce the effect of products on the environment, from the six Rs to life cycle assessment.
What you practise
- The six Rs
- Finite and non-finite resources
- Life cycle assessment and ethical schemes
Starts with the six Rs and builds to life cycle assessment and Fairtrade. Practice moves up a level when a round goes well and down when it does not.
Sample questions
Each sample comes with the method and the reason every wrong option is wrong. Real practice rounds are ten questions at your level.
Sample question, level 2 of 5
What does ‘repair’ mean?
- A material that will run out because it cannot be replaced, such as oil
- Mend a product so it can be used for longer
- The amount of carbon dioxide released by making, moving and using a product
- An organisation that certifies wood from forests managed responsibly
- A material that can be grown or replaced, such as timber from managed forests
Show the answer and method
Answer: B, Mend a product so it can be used for longer
The method: Repair means mend a product so it can be used for longer.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A, A material that will run out because it cannot be replaced, such as oil: That describes finite resource.
- C, The amount of carbon dioxide released by making, moving and using a product: That describes carbon footprint.
- D, An organisation that certifies wood from forests managed responsibly: That describes Forest Stewardship Council.
- E, A material that can be grown or replaced, such as timber from managed forests: That describes non-finite resource.
Sample question, level 4 of 5
Which term means: designing a product to stop working or go out of date after a certain time?
- Carbon footprint
- Repair
- Planned obsolescence
- Rethink
- Non-finite resource
Show the answer and method
Answer: C, Planned obsolescence
The method: Planned obsolescence means designing a product to stop working or go out of date after a certain time.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A, Carbon footprint: Carbon footprint means the amount of carbon dioxide released by making, moving and using a product.
- B, Repair: Repair means mend a product so it can be used for longer.
- D, Rethink: Rethink means look again at how a product is designed and used to make it better for the environment.
- E, Non-finite resource: Non-finite resource means a material that can be grown or replaced, such as timber from managed forests.
See where this fits: every GCSE option topic and Key Stage 3.
Related topics: Designing.
