GCSE Design & Technology — Product Design
WJEC GCSE Design & Technology — teaching from 2026, first award 2028
This is the new WJEC specification, first taught from September 2026 with the first award in 2028. It is a different qualification from the one covered in the legacy GCSE section — the units, weightings and assessment have all changed, so the two are kept separate.
Learners choose one of three pathways — Engineering Design, Fashion & Textiles or Product Design — and must use the same pathway in both units. These pages cover the Product Design pathway, plus the core content that every learner studies whichever pathway they take.
1.1 Core Knowledge & Understanding
Unit 1 content studied by all learners, whichever pathway they follow
1.1(c) Product Design Pathway
Unit 1 in-depth content for learners who have chosen the Product Design pathway
- 1. 1.1.22 Ferrous & Non-Ferrous Metals
- 2. 1.1.23 Natural & Manufactured Timbers
- 3. 1.1.24 Thermoforming & Thermosetting Plastics
- 4. 1.1.25 Modern, Smart & Emerging Materials
- 5. 1.1.26 Specialist Techniques & Processes
- 6. 1.1.27 Surface Finishes & Treatments
- 7. 1.1.28 Stock Forms of Materials & Components
- 8. 1.1.29 Product Manufacture & Industry
2.1 Design Project — Core
The non-exam assessment content studied by all learners — 70% of the qualification
2.1(c) Design Project — Product Design
Design Project skills specific to the Product Design pathway