← Singapore Design and Technology
Singapore · SEABSyllabus
Design and Technology syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the Singapore Design and Technologysyllabus, with a focused answer for each one. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions, and links to related dot points. Written by Claude Opus 4.8, Anthropic's latest AI.
Design Communication and Sketching
Module overview →- How do you sketch a 3D idea quickly and clearly so others understand it?Use freehand pictorial sketching techniques such as crating and isometric guidelines to communicate ideas in three dimensions7 min answer →
- How do you make a final design drawing look realistic and present it so the idea is convincing?Render a design using tone, colour and texture, and present it clearly to communicate the finished idea7 min answer →
- How do you produce a drawing accurate enough that someone else could make your product from it?Produce a working drawing with views and dimensions, using a sensible scale so the product can be made8 min answer →
Idea Generation and Development
Module overview →- Once you have chosen an idea, how do you improve it step by step with clear reasons?Select the most suitable idea against the specification and develop it through stages, justifying each improvement8 min answer →
- How do you produce several different, creative ideas instead of settling for the first one?Generate a range of different initial ideas in response to a specification, using techniques such as brainstorming and thumbnail sketches7 min answer →
- Why do designers build rough models before making the final product, and what can a model tell you?Make models and prototypes from quick materials to test ideas in three dimensions and inform the final design7 min answer →
Materials and Their Properties
Module overview →- How do you choose the best material for a product by matching properties to requirements?Select an appropriate material for a product by matching its properties to the requirements of the specification, considering cost and availability8 min answer →
- What are the main types of metal, and how do their properties decide their uses?Identify the main types of metal (ferrous, non-ferrous and alloys) and describe their properties and uses8 min answer →
- What are the main types of plastic, and how do their properties decide their uses?Identify the main types of plastic (thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics) and describe their properties and uses8 min answer →
- What are the main types of wood, and how do their properties decide what they are used for?Identify the main types of wood (hardwoods, softwoods and manufactured boards) and describe their properties and uses8 min answer →
Mechanisms and Structures
Module overview →- How do gears and pulleys change the speed and direction of rotation, and how do you calculate a gear ratio?Describe how gears, pulleys and belts transmit motion, and calculate gear ratios to find changes in speed8 min answer →
- How do levers let a small effort move a large load, and how do you calculate the turning effect?Describe the three classes of lever and use the principle of moments to calculate the turning effect of a force8 min answer →
- What makes a structure strong and stable, and how can a designer stop it from collapsing or tipping?Describe how structures resist forces and stay stable, using techniques such as triangulation and a low, wide base8 min answer →
Product Evaluation
Module overview →- How do you judge whether a product is kind to the environment and the people who make and use it?Evaluate a product for its impact on the environment and society, using ideas such as the 6 Rs and material life cycle8 min answer →
- How do you prove whether your finished product actually solved the problem you set out to solve?Test a finished product against each point of the specification and record clear pass or fail results7 min answer →
- How do you use feedback from real users to suggest honest improvements to your product?Gather feedback from users on a finished product and use it to suggest realistic improvements7 min answer →
Research and Investigation
Module overview →- How do you break a design situation apart to find the real problems worth solving?Analyse a design situation to identify the key problems, the people affected, and the questions research must answer7 min answer →
- What can you learn by taking apart and studying existing products before designing your own?Carry out a product analysis of an existing product, examining its function, materials, construction and user experience to inform your design8 min answer →
- How do you find out what real users need, and how do you use that evidence in your design?Plan and carry out user and market research using methods such as surveys, interviews and observation, and use the findings to inform the design8 min answer →
The Design Process
Module overview →- How do you turn research into a clear, measurable specification that you can later test your product against?Write a design specification as a list of clear, measurable requirements drawn from research, and use it to guide and later test the design8 min answer →
- What are the ordered stages of the design process, and why does following them lead to a better product?Describe the stages of the design process from a design situation to a finished product, and explain why the process is a loop rather than a straight line8 min answer →
- How do you turn a messy real-world design situation into a clear design brief that guides the whole project?Write a clear design brief from a given design situation, stating the problem, the intended user and the purpose of the product7 min answer →
Tools, Processes and Fabrication
Module overview →- How do you choose the right tool to cut and shape a material safely and accurately?Select and use appropriate tools and processes to cut and shape woods, metals and plastics safely8 min answer →
- Why is finishing a product more than just making it look nice?Apply suitable finishes to woods, metals and plastics to protect the material and improve appearance7 min answer →
- How do you join parts together, and how do you choose between a permanent and a temporary joint?Select and use appropriate methods to join and assemble materials, choosing between permanent and temporary fixings8 min answer →
- Why does accurate marking out before cutting decide whether a product fits together?Mark out and measure a workpiece accurately using tools such as a rule, try square, marking gauge and template7 min answer →