Outline why these bricks are an example of a composite material.

Explain why prototypes would be used in the testing and evaluation of the brick made by the Treak community.

Designers use specifications to guide development and evaluation. Suggest the cost constraints and material requirements for the Treak Village plastic brick.

Explain how the manufacture of the Treak Village plastic brick addresses the green design objectives of materials, energy and waste.

A composite is a material comprised of two or more materials (with different properties) ✓

Which combine to create a stronger material ✓

Award [1] for identifying why these bricks are an example of a composite material and [1] for a brief explanation.

Answer in brackets is not required to award the mark.

Prototypes are used to test a concept or process/act as an object to be replicated/learned from ✓

This helps evaluate the strength of the bricks ✓

And determine the optimum combination/percentage/ratio/mixing of materials ✓

Award [1] for each of three distinct points in an explanation of why prototypes would be used in the testing and evaluation of the Treak Village plastic brick.

Cost constraints:
There should not be any added costs to the production of the bricks ✓
Including labour/raw materials/machinery/tools/equipment ✓
To keep them affordable for the local community ✓

Material requirements:
Properties of the material should not be decreased by the introduction of the plastic fibres ✓
To ensure/maintain compressive strength of the brick ✓
Making the bricks be able to withstand a load/fit for purpose ✓

Award [1] for each of three distinct points that suggest the cost constraints and material requirements for the Treak Village plastic brick.

Mark as [3] + [3].

Materials:
The plastic brick uses plastic produced from waste ✓
This replaces the aggregate/stone that would otherwise be used in the brick ✓
Reducing the quantity of raw materials used in the production of the brick ✓

Energy:
The concrete for the plastic bricks is mixed/moulded by hand/locally ✓
This requires less energy than manufacturing bricks commercially ✓
Reducing energy used in production/transportation ✓

Waste:
The plastic brick reduces the amount of waste remaining/circulating in the environment ✓
By recycling the plastic found locally ✓
So it is no longer visually polluting/causing contamination ✓

Award [1] for each of three distinct points in an explanation of how the manufacture of the Treak Village plastic brick addresses the green design objectives of materials, energy and waste.

Mark as [3] + [3] + [3].

Straightforward question with good responses.

This should have been fairly straightforward with the mark scheme providing opportunities for candidates to obtain marks. Although it is a good question, the issue may have been that concrete is a composite in its own right and adding plastic makes it another type of combination. The question has added complexity by asking candidates to explain why the prototypes would need to be tested which related to strength and mixing ratios.

There were mixed responses here and limited understanding particularly of cost constraints in relation to the plastic brick. The mark scheme contained answers that were designed to enable candidates to gain marks from both clusters, meaning many candidates were able to pick up at least 1 or 2 marks from each. There was some reference back to Question 6b and also forward in Question 6d. There is also no specific reference to cost constraints or material requirements in either the design guide or the glossary, however Topic 5.7 does cover design and marketing specifications.

A good question which allowed a good range marks to be obtained. Candidates answered well from all three green design objective areas with the energy cluster providing the best responses. Materials was generally well answered but there were some cross cluster responses here too.