AQA GCSE Engineering Past Papers & Mark Schemes

AQA GCSE Engineering (specification code 8850) combines written examination with practical engineering project work. The written paper accounts for 40% of the final grade, while the Engineering Project (non-exam assessment) accounts for 60%. Paper 1 is a 2-hour written exam worth 80 marks. It covers two sections: Section A focuses on engineering materials and processes — including properties of metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites; manufacturing processes (casting, forming, cutting, joining, and finishing); quality control and measurement; and health and safety in an engineering environment. Section B covers engineering principles — including mechanisms (gears, cams, levers, pulleys), electronics (components, circuit analysis, basic logic gates), pneumatics, and structural engineering concepts such as forces, stress, and strain. The Engineering Project (NEA) requires students to design and manufacture an engineering product in response to a brief. Students produce a project portfolio documenting their design decisions, material choices, manufacturing processes, quality checks, and evaluation. The project is internally marked and externally moderated. Engineering is a practically-oriented subject and the written paper frequently uses diagrams, data, and engineering drawings that students must interpret accurately. Mathematical skills — calculating forces, gear ratios, mechanical advantage, and basic circuit calculations — are tested throughout.