Hardwoods, softwoods, manufactured boards, paper and card. Tested every year in Section A.
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GCSE DT RevisionTimbers and Manufactured Boards
Key facts
Hardwoods vs softwoods
Hardwood — from deciduous trees (lose leaves). Slow growing → denser, harder, more expensive. Examples: oak (strong, durable, furniture), mahogany (rich colour, cabinets), beech (smooth, chairs), balsa (very lightweight — technically hardwood but very soft).
Softwood — from coniferous/evergreen trees. Faster growing → cheaper, lighter. Examples: pine (construction, furniture), spruce (musical instruments), cedar (outdoor furniture — naturally rot resistant).
Both must be seasoned (dried) before use to reduce moisture content and prevent warping, twisting or splitting.
"Hardwood" and "softwood" are botanical terms — not descriptions of hardness. Balsa is a hardwood.
Manufactured boards
Plywood — thin veneers glued with alternating grain directions. Strong in all directions, no knots. Shelving, furniture, boats.
MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) — fine wood fibres bonded with resin. Very smooth surface, easy to paint. Swells in moisture. Flat-pack furniture, interior use.
Chipboard — wood chips bonded with resin. Cheaper than MDF, less strong. Often veneered. Flat-pack carcasses.
OSB (Oriented Strand Board) — large strands bonded in layers. Structural use, construction, exterior boarding.
Manufactured boards: available in large flat sheets, no knots, consistent properties, often cheaper than solid timber.
Papers and boards
Layout paper — thin, slightly translucent. Initial sketching, overlaying.
Cartridge paper — thick, smooth surface. Drawing, markers, watercolour. Standard art/design paper.
Paper weight in gsm (grams per square metre). Higher gsm = heavier/thicker.
Exam questions — 4 questions · 10 marks · real AQA 8552 past papers
Extended questions included — read the hint. AI marks against the AQA 8552 mark scheme.
1 markManufactured boardAQA 8552 Nov 2021 Q10
A designer needs a large flat sheet with no knots and a very smooth surface for painting. Which is most suitable?
A Plywood
B Chipboard
C OSB
D MDF
1 markCorrugated cardAQA 8552 Jun 2022 Q8
Why is corrugated card used for packaging fragile items during transport?
A It is waterproof and protects from moisture damage
B It is lightweight with excellent impact resistance — the fluted core absorbs and distributes shock energy
C It is very rigid and cannot be compressed
D It is the cheapest packaging material available
2 marksTimber propertiesAQA 8552 Jun 2024 Q11
Give two properties of natural timber. For each property, qualify your answer — single words alone are not enough. (2 marks)
Hint: Give the property AND explain/qualify it. "Strong" alone is not credited — "strong and resistant to impact loads, suitable for structural applications" is.
+20 XP
4 marksCompare MDF and plywood for a bathroom shelfAQA 8552 style
Evaluate MDF and plywood as materials for a bathroom shelf. Recommend one, with justification. (4 marks)
Hint: Cover both: surface quality, moisture resistance, strength. Make a clear recommendation with justification based on the bathroom context.