Industrial Technology 2015 HSC exam pack

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• clearly explaining the intent of the project
• providing research that was relevant to the development of the project
• providing reasons for the choices made during the development and realisation of the project
• documenting the construction or development of the project with written descriptions and photographic or digital (screenshot) images in graphics and multimedia
• explaining why the design may have changed during construction
• providing broader evidence of WHS to include materials and processes, not just PPE
• using desktop publishing for text, borders, page numbers, images, internet and CAD drawings and using a range of computer software in the presentation of the folio
• including evaluation throughout the folio with a summation at the end of the folio.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• detailing any outsourcing involved in the project
• including drawings that provide sufficient information to construct the project
• providing sketches that show a clear design development rather than simply the final design
• utilising a finance plan to estimate and manage the costs associated with the project, including an explanation of why the plan changed
• appreciating the importance of the timeline as a management tool and the need to provide a clear explanation of any changes to the plan.

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• submitting completed projects even if some modifications were made to meet the submission deadline
• including a range of skills in the production of the project
• detailing how problems in production were solved.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• providing evidence of design evolution, workshop drawings, timeline plans, finance plans and construction steps
• ensuring that images or videos with sexual themes or violence are not contained in Graphics and Multimedia major projects.

Candidates showed strength in the following areas:

• identifying the purpose of the synchromesh (Q11)
• recognising that air and gases move through the system and that hot gases produce carbon deposits on the exhaust valves causing poor function (Q12)
• indicating the main features of the procedures to bleed a hydraulic brake system and the need to pump the brake pedal to remove air from the system (Q13)
• understanding that internal combustion engines charge the batteries for the electric vehicle (Q14)
• linking all the components to explain how the timing belt operates the cams and valves in an engine (Q15).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• understanding the role of carbon build-up as a contributor to valve failure (Q12)
• distinguishing the hydraulic brake system from other engine systems (Q13)
• describing how both the electric and internal combustion engine provide efficient motoring in a hybrid vehicle (Q14).

Candidates showed strength in the following areas:

• identifying the purpose of a capacitor (Q11)
• identifying the operation of a solenoid and an application of a solenoid (Q12)
• understanding the benefits of using circuit design software (Q13)
• identifying how a specific electronic hand-held measuring instrument is used to measure current in a circuit (Q14)
• demonstrating deep knowledge and understanding of AC to DC rectification with a relevant diagram showing the process of converting of AC current to DC using power diodes (Q15).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• describing the operation of a solenoid (Q12)
• explaining how a specific electronic hand-held measuring instrument is used to measure current in a circuit (Q14).

Candidates showed strength in the following areas:

• outlining reasons why freehand sketching may be of benefit (Q12)
• applying scale to a drawing (Q13)
• providing reasons for the need for drawing standards (Q14)
• producing an orthogonal top and front view of the faceplate including pitch circle diameter (PCD) (Q15).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• clearly explaining the advantages of sketching over CAD in particular situations(Q12)
• representing thread using the correct standards (Q13)
• demonstrating the positive benefits of AS1100 (Q14)
• using the correct application of hidden detail to all features (Q15)
• accuracy in reproducing dimensions provided (Q15).

Candidates showed strength in the following areas:

• recognising heat as a factor in the annealing process (Q12)
• identifying aspects of polishing metal (Q13)
• describing benefits of MIG welding by providing characteristics and features (Q14)
• describing the use of a lathe and the steps involved in machining (Q15).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• identifying bronze as an alloy of copper and tin (Q11)
• understanding the reasons for having slow cooling rates and the outcome on the properties of the metal (Q12)
• providing features of the pickling process and indicating aspects of cleaning after pickling (Q13)
• understanding the sequencing of operations and using correct terminology for the different processes (Q15).

Candidates showed strengths in these areas:

• understanding the purpose of anti-aliasing (Q11)
• understanding a variety of advantages of converting paper-based photographs to digital (Q12)
• understanding the importance of bandwidth, compatibility across browser platforms, file selection and the relationship to intended audience in the creation of multimedia content for the web (Q13)
• knowledge of elements to be considered such as interactivity, ergonomics, file storage and size, as well as screen resolution (Q14)
• knowledge of streaming videos and music (Q15).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• identifying a range of disadvantages in converting paper-based photographs to digital (Q12)
• not limiting the response to copyright challenges (Q13)
• outlining more than one element when adapting a computer game for a hand-held device (Q14)
• providing a description of the impact of increased availability of bandwidth (Q15).

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• knowing that alternating the growth ring direction of boards will assist in minimising deformation of widening jointed boards (Q12)
• understanding benefits of alternative joining technologies (Q13)
• knowing how to laminate and bend timber to form a stool (Q15)
• understanding the principles of steam bending (Q15)
• including a simple, relevant sketch to support or clarify the response (Q15).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• knowing the nature and purpose of dry cramping (Q11)
• understanding why boards may warp or cup (Q12)
• naming specific alternative joint techniques (Q13)
• recognising that specific alternative joint techniques does not refer to items such as nails and screws, nor does it refer to different or less common timber joints (Q13)
• understanding the properties of quarter sawn timber (Q14) providing specific detail on bending timber into formed shapes using a mould or jig (Q15).

Question 16(a)

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• indicating the main features of business restructuring and quality control
• identifying different types of restructuring.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• providing a clear link between business restructuring and its effect on quality control
• recognising the importance of ensuring continuing quality as well as quality control when restructuring a business.

Question 16(b)

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• understanding the meaning of ‘new technology’
• identifying the effects of new technologies on production
• providing some measure of the value of these effects in general.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• clarifying the link between increased production and efficiency
• providing a detailed judgment of the effect of the technology on production and efficiency rather than just explaining new technology.