The Practical Assessment Task

≈ 44 min

The Practical Assessment Task

The PAT is a compulsory CAPS project running across Terms 1–3. It is not an examination drawing: it is a design process with the drawings as its evidence, and it is marked on the process as much as the result.

The phases:

Brief and research (Term 1). State the need in your own words, identify who it is for and the constraints, and research existing solutions. Constraints must be measurable — "must fit a 600 mm shelf" rather than "must be small".
Concepts and development (Term 2). Generate several genuinely different concepts as freehand sketches, evaluate them against your stated constraints, and justify the one you take forward. One concept is not a design process.
Presentation drawings (Term 3). Produce the instrument and CAD drawings — working drawings with correct convention, dimensions and title block.

Evidence matters. Keep the rejected sketches. A marker looking for design process needs to see what you considered and why you set it aside. A portfolio containing only the final answer scores poorly even when that answer is good.

Core checkpoint: The PAT assesses reasoning, not just draughting. Constraints stated early are what let you justify decisions later.

Which of these is a properly stated PAT constraint?

The product must fit on a shelf 600 mm wide.

The product must be small and neat.

The product should look modern.

The product must be easy to use.

Why should rejected concept sketches be kept in the PAT portfolio?

They are the evidence of a design process — a marker needs to see what was considered and why it was set aside.

To make the portfolio look longer.

So the teacher can mark them separately for neatness.

They should not be kept; only the final design matters.

A learner produces three concepts that differ only in colour and corner rounding. What is the weakness?

They are variations of one idea, so no real alternatives were evaluated and the design process is not evidenced.

Three concepts is too few — five are required.

Colour may not be shown in EGD at all.

There is no weakness; three concepts satisfies the requirement.

In which order do the PAT phases run across the year?

Brief and research, then concepts and development, then presentation drawings.

Presentation drawings, then brief, then concepts.

Concepts, then brief, then research.

The phases may be completed in any order.