Fiducia TogetherMaterials and properties
What things are made of, and the properties that decide which to use.
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.
What it is
Material groups: metals (ferrous and non-ferrous), polymers (thermoplastic and thermosetting), timbers (hardwood and softwood), composites and smart materials.
Properties: strength, hardness, toughness, ductility, malleability, elasticity, conductivity, corrosion resistance and density.
Where it applies
GCSE engineering, design and technology.
How it works
Selection is always a trade-off between properties, cost, availability, workability and environmental impact.
Properties have precise meanings that questions test: toughness is resistance to fracture under impact, hardness is resistance to surface indentation, and they are not the same.
How to use it in your work
Justify material choice against the specification, naming at least two properties and one drawback.
Use the terms precisely. Confusing strength with hardness is a standard lost mark.
Mention environmental impact and end-of-life — most specifications require it.
Where to get help
Your teacher and your board's specification — these qualifications vary more between boards than the traditional GCSEs do, and much of the grade is coursework marked against stated criteria.
Revise this with a song
These are ours. We write revision songs because a lot of people remember a tune when they cannot remember a page, and because revising out loud in the kitchen beats staring at a highlighter.
- The Engineering Song The engineering topics, set to music.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.