11–12Engineering Studies 11–12 Syllabus (2026)

Outline the significance of material advancements in engineering metallurgy of bronze, iron, cast iron, Bessemer-processed steel, aluminium, stainless steel and titanium

Identify the significance of clay-body ceramics, concrete, bakelite, polyethylene (PE), vulcanised rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and glass laminated aluminium reinforced epoxy (GLARE) as advancements in engineering non-metals

Describe the evolution of an engineered product over time, considering advancements in structure, materials and manufacturing methods

Describe the development and application of sustainable design for low-powered and recycled material products

Compare natural elements, compounds and mixtures used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to contemporary engineered materials

Classify engineering materials as metals, polymers, ceramics or composites

Compare the mechanisms of ionic, covalent and metallic primary bonding in materials

Explain the impact of bond strength on the hardness, strength and melting point of metals and ceramics

Explain the role of electrons in the transfer of heat and electricity through materials

Describe the atomic arrangements in body-centred cubic (BCC) crystal structures, face-centred cubic (FCC) crystal structures and hexagonal close-packed (HCP) crystal structures

Compare the atomic structure of crystalline and amorphous materials

Describe carbon, titanium, tin and iron as allotropic materials

Describe the role of a materials selection diagram (MSD) in choosing a material for an application

Justify the choice of materials based on in-service properties, forming processes and shaping requirements

Differentiate between categories of physical properties, including density, thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity

Compare transparent, translucent and opaque materials by light transmission and appearance

Contrast the elastic and plastic behaviour of materials

Compare ductility and malleability in relation to workability as mechanical properties of metals

Compare how tensile, compressive, shear, torsion and bending forces act on a material

Describe strength as a material’s ability to withstand stress from an applied load without failure

Describe stiffness as a material’s resistance to deformation under an applied load

Describe toughness as a material’s ability to absorb energy before fracturing, referencing the stress-strain curve and comparing typical metals, polymers and ceramics

Describe the relationship between hardness or resistance to indentation and tensile strength in a material

Describe the meaning of a phase in metallic systems and identify single-phase and 2-phase regions in binary-phase diagrams

Explain the eutectic point in a binary-phase diagram as the composition at which an alloy melts and solidifies at a single temperature

Identify liquid, solid and liquid-solid phase regions and the phase changes that occur during cooling in a copper-nickel binary-phase diagram

Identify the eutectic point in the lead-tin binary-phase diagram and relate it to the melting behaviour of solder alloys

Compare the ease of dislocation motion in a BCC, FCC or HCP metal

Describe dislocations as line defects in metallic crystal structures and explain their role in plastic deformation

Explain how solid solution hardening, work hardening and grain size strengthening restricts dislocation motion in metals

Distinguish between ferrous and non-ferrous metals

Compare carbon content, properties and uses of mild steels, plain medium carbon steels and plain high carbon steels

Identify and distinguish between cast irons including grey, nodular (spheroidal graphite) and white cast irons

Outline the differences between stainless steel and tool steel

Compare the composition and properties of bronze and brass as non-ferrous alloys

Describe the composition and properties of the nonferrous alloys Ti-6Al-4V, 2000 series aluminium and 6000 series aluminium

Represent the structure of thermoplastic, thermosetting and elastomeric polymers using labelled sketches, including the degree of crosslinking and the role of secondary bonding

Compare the behaviour of a thermoset and thermoplastic polymer when heated in relation to their structure

Assess the uses and applications of thermoplastic polymers, including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyaramid (PA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA)

Explain how Aboriginal Peoples use natural polymers in the manufacture of tools, structures and other engineering applications

Outline uses and applications of epoxides, polyurethanes (PU) and phenol formaldehyde (PF) as thermosetting polymers

Explain the uses and applications of shellac and cellulose as natural polymers

Explain the uses and applications of silicone rubber and vulcanised rubber

Compare natural and engineered ceramics

Identify the types of bonds present in ceramic materials

Outline the general properties of ceramics used in engineering

Identify the categories of ceramic classification, including clays, glasses, cements, electronic ceramics and engineering ceramics

Explain how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples use ceramics for engineering purposes

Describe the application of a ceramic insulator for spark plugs and electrical transmission lines

Compare common composites, including natural and engineered timbers, fibre reinforced polymers (FRPs) and agglomerated composites

Describe how composites provide different material properties and design flexibility, highlighting the importance of constituent materials

Describe how timber can be classified as a natural composite material, combining cellulose fibres and lignin resin

Describe the composition of concrete, focusing on the role of the cement binder and aggregates

Compare the composition of natural binders used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in artefacts, tools and building materials

Explain how the compressive strength of concrete and the tensile strength of steel reinforcement are combined in reinforced concrete to improve structural performance

Use labelled sketches to represent macrostructures of composites with a focus on concrete and an FRP

Describe the application of tensile tests in engineering

Represent a load-extension diagram using a labelled sketch that shows the elastic region, plastic region, fracture point, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), necking region, yield point and the limit of proportionality

Identify the elastic range of a material and explain why engineers typically design within this range

Represent the form of a typical stress-strain diagram using a sketch of annealed mild steel, annealed copper, a ceramic and an elastomer

Describe the effect of rolling and drop forging on the grain structure of a metal

Compare sand casting, investment casting and permanent mould casting processes and resulting grain structure

Describe the suitability of laser, water, flame, plasma and mechanical shearing as cutting processes for different materials

Compare the effectiveness of bolting and riveting as cold joining methods

Differentiate between brazing and welding in terms of process, temperature and the properties of the resulting joint

Compare thread rolling and thread cutting (using a tap and die) processes, explaining their effects on grain flow and resulting material properties

Describe how additive manufacturing is used to produce concrete, polymer and metal components for engineering purposes

Describe sustainable practices in material selection and processing in engineering, considering ethical responsibilities related to resource use, waste reduction and long-term environmental impact