Iterative Design and Prototyping · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

The Build-Test-Improve Loop

Design & Technology · Designing & Making · ages 11-14
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. When you test a prototype, you should compare the results to your design criteria.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. What is the main purpose of building a prototype?

    • To be the finished product you sell
    • To test an idea quickly before making the final version
    • To look impressive to other people

  3. What should you keep track of when you make a new version of your prototype?

    • Only the parts you changed and why
    • Nothing, just build it and see
    • Only how it looks, not how it works

  4. Priya wants to test if her bag design can hold books before she sews the final version. What should she make first?

    • A rough prototype from cheap material
    • The final bag using expensive fabric
    • A drawing only, with no model

  5. Leo's go-kart prototype worked fine on flat ground but the wheels wobbled on turns. Where should Leo's testing focus for version two?

    • The engine power
    • The wheels and how they're attached
    • The paint colour

  6. A prototype scored 6 out of 10 against the test criteria in round 1. After the team fixed the weak point, round 2 scored 9 out of 10. How many more points did round 2 score?

    Round 16Round 29

    Answer: ______________

  7. A team builds version 3 of a boat prototype. Version 2 sank because the hull cracked, not because it was too heavy. Which change makes sense for version 3?

    • Reduce the boat's weight
    • Strengthen the hull where it cracked
    • Repaint the boat a different colour

  8. After his robot arm prototype failed to grip a ball, Omar rebuilt the entire robot from scratch instead of checking which part failed. What mistake did Omar make?

    • He didn't test against criteria before rebuilding
    • He should have used a bigger robot
    • He didn't identify what actually failed before starting over
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

The Build-Test-Improve Loop W1-mt_fYD3KaViOZ-s1

  1. True · Comparing to criteria tells you exactly what passed and what failed.
  2. To test an idea quickly before making the final version · A prototype is a quick test version, not the final product.
  3. Only the parts you changed and why · Recording what changed and why shows whether your fix actually worked.
  4. A rough prototype from cheap material · A rough, cheap prototype lets you test the idea without wasting good materials.
  5. The wheels and how they're attached · The wobble happened at the wheels during turns, so that's the weakness to fix.
  6. 3 · 9 minus 6 is 3 more points in round 2.
  7. Strengthen the hull where it cracked · The evidence points to the hull cracking, so that's what version 3 should fix.
  8. He didn't identify what actually failed before starting over · Rebuilding everything wastes what already worked. Find the exact weak point first.
Worksheet · LightMySky