The document outlines an assessment activity for reviewing material selection for electrical power lines to reduce resistance and energy loss. The goals are to: state what will be achieved; research and list notes on protocols to reduce resistance; and produce a hypothesis. Additionally, a table of research references must be drawn, analyzing relevance and discussing reasons. A method must be written and other considerations outlined with justifications for the final choice. Good referencing from multiple sources and fully evaluating alternatives are grading tips provided.

1. Assessment activity 3.1
BTEC Level 3

2. The scenario: P1, M1, D1, P2, P3
• You are working for a company making electrical
power lines and due to the austerity measures
brought in by the coalition government you have
been asked to review the material selection for
these power lines.
• Resistance is what causes millions of pounds of
waste due to loss of electrical energy via
heating. How can this be reduced?

3. To do
P1: State what you plan to achieve
P2: Use research notes, and list your notes
in rough according to the suggested
protocol (see textbook) ready for your
final report
P1: Produce a concise hypothesis from
your research (if… then…)

4. To do
M1: Draw a table of your research
references showing the information
from each. Analyse which ones are
relevant to your work and which ones are
not and discuss giving reasons

5. To do
P3: Write out a method
D1: Outline any other methods you may
have considered and give the reasons
to justify your final choice

6. Grading tips
• To achieve P1, P2 and M1 make sure you
provide good points of reference and
background information from many sources. List
each source as you work through them
• To achieve P3 include descriptions of the main
aspects covered in ‘Method’ in the textbook
• There are various ways to approach the
investigation, make sure you evaluate them fully
to achieve D1

7. Grading tips
• To achieve P1, P2 and M1 make sure you
provide good points of reference and
background information from many sources. List
each source as you work through them
• To achieve P3 include descriptions of the main
aspects covered in ‘Method’ in the textbook
• There are various ways to approach the
investigation, make sure you evaluate them fully
to achieve D1