ENGGEN 115 Principles of Engineering Design
The Complete Exam Bible · S2 2026ENGGEN 115 Overview
- 15 points
- Semester 2, 2026
- Level 1
- In-person exam
ENGGEN 115 Principles of Engineering Design is a 15-point Level 1 course at the University of Auckland that treats design as an evidence-led process rather than a search for one clever idea.
- Frame the problem Translate stakeholder evidence into requirements and constraints that remain open to multiple concepts.
- Construct the geometry Make projection, drawing and CAD relationships visible, consistent and robust under revision.
- Test the uncertain link Use analysis and prototypes to answer a defined design question with stated assumptions.
What you get in the full ENGGEN 115 Exam Bible
- 8 chapters, 37 pages — every examinable topic
- 21 original practice questions, each with a model answer in the Exam format
- 8 worked examples, solved the way ENGGEN 115 marks
- 8 computed figures, redrawn from the course’s own numbers
- Exam-morning plan for the Exam (25%) — what to revise last, where marks are lost
Free on this page: assessment table, chapter map, one worked example, key terms, FAQ. The rest is in the full exam bible.
How ENGGEN 115 is assessed
| Component | Weight | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Quizzes | 3% | Three online quizzes covering preparation and course skill practice |
| Test | 15% | Controlled Lane 1 assessment scheduled for 26 August 2026 |
| Design Projects | 57% | Project work across the design process, including museum, tower and CAD activities |
| Exam · hurdle | 25% | Mode C in-person invigilated paper; students must sit the examination |
The four published component weights total 100 percent. Passing also requires at least 40 percent of the weighted marks available in Lane 1 controlled assessments and attendance at the examination; the exact exam sitting and permitted materials are listed in Student Services Online.
What other students are asking about ENGGEN 115
- Where can I find lecture notes or study guides for ENGGEN 115 at auckland?
- The ENGGEN 115 study guide in AskSia Library covers Principles of Engineering Design in 8 chapters, with the assessment table, a chapter-by-chapter topic map, key terms and a worked example, free to read on this page.
- Is there a final exam in ENGGEN 115, and how much is it worth?
- Yes. In the offering this AskSia Library guide is built from, Exam carries 25% of the ENGGEN 115 mark; the full split is Quizzes 3%, Test 15%, Design Projects 57%, Exam 25%.
- What does ENGGEN 115 cover on concept generation and selection?
- In AskSia Library's ENGGEN 115 guide, the Concept Generation and Selection chapter explains ideation, morphology, weighted comparison, sensitivity and selection rationale.
- What does ENGGEN 115 cover on spatial visualisation and projection?
- In AskSia Library's ENGGEN 115 guide, the Spatial Visualisation and Projection chapter explains orthographic views, isometric reasoning, sections and projection alignment.
- What does ENGGEN 115 cover on robust cad modelling?
- In AskSia Library's ENGGEN 115 guide, the Robust CAD Modelling chapter explains design intent, stable references, constraints, dependencies and editable models.
Current ENGGEN 115 dates
| Date | Item | Control |
|---|---|---|
| 26 August 2026 at 6:20 pm | ENGGEN 115 Test | The assessment page lists 36 points and directs students to the announced test rooms. |
| Week beginning 2 November 2026 | Examination week | The course schedule places the examination in this week; SSO controls the exact sitting. |
Dates follow the Semester 2, 2026 course schedule and assessment pages. Confirm exact deadlines and submission settings in the live LMS.
What ENGGEN 115 covers
Eight linked chapters follow the course design process: frame the problem, generate and select concepts, communicate geometry, build robust CAD, produce technical drawings, analyse performance, test prototypes, and defend the final decision.
Engineering Design Process
Stakeholders, problem definition, requirements, constraints and iterative decisionsEngineering design in ENGGEN 115 is an iterative evidence chain.
- Stakeholder influence and interest
- Research methods and evidence
- Requirements and constraints
- Problem specification structure
- Iteration and decision traceability
- Life-cycle and service context
Concept Generation and Selection
Ideation, morphology, weighted comparison, sensitivity and selection rationaleConcept generation expands the design space before evaluation narrows it. Functional decomposition and morphological thinking help create alternatives that differ in principle rather than surface detail.
- Functional decomposition
- Morphological combinations
- Divergent ideation
- Weighted decision matrices
- Rating evidence
- Sensitivity and robustness
Spatial Visualisation and Projection
Orthographic views, isometric reasoning, sections and projection alignmentSpatial visualisation links a three-dimensional object to consistent two-dimensional representations.
- Orthographic view alignment
- Projection transfer
- Visible and hidden edges
- Isometric construction
- Section views
- Feature consistency checks
Robust CAD Modelling
Design intent, stable references, constraints, dependencies and editable modelsA robust CAD model records design intent so purposeful edits propagate without breaking geometry or introducing ambiguity.
- Stable datums and references
- Sketch degrees of freedom
- Geometric constraints
- Feature order and dependency
- Patterns and symmetry
- Revision and failure diagnosis
Technical Drawing Communication
View choice, line conventions, dimensions, sections and assembly informationTechnical drawings communicate geometry so another person can interpret, inspect or make a design without guessing.
- Purposeful view selection
- Line types and hierarchy
- Dimension placement
- Sections and details
- Assembly relationships
- Drawing consistency audit
Engineering Analysis for Design
Physical models, assumptions, equations, units, sensitivity and design actionEngineering analysis turns a physical relationship into evidence for a design decision.
- Design question and diagram
- Parameters and SI units
- Model assumptions
- Equation selection
- Sensitivity and scaling
- Result interpretation and action
Prototyping, Testing and Iteration
Risk questions, prototype fidelity, controlled tests, failure modes and revisionA prototype is a learning instrument selected to answer a design risk, not an unfinished product judged by polish.
- Risk-driven prototypes
- Fidelity selection
- Controlled test design
- Observable acceptance conditions
- Failure-mode diagnosis
- Iteration records and evidence limits
Communicating and Defending a Design
Traceable claims, visual evidence, audience needs, limitations and recommendationsA design report or presentation is an auditable argument, not a chronological diary. It links requirements to concept decisions and then to drawings, analysis, prototype observations or tests.
- Requirement-to-evidence traceability
- Claim and evidence structure
- Purposeful figure selection
- Audience-specific emphasis
- Limitations and uncertainty
- Final recommendation audit
The work begins with people and context: identify stakeholders, investigate needs, distinguish requirements from constraints, and frame a specification that can guide later decisions without prescribing a solution.
Students then generate alternatives, compare them transparently, communicate form through spatial visualisation, develop robust CAD models, produce technical drawings, use engineering analysis to investigate performance, and learn from prototypes and tests. The course workbook and project material connect these activities into repeated design loops.
A sketch can expose a geometry problem, a CAD dependency can protect design intent, a calculation can identify a controlling variable, and a physical trial can reveal a failure mode that sends the team back to the specification. The assessment structure makes both project execution and controlled reasoning important.
Design Projects carry 57 percent, the Test carries 15 percent, Quizzes carry 3 percent, and the Exam carries 25 percent. To pass, students need at least 50 percent overall, must achieve at least 40 percent of the weighted marks available in Lane 1 controlled assessments, and must sit the examination.
The current exam item identifies an in-person, invigilated paper, while the exact sitting and permitted materials are controlled through Student Services Online. The most reliable preparation is constructive: draw views rather than merely recognise them, rebuild CAD logic from design intent, calculate with explicit assumptions and units, and defend each design choice with evidence from the brief, comparison, analysis or test.
This guide therefore focuses on reusable decision rules and original cases instead of copying past questions.
Worked example · free
How a span change amplifies beam deflection
- +1Hold the unchanged terms fixed and write the ratio: deflection factor = (new span / old span)3.
- +1Substitute the printed spans: (3.0 / 2.0)3.
- +1Evaluate the length ratio first: 3.0 / 2.0 = 1.5.
- +1Cube the ratio: 1.53 = 3.375.
- +1Interpret the result: the longer beam has 3.375 times the deflection magnitude under the stated assumptions, so reducing span has strong geometric leverage.
Key terms
- Problem specification
- A structured statement of stakeholders, requirements, constraints, operating context and performance expectations that guides design without prescribing one solution.
- Stakeholder
- A person, group or organisation that affects the project, is affected by it, or controls a resource or decision relevant to it.
- Design requirement
- A condition the design should satisfy, ideally expressed so that later evidence can establish whether it has been met.
- Constraint
- A fixed boundary that limits the acceptable design space, such as size, access, material, time, regulation or interface conditions.
- Concept
- A coherent candidate approach that describes how the design could perform its required functions before detailed development.
- Selection criterion
- A requirement-derived basis used to compare concepts, often with an explicit rating scale and importance weight.
- Projection
- A geometric method for representing a three-dimensional object in related two-dimensional views while preserving consistent feature locations.
- Design intent
- The intended geometric and functional behaviour that a CAD model should preserve when dimensions or features change.
- Datum
- A stable reference plane, axis, surface or point from which geometry or dimensions are established.
- Load path
- The route through which applied forces travel across members, joints and supports to reach the resisting environment.
- Prototype fidelity
- The degree to which a prototype reproduces the geometry, material, appearance or interaction needed for its test question.
- Failure mode
- The specific way a design ceases to meet a requirement, such as buckling, sliding, fracture, overturning or unusable interaction.
- Traceability
- The visible connection from stakeholder evidence and requirements through decisions to analysis, drawings, tests and conclusions.
ENGGEN 115 FAQ
What makes ENGGEN 115 demanding?
The published structure combines a 57 percent project stream with a controlled test and a compulsory exam sitting. The work also crosses several modes: problem framing, spatial reasoning, CAD, technical drawing, calculations, prototyping and communication. Difficulty comes from connecting those modes into one defensible design chain, not from memorising isolated definitions.
What is the ENGGEN 115 exam format?
The 2026 Canvas item identifies a Mode C in-person, invigilated paper. The captured item does not publish its duration, exact sections or permitted materials and instead directs students to Student Services Online. A 2025 paper used two hours, 100 marks, restricted calculators and supplied equations, but those earlier conditions are not a guarantee for 2026.
How should I prepare for spatial visualisation questions?
Construct views from projection rules instead of judging them by appearance. Start with the view that exposes the most geometry, transfer feature locations with light projectors, preserve alignment across views, and check visible and hidden edges last. Redrawing one failed transfer is usually more useful than repeatedly copying a complete solved object.
How should I prepare for CAD questions?
Practise explaining design intent in words before naming commands. Ask which references should stay stable, which dimensions control function, which relationships must remain symmetric or concentric, and how later edits should propagate. Then select constraints, patterns, mirrors and feature order that encode those intentions instead of merely reproducing one final shape.
What should an engineering analysis answer include?
Begin with the design question and a labelled representation. List parameters with units, state assumptions, select a relationship whose physical conditions match the system, show substitution and calculation, and interpret the result against the requirement. A number earns engineering value only when the reader can see what it means for the next design decision.
Are past papers included in this guide?
The course materials include recent blank examinations and tests, which reveal broad question types and mark allocations. This guide uses that anatomy to create fresh practice scenarios, geometry and numbers. It does not reproduce proprietary question stems. Treat past papers as evidence of skills to practise, not as a promise that the same problem will return.
How do I protect marks when I am unsure?
Make your method inspectable. Label the sketch, show projection or calculation steps, keep units beside values, state an assumption, and connect the result to the brief. In design-process responses, tie each stakeholder, requirement or criterion to scenario evidence. A coherent partial chain gives the marker more to assess than an unsupported final claim.
Questions students ask in each ENGGEN 115 chapter
- What is the difference between a requirement and a concept?
- A requirement defines an outcome, boundary or performance expectation that success must satisfy. A concept proposes one possible mechanism or arrangement for achieving it. Keeping them separate prevents a favourite solution from narrowing the problem too early and lets several alternatives be compared against the same evidence-led specification. Chapter 01 · Engineering Design Process
- How different should generated concepts be?
- Aim for differences in operating principle, structure, energy path, interface or assembly, not merely colour or styling. Functional decomposition helps because each sub-function can be met in several ways. Combining those means creates alternatives with genuinely different trade-offs and gives selection a meaningful job. Chapter 02 · Concept Generation and Selection
- Which orthographic view should I draw first?
- Begin with the view that exposes the greatest amount of decisive geometry with the least hidden detail. That choice depends on the object. Once the first view fixes widths and heights or depths, project shared feature locations into the others rather than redrawing each view independently. Chapter 03 · Spatial Visualisation and Projection
- What does fully constrained mean?
- A fully constrained sketch has no unintended degrees of freedom: its relevant size, position and orientation are determined. This does not mean adding arbitrary dimensions until the colour changes. Each relation should express design intent, avoid redundancy and still allow the planned parameters to control the model. Chapter 04 · Robust CAD Modelling
- How many views should a technical drawing include?
- Use the fewest views that completely and unambiguously communicate the required geometry. A simple rotational part may need two; an internal passage may require a section; an assembly may need an exploded or detail view. Count information needs rather than following a fixed number for every object. Chapter 05 · Technical Drawing Communication
- How do I choose the right equation?
- Begin with the physical quantity and system, not with symbols that happen to appear together. Identify the loading, support condition, geometry and response being asked about. Then check that the equation's assumptions match those conditions. Draw the system and define parameters before substitution to expose mismatches early. Chapter 06 · Engineering Analysis for Design
- How polished should a prototype be?
- Include only the fidelity required to answer the risk question. A polished surface may help investigate appearance or recognition but adds little to a structural load-path test. Excess fidelity consumes time and can make failure causes harder to isolate. State what the prototype represents and what it deliberately omits. Chapter 07 · Prototyping, Testing and Iteration
- How is a design argument different from a project diary?
- A diary records activities in time order. A design argument organises information around decisions: what requirement mattered, which alternatives were considered, why one was selected, what evidence supports it and what remains uncertain. Meetings or sketches appear only when they help establish that chain for the reader. Chapter 08 · Communicating and Defending a Design
How to study for the exam
Revise by producing evidence, not by rereading finished pages. On one day, take an unfamiliar object and construct linked orthographic views, then check every transferred feature. On another, rebuild a small CAD part so that a single dimension change preserves symmetry, alignment and intended wall thickness.
For design-process practice, use a short scenario and write stakeholders, requirements and constraints before drawing any concept. Generate at least three meaningfully different approaches, build a weighted comparison, and test whether a plausible change in weights reverses the ranking. For analysis, keep a fixed template: question, diagram, parameters, assumptions, equation, substitution, units, result and design action.
For prototyping, write the risk question and acceptance condition before deciding what to build. Finish each study block with retrieval: close the guide and explain why the method works, where it can fail and what evidence would make you revise the decision. In the final week, combine these skills in short original cases and allocate time by marks.
Confirm the current exam time and permitted materials in Student Services Online rather than relying on an earlier paper.