Question 1

What is NCEA AS 91376 about?

Accepted Answer

This standard asks you to build a working electronic system from scratch, which includes designing a circuit board using computer software, soldering components onto it reliably, and writing code that controls the whole system. You'll need to test everything thoroughly to make sure it works properly and handles real-world constraints like timing and physical size limits.

Question 2

What do students need to do for AS 91376?

Accepted Answer

1. Design and produce a circuit board layout using PCB CAD software (not just drawing on paper) 2. Build and test circuits on actual printed circuit boards with good soldering technique and sensible track layout 3. Write and debug software code that actually controls your electronic and embedded system 4. Test and troubleshoot your entire system to ensure it works reliably and meets the original specifications 5. Document your work with annotations and clear explanations so others can understand what you've done

Question 3

What's the difference between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence for AS 91376?

Accepted Answer

Achieved: You implement the basic techniques by producing a PCB design, constructing a functional circuit, and writing software that controls it, with testing done to verify it works. Merit: You skilfully apply the techniques by creating reliable circuits with neater track layouts and better soldering, plus writing well-commented software that is easy to understand and includes proper debugging. Excellence: You efficiently implement everything with substantially improved PCB design and soldering quality, and write well-structured software that uses advanced features like debouncing and macros, demonstrating clear mastery of the whole process.

Question 4

What mistakes do students typically make in AS 91376?

Accepted Answer

1. Building circuits that work initially but fail testing or aren't reliable when used repeatedly — the board and code both need to handle real-world use 2. Writing software without enough comments or clear structure, making it hard for someone else (or the marker) to follow your logic 3. Not using proper PCB design software or producing messy track layouts that show a lack of planning — this standard explicitly requires CAD design, not improvised layouts

Electronic embedded systems

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