100+ Free Wales GCSE Design and Technology Practice Questions
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Key Facts: Wales GCSE Design and Technology Exam
30% / 70%
Unit 1 digital exam + Unit 2 design-and-make NEA
WJEC GCSE Design and Technology specification (teaching from 2026)
1h 30m
Unit 1 digital examination duration (80 marks)
WJEC specification summary of assessment
~40 hours
Suggested Unit 2 Design Project assessment duration
WJEC specification
A*–G
Wales GCSE grading scale (U unclassified)
WJEC specification grading, awarding and reporting
£46.80
Typical 2026/27 full single-award centre entry fee
WJEC Entry Fees schedules / Made-for-Wales single awards
3481–3483QS
English pathway codes (Engineering / Fashion / Product)
WJEC subject page / specification entries
Sept 2026
First teaching (Wave 2 Made-for-Wales)
WJEC / Qualifications Wales
C00/5167/8
Qualification Approval Number (QN)
WJEC subject page
WJEC Made-for-Wales GCSE Design and Technology (3481/3482/3483QS): Unit 1 digital exam 30% (1h 30m, 80 marks) + Unit 2 design-and-make NEA 70% (~40h, 100 marks). Pathways: Engineering Design, Fashion and Textiles, Product Design. Graded A*–G. First teaching Sept 2026; centre entry about £46.80. Free practice here is an English MCQ study adaptation.
Sample Wales GCSE Design and Technology Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your Wales GCSE Design and Technology exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Which of the following is a ferrous metal commonly used for general fabrication because it is relatively cheap and easy to machine?
2Which non-ferrous metal is particularly valued for its high electrical and thermal conductivity in wiring and heat sinks?
3What is the key behavioural difference between a thermoplastic and a thermosetting plastic?
4Which polymer is commonly used as a biodegradable filament for school 3D printing and packaging trials?
5Beech and balsa are examples of which timber classification?
6Which manufactured board is made from layers of veneer glued with alternating grain directions for improved dimensional stability?
7A material that changes colour with temperature (for example a baby’s feeding spoon indicator) is best described as:
8Nitinol is an example of a shape memory alloy (SMA). What useful behaviour does it show?
9Which pair correctly matches a natural plant fibre with a synthetic fibre?
10Why might a designer blend polyester with cotton in a school shirt fabric?
About the Wales GCSE Design and Technology Exam
Made-for-Wales GCSE Design and Technology is the WJEC qualification designed for the Curriculum for Wales Science and Technology area (first teaching September 2026, first award 2028). It is regulated by Qualifications Wales and is not available to centres in England. Learners follow one pathway — Engineering Design, Fashion and Textiles, or Product Design — for both units. Assessment is linear: Unit 1 Design and Technology in the 21st Century (digital exam, 30%) and Unit 2 Design Project (design-and-make NEA, 70%). Grades use the Wales A*–G scale. Assessments are available in English and Welsh. DISCLOSURE: Official papers mix objective, short and extended responses plus a substantial practical design-and-make project — this free bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation for revision, not a past-paper clone or NEA brief.
Assessment
Linear, untiered single-award GCSE. Unit 1 digital exam 30% (80 marks, 1h 30m); Unit 2 Design Project NEA 70% (100 marks, ~40 hours). Pathways and English codes: Engineering Design 3481QS, Fashion and Textiles 3482QS, Product Design 3483QS (CS codes for Cymraeg). QN C00/5167/8. First teaching September 2026; first award 2028.
Time Limit
Unit 1: 1 hour 30 minutes; Unit 2 NEA: approximately 40 hours
Passing Score
A*–G overall grade (Wales GCSE scale; U unclassified)
Exam Fee
£46.80 centre entry fee for a full single-award Made-for-Wales GCSE on published WJEC 2026/27 fee schedules. Paid by the school/centre — learners do not typically pay a separate public exam fee. (WJEC (regulated by Qualifications Wales))
Wales GCSE Design and Technology Exam Content Outline
Unit 1: Design and Technology in the 21st Century
Core: new and emerging technologies (CAD/CAM, AI, AR/VR); modern and smart materials; sustainable design (LCA, circular economy, 6 Rs); energy storage and renewability; contemporary design thinking, historical/cultural influences, ergonomics and anthropometrics. Pathway in-depth technical content for Engineering Design (metals, polymers, electronics/control, forces/movement, manufacture), Fashion and Textiles (fibres, fabrics, technical textiles, specialist processes), or Product Design (metals, timbers, polymers, specialist techniques, product manufacture).
Unit 2: Design Project (NEA)
Contextual challenges and user-centred design; research and investigation; design briefs and specifications; iterative design; manufacturing prototypes safely with appropriate tools and processes; analysing and evaluating design decisions and prototypes for fitness for purpose.
How to Pass the Wales GCSE Design and Technology Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: A*–G overall grade (Wales GCSE scale; U unclassified)
- Assessment: Linear, untiered single-award GCSE. Unit 1 digital exam 30% (80 marks, 1h 30m); Unit 2 Design Project NEA 70% (100 marks, ~40 hours). Pathways and English codes: Engineering Design 3481QS, Fashion and Textiles 3482QS, Product Design 3483QS (CS codes for Cymraeg). QN C00/5167/8. First teaching September 2026; first award 2028.
- Time limit: Unit 1: 1 hour 30 minutes; Unit 2 NEA: approximately 40 hours
- Exam fee: £46.80 centre entry fee for a full single-award Made-for-Wales GCSE on published WJEC 2026/27 fee schedules. Paid by the school/centre — learners do not typically pay a separate public exam fee.
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
Wales GCSE Design and Technology Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Made-for-Wales GCSE Design and Technology the same as England GCSE D&T?
No. This is a WJEC qualification regulated by Qualifications Wales for centres in Wales (not available to centres in England). It uses the A*–G grade scale, a 30% digital exam plus 70% design-and-make NEA structure, and three named pathways. England GCSEs typically use the 9–1 scale and different board specifications.
How is the Made-for-Wales GCSE Design and Technology assessed?
Unit 1 is a digital examination lasting 1 hour 30 minutes (30%, 80 marks) with objective, short and extended answers covering core and pathway content. Unit 2 is a design-and-make Design Project NEA (70%, 100 marks, about 40 hours) based on a WJEC contextual challenge, marked by the centre and moderated by WJEC. The qualification is linear and not tiered.
What pathways can learners choose?
Engineering Design (3481QS English / 3481CS Cymraeg), Fashion and Textiles (3482QS / 3482CS), or Product Design (3483QS / 3483CS). Learners must follow the same pathway for Unit 1 and Unit 2. Choosing more than one pathway requires separate qualification entries.
Does this free practice test match the official exam format?
No. The official Unit 1 paper is not pure multiple-choice, and Unit 2 is a sustained design-and-make project with portfolio evidence. This bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation to build topic knowledge and decision-making — use it alongside WJEC sample assessment materials, workshop practice and your NEA workflow.
How much does the exam cost?
WJEC’s published centre entry fee for a full single-award Made-for-Wales GCSE is typically £46.80 on 2026/27 fee schedules. This is paid by the school or centre. Confirm the live entry fees PDF for your series.
When is first teaching and first award?
First teaching is September 2026. The first award of the qualification is 2028. Unit 1 is examined in the final year of the course; Unit 2 can be completed once contextual challenges are released and is submitted in the final year.
What languages is the qualification available in?
Assessments are available in English and Welsh (Cymraeg), consistent with other Made-for-Wales GCSEs offered by WJEC.
What is Unit 2 Design Project?
A sustained design-and-make task set from WJEC contextual challenges. Learners investigate user needs, write briefs and specifications, iterate designs, manufacture a fit-for-purpose prototype under appropriate workshop control, and evaluate decisions. Evidence is submitted digitally; manufacture of the final prototype is under centre supervision.