0445_s26_qp_31 2026 May-June Design and Technology 0445 Question Paper 3 Variant 1 · Cambridge CAIE IGCSE

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0445_s26_qp_312026 May-June Design and Technology 0445 Question Paper 3 Variant 1

This is the official Cambridge IGCSE Design and Technology (0445) Question Paper 3 (Variant 1) from the 2026 May-June examination session. This question paper was sat by Cambridge students worldwide in 2026 and is published by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE). Use it for timed practice under exam conditions to build familiarity with the question format, mark allocation, and time pressure.

Also referenced as: 0445_s26_qp_31 · 0445/31/m/j/26 qp · 0445/31 May/June 2026 qp

Paper 3: Resistant Materials This is Paper 3: Resistant Materials, worth 50 marks with a duration of 1h 15m. Section A: short, sometimes one-word, knowledge questions on tools, processes and materials (wood, metal, plastic). Section B: longer questions with large mark allocations requiring clear sketches with detailed written notes. Candidates must match tools and equipment to specific purposes — generic names ('saw', 'sandpaper') are not credited.

To self-assess your performance, use this question paper alongside the corresponding mark scheme (0445_s26_ms_31). Attempt the entire paper under timed conditions before opening the mark scheme — this trains both your subject knowledge and exam technique. Mark each question and record whether marks were lost due to knowledge gaps, method errors, or careless mistakes.

The most effective way to use this Design and Technology question paper is to simulate real exam conditions: set a timer for the full duration, work without notes, and write your answers on separate paper. After finishing, mark yourself using the official mark scheme — do not check answers during the paper. This builds exam stamina and reveals your genuine readiness. Repeat this process across 3–5 sessions to identify recurring weak topics in Design and Technology (0445).

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Same paper, other years

Design and Technology (0445) Question Paper 3 (Variant 1) from other exam sessions — practise the same paper across the years, then check each one against its mark scheme.

Examiner Insights — Paper 3: Resistant Materials

Based on analysis of 1 official Cambridge documents (2025)

1

Generic material names and generic reasons not credited (Paper 1 + Paper 3)

Candidates should be advised against giving generic names of materials such as wood, or generic reasons, such as easy to work with, as these are not awarded marks0445 Paper 1, May/June 2025

How to fix: Name a specific material (oak, beech, acrylic, MDF, Corriflute, mild steel, aluminium, HDPE) AND give a property-linked reason (resistance to corrosion, strength-to-weight ratio, ability to fold flat, available in a range of colours). Never write 'wood', 'plastic', 'metal' or 'easy to work with' — those are zero-mark phrases. Match the material to what your design actually needs to do.

2

Sketches without notes (or notes without sketches) on (b) joining/method questions — capped at 1 mark per method

To score maximum marks, candidates must use both sketches and notes to show each method. A small number of candidates produced only sketches and were awarded a maximum of one mark for each method0445 Paper 1, May/June 2025

How to fix: Every (b) joining/method question requires BOTH a labelled sketch AND written notes. A sketch alone caps you at 1 mark per method. Train yourself to add at least two annotation lines to every sketch — name the parts, name the action ('compresses to grip', 'rotates around pin'), and name the tool used.

5

Tools named generically ('saw', 'cutter', 'sandpaper') instead of specific tools — Paper 3

Many candidates named abrasives such as 'sandpaper', (glasspaper), which was inappropriate as it is an abrasive that is used on wood, not metal. There were a few correct answers stating 'emery cloth' and 'wet and dry' paper0445 Paper 3, May/June 2025

How to fix: Memorise specific tool names by material: hole saw / Forstner bit (Ø80 holes in wood), scriber (marking metal), centre punch (indenting metal before drilling), odd-leg calipers (parallel lines on metal), hand/flat/half-round file (smoothing metal/acrylic edges), emery cloth or wet-and-dry (silicon carbide) paper for metal/acrylic, glasspaper for wood only. Generic names earn zero.

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Design and Technology Exam Guide: How to Score Higher

Top mistakes, scoring patterns & answer frameworks from 1 official Cambridge documents