LGCSE Design & Technology (0189) exam-day guide
LGCSE Design & Technology (0189) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission notice and photo ID
Bring the entry document your centre issued (statement of entry, timetables, admission notice) together with a valid photo ID in the name used for your entry. If your ID name differs from your registered name, or you are unsure which ID is accepted, confirm with the provider or your exams officer before the day.
Confirmed exam date, start time and venue
Practical sessions are scheduled by the centre, not by the candidate. Re-check your personal timetable and the exact room or workshop the day before; ask your exams officer to confirm any clash or rescheduling rather than assuming, as policy on rescheduling is centre-specific.
Centre-approved drawing and writing equipment
Pencils (HB and a softer grade), eraser, sharpener, 300 mm rule, set squares, protractor, compass, and pens in dark blue or black. Check with your teacher whether coloured pencils or markers are permitted for rendering, since restrictions vary by centre.
Calculator (if permitted)
Design & Technology work often involves estimating quantities, scale conversions and simple costing. Confirm with your teacher whether a calculator is allowed in your practical session and, if so, which model; do not assume a graphics or programmable calculator is acceptable.
Workshop PPE and any required safety items
If your practical involves tools or machines, bring or wear the safety equipment your centre requires, such as safety glasses and suitable closed footwear, and tie back long hair. Ask your teacher in advance exactly what is expected and whether PPE is supplied.
Know your prepared design brief or chosen context
If the session is based on preparatory work you completed beforehand, re-read your brief, research notes and initial ideas so you can move straight into developing them. Confirm with your teacher what preparatory material may be brought into the room.
Read the paper or task instructions in full before starting
Note the marks for each part, any word or time limits, and whether sketching, annotation or a written design rationale is required. Mark allocation tells you where to spend effort.
Watch, water and a light snack for longer sessions
Multi-hour practicals are tiring. Check with your centre whether drinks and snacks are allowed at the desk or bench, and whether supervised breaks are provided.
Plan for clear presentation
Bring what you need to label sketches, add dimensions and units, and keep pages ordered. Neat, labelled, dimensioned work is easier for an examiner to credit than unlabelled drawings.
Leave valuables and unauthorised devices behind
Phones, smart watches and other connected devices are generally not permitted in the exam room. Confirm your centre's rules on storage and on any permitted equipment.
Plan the day
Confirm the logistics with your teacher or exams officer: exact date, start time, room, session length, and what materials are provided versus what you must bring. Re-read the specification content for your chosen context, especially materials, manufacturing processes, sustainability and design communication, and practise quick, annotated sketches with dimensions and units. Review your own preparatory work and identify two or three areas to develop rather than starting new research.
Pack your equipment and check it works: sharpen pencils, test your calculator, check your compass and rule. Lay out ID and admission documents. Do a short, calm review of key terminology and any formulas or costing methods you use, then stop. Eat properly, avoid late-night cramming, and set two alarms.
Eat breakfast and arrive early, allowing extra time for travel. Re-check you have your ID, admission documents and equipment. Once seated, read the instructions and the whole task before writing; plan the order of work, note the time available and set rough checkpoints so you do not overrun one section. Keep your workspace tidy and observe all safety instructions if using tools.
Start with the highest-mark sections and any compulsory parts. Show your design thinking: annotate sketches, state materials and justify choices, include dimensions and units, and address the brief's requirements explicitly. If a question asks for evaluation, weigh strengths against weaknesses and suggest improvements. Leave the last few minutes to check you have answered every part, labelled all drawings and completed any required details such as name and candidate number.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from invigilators and technicians. In a workshop setting, safety instructions take priority; if you are unsure how to use a tool or machine safely, stop and ask.
Bring and display the ID and admission documents your centre requires. If you are unsure what counts as acceptable ID, confirm with the provider or your exams officer in advance.
Do not bring unauthorised materials or devices into the room. If you are unsure whether an item such as a calculator, coloured media or a reference sheet is allowed, confirm with your centre before the exam.
Work independently. Any assistance, communication with others, or use of unauthorised material during the session is misconduct and may lead to your work being voided; the exact sanctions are set by the provider.
Ask the invigilator if you need to leave the room, and expect supervised arrangements. Do not assume you can leave and return freely; confirm your centre's policy on breaks and toilet visits.
Marks are awarded for what is on the page: label and annotate your work, show units and dimensions, and make your reasoning explicit. Unlabelled or unexplained work may not earn credit even if the idea is sound.
Manage your own time within the session and keep an eye on the clock; invigilators will normally give warnings, but do not rely on them alone. Confirm with the provider how timing and any extra time arrangements apply to you.
If you believe there is an error in the task or a problem with equipment, raise it with the invigilator immediately rather than trying to work around it silently.