Materials Design and Technology
Materials Design Technology learning area contacts:
- For all Materials Design Technology course enquiries please contact:
Richard Williams : +61 8 9273 6361 | Richard.Williams@scsa.wa.edu.au - For Materials Design Technology practical examination enquiries please contact:
Paul Cranley : +61 8 9273 6795 | Paul.Cranley@scsa.wa.edu.au
-
ATAR
Materials Design and Technology ATAR is a practical course where students can choose to work with metal, textiles or wood in the design and manufacture of products. This is also a course about ideas, innovation and creativity. In order to do these well, students research and test the different characteristics of materials, and use strategies to develop innovative and creative ideas. They develop a clear understanding of the elements and fundamentals of design, and apply a learned design process to successfully develop a product. Students apply skills of management in planning and implementing a process, at the same time as they manipulate tools and machines to produce high-quality products.
What's changingSyllabus- ATAR Year 12 What's changing - General capabilities (409.2 KB) Last updated: 16 Oct 2025 3:27pm
- ATAR Year 12 What's changing - General capabilities (318.0 KB) Last updated: 16 Oct 2025 3:27pm
- ATAR Year 12 What's changing - Rationale and Aims (393.7 KB) Last updated: 16 Oct 2025 3:27pm
- ATAR Year 12 What's changing - Rationale and Aims (317.3 KB) Last updated: 16 Oct 2025 3:27pm
Grading Support Materials- ATAR Year 11 Syllabus – For teaching from 2026 (741.2 KB) Last updated: 29 Jan 2026 2:21pm
- ATAR Year 11 Syllabus – For teaching from 2026 (419.6 KB) Last updated: 29 Jan 2026 2:21pm
- ATAR Syllabus Year 12 - For teaching from 2025 (718.0 KB) Last updated: 14 Aug 2024 2:18pm
- ATAR Syllabus Year 12 - For teaching from 2025 (417.3 KB) Last updated: 14 Aug 2024 2:18pm
- ATAR Year 12 summary of minor syllabus changes for 2025 (182.1 KB) Last updated: 14 Aug 2024 2:17pm
- ATAR Year 12 summary of minor syllabus changes for 2025 (27.2 KB) Last updated: 14 Aug 2024 2:17pm
Examination Materials- Glossary of key words used in the formulation of questions (381.7 KB) Last updated: 28 Jan 2026 11:38am
- Glossary of key words used in the formulation of questions (212.3 KB) Last updated: 28 Jan 2026 11:38am
- ATAR Year 12 sample assessment outline (350.9 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 2:17pm
- ATAR Year 12 sample assessment outline (459.2 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 2:17pm
- ATAR Year 12 sample assessment tasks (424.9 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 2:17pm
- ATAR Year 12 sample assessment tasks (384.0 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 2:17pm
- ATAR Year 12 sample course outline (357.6 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 2:17pm
- ATAR Year 12 sample course outline (505.7 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 2:17pm
- ATAR Year 11 sample assessment outline (357.0 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- ATAR Year 11 sample assessment outline (247.7 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- ATAR Year 11 sample assessment tasks (385.5 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- ATAR Year 11 sample assessment tasks (324.4 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- ATAR Year 11 sample course outline (366.1 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- ATAR Year 11 sample course outline (270.0 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- 2026 Practical (portfolio) examination requirements (3.5 MB) Last updated: 27 Mar 2026 10:40am
- 2026 Practical (portfolio) marking key (335.8 KB) Last updated: 27 Mar 2026 10:40am
- 2026 Practical Examination – Declaration of authenticity (678.5 KB) Last updated: 29 Apr 2026 4:06pm
- 2025 Summary examination report for candidates (267.3 KB) Last updated: 19 Mar 2026 2:28pm
- 2025 Examination Section 1 and 2 (438.9 KB) Last updated: 28 Jan 2026 12:45pm
- 2025 Examination Section 3 (766.4 KB) Last updated: 28 Jan 2026 12:45pm
- 2025 Marking Key (631.4 KB) Last updated: 28 Jan 2026 12:45pm
- 2025 MDT Practical (portfolio) Examination Front Cover (245.5 KB) Last updated: 29 Aug 2025 12:00pm
- Additional Past ATAR Course Examinations
-
General
The Materials Design and Technology General course is a practical course. Students can choose to work with metal, textiles or wood, with the design and manufacture of products as the major focus. Students have the opportunity to develop and practise skills that contribute to creating a physical product, while acquiring an appreciation of the application of a design process, and an understanding of the need for materials sustainability. Students will learn and practise manufacturing processes and technologies, including principles of design, planning and management.
What's changingSyllabus- General Year 12 What's changing - General capabilities (409.7 KB) Last updated: 16 Oct 2025 3:36pm
- General Year 12 What's changing - General capabilities (318.1 KB) Last updated: 16 Oct 2025 3:36pm
- General Year 12 What's changing - Rationale and Aims (393.7 KB) Last updated: 16 Oct 2025 3:36pm
- General Year 12 What's changing - Rationale and Aims (317.0 KB) Last updated: 16 Oct 2025 3:36pm
Grading Support Materials- General Syllabus Year 11 - For teaching from 2026 (686.0 KB) Last updated: 30 Jan 2026 10:58am
- General Syllabus Year 11 - For teaching from 2026 (404.4 KB) Last updated: 30 Jan 2026 10:59am
- General Syllabus Year 12 - For teaching from 2025 (689.8 KB) Last updated: 12 Aug 2024 10:55am
- General Syllabus Year 12 - For teaching from 2025 (408.0 KB) Last updated: 12 Aug 2024 10:56am
- General Year 12 - Summary of minor syllabus changes for 2025 (162.8 KB) Last updated: 12 Aug 2024 10:56am
- General Year 12 - summary of minor syllabus changes for 2025 (21.2 KB) Last updated: 12 Aug 2024 10:56am
Externally Set Task Materials 2026- Glossary of key words used in the formulation of questions (381.7 KB) Last updated: 28 Jan 2026 11:38am
- Glossary of key words used in the formulation of questions (212.3 KB) Last updated: 28 Jan 2026 11:38am
- General Year 12 sample assessment outline (322.1 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:50pm
- General Year 12 sample assessment outline (353.8 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:50pm
- General Year 12 sample assessment tasks (332.0 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:50pm
- General Year 12 sample assessment tasks (490.0 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:50pm
- General Year 12 sample course outline (342.0 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:50pm
- General Year 12 sample course outline (357.6 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:50pm
- General Year 11 sample assessment outline (386.2 KB) Last updated: 29 May 2025 9:31am
- General Year 11 sample assessment outline (354.3 KB) Last updated: 29 May 2025 9:31am
- General Year 11 sample assessment tasks (510.3 KB) Last updated: 29 May 2025 9:31am
- General Year 11 sample assessment tasks (380.0 KB) Last updated: 29 May 2025 9:31am
- General Year 11 sample course outline (577.4 KB) Last updated: 29 May 2025 9:31am
- General Year 11 sample course outline (381.1 KB) Last updated: 29 May 2025 9:32am
Externally Set Task Materials 2025- 2026 General EST Unit 3 Content - METAL (277.9 KB) Last updated: 25 Sep 2025 2:07pm
- 2026 General EST Unit 3 Content - TEXTILES (289.9 KB) Last updated: 25 Sep 2025 2:07pm
- 2026 General EST Unit 3 Content - WOOD (292.5 KB) Last updated: 25 Sep 2025 2:07pm
Externally Set Task Materials 2024- 2025 General EST Unit 3 content - Metal (173.5 KB) Last updated: 18 Sep 2024 9:58am
- 2025 General EST Unit 3 content - Textiles (171.7 KB) Last updated: 18 Sep 2024 9:58am
- 2025 General EST Unit 3 content - Wood (172.4 KB) Last updated: 18 Sep 2024 9:58am
Externally Set Task Materials 2023- 2024 General EST Unit 3 content - Metal (335.2 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:37pm
- 2024 General EST Unit 3 content - Textiles (333.3 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:37pm
- 2024 General EST Unit 3 content - Wood (313.8 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:37pm
-
Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.
Externally Set Task Materials 2022- 2023 General EST Unit 3 Content (247.7 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:10pm
-
Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.
Externally Set Task Materials 2021- 2022 General EST Unit 3 Content (384.7 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 3:32pm
-
Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.
Externally Set Task Materials 2020- 2021 MDT General EST Unit 3 content (272.4 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 3:22pm
-
Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.
Externally Set Task Materials 2019- 2020 General EST Unit 3 Content (376.1 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 3:10pm
-
Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.
Externally Set Task Materials 2018- 2019 General EST Unit 3 content (196.4 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 2:50pm
-
Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.
Externally Set Task Materials 2017- 2018 General EST Unit 3 content (184.6 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 2:33pm
-
Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.
Externally Set Task Materials 2016- 2017 General EST Unit 3 content (173.5 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 2:24pm
- 2017 General EST Unit 3 content (172.1 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 2:24pm
-
Externally set tasks with their associated marking key and work samples are teacher resources and are housed within the Teacher Support Material Extranet. Teachers can login or register for an account at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/extranet/login.
- General sample EST marking key (319.3 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- General sample EST marking key (185.2 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- General sample EST (307.8 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- General sample EST (190.6 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
-
Preliminary
This course is designed to allow students to work with materials so that they may develop a range of manipulation, processing, manufacturing and organisational skills. When designing with materials, they may have opportunities to solve problems, generate ideas and communicate what they do. This enables them to make more informed decisions about the use of materials and technology in a real-life context.
SyllabusSupport Materials- Preliminary syllabus Year 11 and 12 (361.0 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- Preliminary syllabus Year 11 and 12 (332.9 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- Preliminary Syllabus Year 11 and Year 12 - For teaching from 2024 (436.1 KB) Last updated: 02 Feb 2024 12:24pm
- Preliminary Syllabus Year 11 and Year 12 - For teaching from 2024 (179.9 KB) Last updated: 02 Feb 2024 12:24pm
- Preliminary U1 and U2 sample assessment outline (369.2 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- Preliminary U1 and U2 sample assessment outline (280.3 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- Preliminary U1 and U2 sample course outline (362.4 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- Preliminary U1 and U2 sample course outline (264.0 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- Preliminary U1 and U2 sample assessment tasks (373.4 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:52pm
- Preliminary U1 and U2 sample assessment tasks (298.3 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:52pm
- Preliminary U3 and U4 sample assessment outline (372.7 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- Preliminary U3 and U4 sample assessment outline (281.4 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- Preliminary U3 and U4 sample course outline (364.4 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- Preliminary U3 and U4 sample course outline (268.5 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:43pm
- Preliminary U3 and U4 sample assessment tasks (375.0 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:52pm
- Preliminary U3 and U4 sample assessment tasks (298.0 KB) Last updated: 16 Dec 2023 1:52pm
Syllabus Review
The Authority is reviewing the ATAR and General syllabuses. For further information, please contact:
Nadia Civa
Manager, Curriculum and Assessment
- Use the link below to complete the consultation survey.
- Public Consultation Feedback for Materials Design and Technology ATAR and General Syllabuses 2025