Sheet № 210 · Foundation + Higher · AQA · Edexcel · OCR
Nets of 3D Shapes –
Nets of 3D shapes is a visual topic tested at Foundation and Higher tiers across AQA, Edexcel, and OCR. You need to recognise which 2D net folds into a given 3D shape, draw accurate nets, and use nets to calculate surface area. This guide shows you the standard nets for every common 3D shape, walks through worked examples, and provides pr
§Key definitions
Question:
Draw the net of a cuboid with length 5 cm, width 3 cm, and height 2 cm.
Answer:
A cross-shaped net with faces 5 × 3, 5 × 3, 5 × 2, 5 × 2, 3 × 2, and 3 × 2.
Q1 (Foundation):
How many faces appear in the net of a triangular prism?
Q2 (Foundation):
A cube has edge length 4 cm. Find the total surface area using its net.
Q3 (Higher):
A cone has base radius 3 cm and slant height 7 cm. Find the curved surface area of the cone.
Worked example
Draw the net of a cuboid with length 5 cm, width 3 cm, and height 2 cm.
Working:
⚠ Common mistakes
- ✗Confusing slant height with perpendicular height. In pyramids and cones, the net uses the slant height for the triangular faces or sector, not the vertical height.
- ✗Getting the rectangle width wrong on cylinder nets. The width of the rectangle must equal the circumference (2πr), not the diameter.
- ✗Drawing overlapping faces. If two faces share more than one edge in your net, the net is invalid — faces will collide when folded.
✦ Exam tips
- →If a question shows multiple nets and asks which one folds into a specific shape, eliminate options by checking face counts and dimensions first.
- →For surface area questions, sketching the net is a reliable way to make sure you account for every face.
- →When drawing nets on squared paper, use the grid lines to keep edges straight and lengths accurate.
- →Remember that a cone's net uses a sector — the arc length of the sector equals the circumference of the base circle.