IB Design Technology HL · 2016 to 2025 (outgoing guide)
Design Technology HL Paper 1
355 past paper questions from 20 papers across 15 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
Starter set across the most-tested skills, with AI marking and model answers.
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HL archive · 2016 to 2026
Paper 1
Latest exam session: May 2026
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Where Paper 1 marks go, by unit
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of the marks each one carries.
Unit 1
People in theory
14% of marks · 51 questions
- RisingWhat ergonomics is
Unit 2
Process in theory
22% of marks · 79 questions
- RisingPersonas and scenarios
- RisingPhysical vs virtual
Unit 3
Product in theory
12% of marks · 44 questions
- DueComposites
- RisingPhysical properties
Unit 4
Production in theory
5% of marks · 19 questions
Unit 5
People in practice
1% of marks · 4 questions
Unit 6
Process in practice
4% of marks · 15 questions
- FadingResearch as an activity
Unit 7
Product in practice
1% of marks · 3 questions
Unit 8
Production in practice
6% of marks · 22 questions
- RisingCraft to automated
Unit 9
People in context
10% of marks · 35 questions
Unit 10
Process in context
17% of marks · 62 questions
- RisingRenewable energy
- RisingDesigning sustainably
Unit 11
Product in context
5% of marks · 18 questions
- RisingCradle to grave
Unit 12
Production in context
1% of marks · 3 questions
Exam pattern
How often each micro-topic has been examined, year by year. Each label is explained under the grid.
Does it repeat?
Top 4 of 69 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10.2.4Recovering and restoring | 1Recovering and restoring, 2016: 1 question | ·Recovering and restoring, 2017: 0 questions | 2Recovering and restoring, 2018: 2 questions | 1Recovering and restoring, 2019: 1 question | ·Recovering and restoring, 2020: 0 questions | ·Recovering and restoring, 2021: 0 questions | ·Recovering and restoring, 2022: 0 questions | 2Recovering and restoring, 2023: 2 questions | 2Recovering and restoring, 2024: 2 questions | 2Recovering and restoring, 2025: 2 questions | 4Recovering and restoring, 2026: 4 questions |
2.1.4Research methods | 3Research methods, 2016: 3 questions | 2Research methods, 2017: 2 questions | ·Research methods, 2018: 0 questions | 1Research methods, 2019: 1 question | ·Research methods, 2020: 0 questions | ·Research methods, 2021: 0 questions | ·Research methods, 2022: 0 questions | 2Research methods, 2023: 2 questions | 2Research methods, 2024: 2 questions | 1Research methods, 2025: 1 question | 5Research methods, 2026: 5 questions |
10.1.2Five principles | 1Five principles, 2016: 1 question | 1Five principles, 2017: 1 question | 1Five principles, 2018: 1 question | ·Five principles, 2019: 0 questions | ·Five principles, 2020: 0 questions | ·Five principles, 2021: 0 questions | ·Five principles, 2022: 0 questions | 2Five principles, 2023: 2 questions | 3Five principles, 2024: 3 questions | 1Five principles, 2025: 1 question | 3Five principles, 2026: 3 questions |
| 1Physical properties, 2016: 1 question | ·Physical properties, 2017: 0 questions | ·Physical properties, 2018: 0 questions | ·Physical properties, 2019: 0 questions | ·Physical properties, 2020: 0 questions | ·Physical properties, 2021: 0 questions | ·Physical properties, 2022: 0 questions | ·Physical properties, 2023: 0 questions | ·Physical properties, 2024: 0 questions | 1Physical properties, 2025: 1 question | 5Physical properties, 2026: 5 questions |
11 more micro-topics with a free account
- DueComposites· last Nov 24 P1
- Risingappearing more often in the last two years than before
- Dueusually examined, but missing from the last two exam sessions
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Every micro-topic in the heatmap and the complete watch list, free with an account.
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Questions on Paper 1, by exam session
Which papers asked about Paper 1, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2026
3 papers
May 2025
2 papers
November 2024
1 paper
May 2024
2 papers
November 2023
1 paper
May 2023
2 papers
November 2020
1 paper
November 2019
1 paper
May 2019
1 paper
November 2018
1 paper
May 2018
1 paper
November 2017
1 paper
May 2017
1 paper
November 2016
1 paper
May 2016
1 paper
Every Paper 1 question, unlocked
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which Design Technology HL exam sessions are covered for Paper 1?
19 exam sessions from 2016 to 2026, the latest May 2026. Every Paper 1 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 20 papers in this archive.
Which Paper 1 topic comes up most?
Recovering and restoring (10.2.4): in 31% of papers, last seen May 26 P1 TZ3. Usually "find", worth about 1.1 marks in a paper that includes it.
Can I see the original question and mark scheme?
No. The wording belongs to the IB. You get the citation, the marks, the command term and the skill tested, plus our own matched practice questions with worked answers and AI marking.
What do "banker", "due" and "rising" mean?
Banker: examined in at least one sitting in four and still appearing. Due: regular before, but absent for the last two exam sessions. Rising: clearly more common in the last two years. Our classification of real papers, not an IB statistic.
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Reading this page and the exam pattern is free. A free account generates three sets of ten questions and launches one practice set. Pro opens every question in any scope, sets of twenty or all, and unlimited practice.
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More Design Technology HL exam preparation
Every question, by paper
What each Design Technology HL paper tests across all its sittings: the marks by unit and the micro-topics it keeps coming back to.
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All IB past papers
Every subject we have classified by topic, with the same exam-pattern analysis.
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