IB Design Technology HL · 2016 to 2025 (outgoing guide)
Design Technology HL Paper 2
288 past paper questions from 19 papers across 18 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
By paper:Paper 1Paper 2All papers
HL archive · 2016 to 2025
Paper 2
Latest exam session: May 2025
- questions
- 288
- questions
- papers
- 19
- papers
- exam sessions
- 18
- exam sessions
- micro-topics
- 48
Where Paper 2 marks go, by unit
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of the marks each one carries.
Unit 1
People in theory
18% of marks198 of the 1085 marks across the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (18%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 50 questions
- FadingPhysiological factors
Unit 2
Process in theory
19% of marks206 of the 1085 marks across the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (19%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 43 questions
- DuePhysical vs virtual
- RisingResearch methods
Unit 3
Product in theory
17% of marks181 of the 1085 marks across the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (17%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 53 questions
- DueComposites
- RisingMechanical properties
Unit 4
Production in theory
11% of marks116 of the 1085 marks across the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (11%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 39 questions
- RisingForming techniques
Unit 6
Process in practice
5% of marks54 of the 1085 marks across the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (5%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 12 questions
- DueFinite element analysis
Unit 8
Production in practice
6% of marks60 of the 1085 marks across the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (6%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 15 questions
Unit 9
People in context
2% of marks18 of the 1085 marks across the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (2%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 2 questions
Unit 10
Process in context
15% of marks165 of the 1085 marks across the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (15%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 52 questions
- RisingRecovering and restoring
Unit 11
Product in context
5% of marks59 of the 1085 marks across the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (5%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 15 questions
Unit 12
Production in context
3% of marks28 of the 1085 marks across the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (3%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 7 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 48 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.1.2Anthropometric data | 3Anthropometric data, 2016: 3 questions | 2Anthropometric data, 2017: 2 questions | 2Anthropometric data, 2018: 2 questions | 1Anthropometric data, 2019: 1 question | 1Anthropometric data, 2020: 1 question | ·Anthropometric data, 2021: 0 questions | 1Anthropometric data, 2022: 1 question | 1Anthropometric data, 2023: 1 question | 1Anthropometric data, 2024: 1 question | 2Anthropometric data, 2025: 2 questions |
10.1.1Designing sustainably | 1Designing sustainably, 2016: 1 question | 3Designing sustainably, 2017: 3 questions | 1Designing sustainably, 2018: 1 question | 1Designing sustainably, 2019: 1 question | 3Designing sustainably, 2020: 3 questions | ·Designing sustainably, 2021: 0 questions | 2Designing sustainably, 2022: 2 questions | 1Designing sustainably, 2023: 1 question | 2Designing sustainably, 2024: 2 questions | 1Designing sustainably, 2025: 1 question |
| ·Forming techniques, 2016: 0 questions | 6Forming techniques, 2017: 6 questions | ·Forming techniques, 2018: 0 questions | ·Forming techniques, 2019: 0 questions | 1Forming techniques, 2020: 1 question | 2Forming techniques, 2021: 2 questions | ·Forming techniques, 2022: 0 questions | ·Forming techniques, 2023: 0 questions | 8Forming techniques, 2024: 8 questions | 1Forming techniques, 2025: 1 question | |
| 1Mechanical properties, 2016: 1 question | 1Mechanical properties, 2017: 1 question | 1Mechanical properties, 2018: 1 question | ·Mechanical properties, 2019: 0 questions | ·Mechanical properties, 2020: 0 questions | ·Mechanical properties, 2021: 0 questions | ·Mechanical properties, 2022: 0 questions | ·Mechanical properties, 2023: 0 questions | 2Mechanical properties, 2024: 2 questions | 1Mechanical properties, 2025: 1 question |
11 more micro-topics with a free account
- DueComposites· last May 24 P2
- Risingappearing more often in the last two years than before
- Dueusually examined, but missing from the last two exam sessions
Free account · no card needed
See the full exam pattern
Every micro-topic in the heatmap and the complete watch list, free with an account.
You come straight back to this page with your set built.
- With a free account
- 3 generated sets of 10 past-paper questions, any scope
- One AI-marked practice set with step-by-step feedback
- The full exam pattern: every micro-topic and the watch list
Past paper generator
Generate Design Technology HL past paper questions
Choose what to revise and build a set in one click. Every question stays whole, so multi-part questions come as they appeared in the exam.
- 1Pick any unit, topic or micro-topic
- 2Generate whole exam questions from the archive
- 3Practise the same skills with AI marking
Questions on Paper 2, by exam session
Which papers asked about Paper 2, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2025
2 papers
November 2024
1 paper
May 2024
1 paper
November 2023
1 paper
May 2023
1 paper
November 2022
1 paper
May 2022
1 paper
November 2021
1 paper
May 2021
1 paper
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 2 question, unlocked
Generate any unit, topic or micro-topic in full, practise every question with AI marking, and see how each mark is awarded.
- Every past-paper question in any unit, topic or micro-topic
- Generate sets of 20 or all questions, as often as you like
- Unlimited practice with AI marking and worked answers
- See how every mark is awarded for each question
- Predicted papers and crash courses built from the same data
Used by IB students preparing for Nov 2026, May 2027 and May 2028
From €6/mo. 14-day money-back guarantee. Cancel anytime.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which Design Technology HL exam sessions are covered for Paper 2?
18 exam sessions from 2016 to 2025, the latest May 2025. Every Paper 2 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 19 papers in this archive.
Which Paper 2 topic comes up most?
Anthropometric data (1.1.2): in 36% of papers, last seen May 25 P2 TZ2. Usually "outline", worth about 4.3 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.
What is free and what needs Pro?
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.
Keep going
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.
Open the paper analysis
All IB past papers
Every subject we have classified by topic, with the same exam-pattern analysis.
Browse subjects