IB Design Technology HL · 2016 to 2025 (outgoing guide)

Unit 1: People in theory

115 past paper questions from 36 papers across 18 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.

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HL archive · 2016 to 2025

Unit 1: People in theory

Latest exam session: May 2025

questions
115
questions
papers
36
papers
exam sessions
18
exam sessions
micro-topics
7

Topics in Unit 1: People in theory

In syllabus order. The ring is the share of the marks each one carries.

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 7 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.

fewermore

Micro-topic2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
1.1.7Psychological factorsFrequently tested
2Psychological factors, 2016: 2 questions5Psychological factors, 2017: 5 questions3Psychological factors, 2018: 3 questions6Psychological factors, 2019: 6 questions3Psychological factors, 2020: 3 questions·Psychological factors, 2021: 0 questions2Psychological factors, 2022: 2 questions5Psychological factors, 2023: 5 questions5Psychological factors, 2024: 5 questions3Psychological factors, 2025: 3 questions
1.1.2Anthropometric dataFrequently tested
3Anthropometric data, 2016: 3 questions4Anthropometric data, 2017: 4 questions3Anthropometric data, 2018: 3 questions3Anthropometric data, 2019: 3 questions1Anthropometric data, 2020: 1 question·Anthropometric data, 2021: 0 questions1Anthropometric data, 2022: 1 question3Anthropometric data, 2023: 3 questions3Anthropometric data, 2024: 3 questions2Anthropometric data, 2025: 2 questions
1.1.3PercentilesFrequently tested
2Percentiles, 2016: 2 questions2Percentiles, 2017: 2 questions2Percentiles, 2018: 2 questions3Percentiles, 2019: 3 questions·Percentiles, 2020: 0 questions1Percentiles, 2021: 1 question·Percentiles, 2022: 0 questions3Percentiles, 2023: 3 questions3Percentiles, 2024: 3 questions2Percentiles, 2025: 2 questions
1.1.1What ergonomics isFrequently tested
4What ergonomics is, 2016: 4 questions1What ergonomics is, 2017: 1 question·What ergonomics is, 2018: 0 questions1What ergonomics is, 2019: 1 question2What ergonomics is, 2020: 2 questions2What ergonomics is, 2021: 2 questions2What ergonomics is, 2022: 2 questions4What ergonomics is, 2023: 4 questions1What ergonomics is, 2024: 1 question3What ergonomics is, 2025: 3 questions

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  • DuePhysiological factors· last Nov 19 P2
  • Frequently testedin at least a quarter of all papers, and still appearing in the last two years
  • Dueusually examined, but missing from the last two exam sessions

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Questions on Unit 1: People in theory, by exam session

Which papers asked about Unit 1: People in theory, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.

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Frequently asked questions

Short answers about this page.

Which Design Technology HL exam sessions are covered for Unit 1: People in theory?

18 exam sessions from 2016 to 2025, the latest May 2025. Every Paper 1 and 2 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 36 papers in this archive.

Which Unit 1: People in theory topic comes up most?

Psychological factors (1.1.7): in 67% of papers, last seen May 25 P2 TZ1. Usually "other", worth about 2.8 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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