IB Design Technology HL · 2016 to 2025 (outgoing guide)
Unit 2: Process in theory
127 past paper questions from 34 papers across 17 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
HL archive · 2016 to 2025
Unit 2: Process in theory
Latest exam session: May 2025
- questions
- 127
- questions
- papers
- 34
- papers
- exam sessions
- 17
- exam sessions
- micro-topics
- 10
Topics in Unit 2: Process in theory
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of the marks each one carries.
2.1
User-centred research methods
26% of marks75 of the 290 marks across the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (26%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 53 questions
- DuePersonas and scenarios
- RisingMultidisciplinary teams
2.2
Prototyping techniques
74% of marks215 of the 290 marks across the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (74%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 74 questions
- RisingTesting with physical
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 10 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2.2.5Testing with CAD | 3Testing with CAD, 2016: 3 questions | ·Testing with CAD, 2017: 0 questions | 4Testing with CAD, 2018: 4 questions | 1Testing with CAD, 2019: 1 question | 1Testing with CAD, 2020: 1 question | ·Testing with CAD, 2021: 0 questions | ·Testing with CAD, 2022: 0 questions | 6Testing with CAD, 2023: 6 questions | 3Testing with CAD, 2024: 3 questions | 2Testing with CAD, 2025: 2 questions |
| 1The five stages of UCD, 2016: 1 question | 2The five stages of UCD, 2017: 2 questions | ·The five stages of UCD, 2018: 0 questions | 3The five stages of UCD, 2019: 3 questions | 1The five stages of UCD, 2020: 1 question | ·The five stages of UCD, 2021: 0 questions | ·The five stages of UCD, 2022: 0 questions | 4The five stages of UCD, 2023: 4 questions | 5The five stages of UCD, 2024: 5 questions | 2The five stages of UCD, 2025: 2 questions | |
| ·Drawing to communicate, 2016: 0 questions | 1Drawing to communicate, 2017: 1 question | ·Drawing to communicate, 2018: 0 questions | 2Drawing to communicate, 2019: 2 questions | 1Drawing to communicate, 2020: 1 question | 1Drawing to communicate, 2021: 1 question | 3Drawing to communicate, 2022: 3 questions | ·Drawing to communicate, 2023: 0 questions | 2Drawing to communicate, 2024: 2 questions | 2Drawing to communicate, 2025: 2 questions | |
2.1.4Research methods | 5Research methods, 2016: 5 questions | 1Research methods, 2017: 1 question | 1Research methods, 2018: 1 question | 3Research methods, 2019: 3 questions | ·Research methods, 2020: 0 questions | ·Research methods, 2021: 0 questions | ·Research methods, 2022: 0 questions | 4Research methods, 2023: 4 questions | 2Research methods, 2024: 2 questions | 1Research methods, 2025: 1 question |
4 more micro-topics with a free account
- DuePersonas and scenarios· last May 24 P1 TZ2
- 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 Unit 2: Process in theory, by exam session
Which papers asked about Unit 2: Process in theory, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2025
11 questions across 4 papers
November 2024
7 questions across 2 papers
May 2024
11 questions across 3 papers
November 2023
7 questions across 2 papers
May 2023
13 questions across 3 papers
November 2022
1 question across 1 paper
May 2022
1 question across 1 paper
November 2021
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2020
5 questions across 2 papers
November 2019
7 questions across 2 papers
May 2019
12 questions across 2 papers
November 2018
6 questions across 2 papers
May 2018
4 questions across 2 papers
November 2017
6 questions across 2 papers
May 2017
4 questions across 1 paper
November 2016
8 questions across 2 papers
May 2016
7 questions across 2 papers
Every Unit 2: Process in theory question, unlocked
Generate all 127 questions in this unit at once, practise every one 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 Unit 2: Process 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 34 papers in this archive.
Which Unit 2: Process in theory topic comes up most?
Testing with CAD (2.2.5): in 39% of papers, last seen May 25 P2 TZ1. Usually "explain / justify", worth about 5.4 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