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

2.2 Prototyping techniques

85 past paper questions from 40 papers across 19 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.

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HL archive · 2016 to 2026

2.2 Prototyping techniques

Latest exam session: May 2026

questions
questions
papers
papers
exam sessions
exam sessions
By year6micro-topics

Micro-topics in 2.2 Prototyping techniques

In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in.

  • 2

    2.2.1

    Low and high fidelity

    1 question · in 2% of papers

    Less common

    last May 18 P1

  • 31

    2.2.2

    Drawing to communicate

    14 questions · in 31% of papers

    Frequently tested

    last May 26 P2 TZ3

  • 29

    2.2.3

    Physical vs virtual

    12 questions · in 29% of papers

    Frequently tested

    last May 26 P2 TZ3

  • 45

    2.2.4

    Testing with physical

    20 questions · in 45% of papers

    Frequently tested

    last May 26 P2 TZ3

  • 45

    2.2.5

    Testing with CAD

    22 questions · in 45% of papers

    Frequently tested

    last May 26 P2 TZ2

  • 36

    2.2.6

    Rapid prototyping

    16 questions · in 36% of papers

    Frequently tested

    last May 26 P2 TZ1

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

fewermore

Micro-topic20162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
2.2.4Testing with physicalFrequently tested
1Testing with physical, 2016: 1 question3Testing with physical, 2017: 3 questions1Testing with physical, 2018: 1 question·Testing with physical, 2019: 0 questions·Testing with physical, 2020: 0 questions·Testing with physical, 2021: 0 questions1Testing with physical, 2022: 1 question4Testing with physical, 2023: 4 questions4Testing with physical, 2024: 4 questions1Testing with physical, 2025: 1 question5Testing with physical, 2026: 5 questions
2.2.6Rapid prototypingFrequently tested
1Rapid prototyping, 2016: 1 question1Rapid prototyping, 2017: 1 question2Rapid prototyping, 2018: 2 questions3Rapid prototyping, 2019: 3 questions1Rapid prototyping, 2020: 1 question·Rapid prototyping, 2021: 0 questions·Rapid prototyping, 2022: 0 questions3Rapid prototyping, 2023: 3 questions·Rapid prototyping, 2024: 0 questions2Rapid prototyping, 2025: 2 questions3Rapid prototyping, 2026: 3 questions
2.2.5Testing with CADFrequently tested
2Testing with CAD, 2016: 2 questions·Testing with CAD, 2017: 0 questions3Testing with CAD, 2018: 3 questions2Testing with CAD, 2019: 2 questions1Testing with CAD, 2020: 1 question·Testing with CAD, 2021: 0 questions·Testing with CAD, 2022: 0 questions6Testing with CAD, 2023: 6 questions3Testing with CAD, 2024: 3 questions1Testing with CAD, 2025: 1 question4Testing with CAD, 2026: 4 questions
2.2.2Drawing to communicateFrequently tested
·Drawing to communicate, 2016: 0 questions1Drawing to communicate, 2017: 1 question·Drawing to communicate, 2018: 0 questions2Drawing to communicate, 2019: 2 questions1Drawing to communicate, 2020: 1 question2Drawing to communicate, 2021: 2 questions2Drawing to communicate, 2022: 2 questions·Drawing to communicate, 2023: 0 questions2Drawing to communicate, 2024: 2 questions1Drawing to communicate, 2025: 1 question3Drawing to communicate, 2026: 3 questions

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  • Frequently testedin at least a quarter of all papers, and still appearing in the last two years

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Questions on 2.2 Prototyping techniques, by exam session

Which papers asked about 2.2 Prototyping techniques, 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 2.2 Prototyping techniques?

19 exam sessions from 2016 to 2026, the latest May 2026. Every Paper 1 and 2 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 40 papers in this archive.

Which 2.2 Prototyping techniques topic comes up most?

Testing with physical (2.2.4): in 45% of papers, last seen May 26 P2 TZ3. Usually "Explain", worth about 2.7 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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