IB Design Technology HL · 2016 to 2025 (outgoing guide)
2.1 User-centred research methods
42 past paper questions from 23 papers across 13 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
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HL archive · 2016 to 2026
2.1 User-centred research methods
Latest exam session: May 2026
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Micro-topics in 2.1 User-centred research methods
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in.
- Less common
last Nov 24 P1
- Regular
last May 26 P1 TZ3
- Rising
last May 26 P2 TZ2
- Frequently tested
last May 26 P2 TZ2
- Rising
last May 26 P1 TZ3
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 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4Research methods, 2016: 4 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 | 3Research methods, 2024: 3 questions | 2Research methods, 2025: 2 questions | 6Research methods, 2026: 6 questions | |
| ·Multidisciplinary teams, 2016: 0 questions | ·Multidisciplinary teams, 2017: 0 questions | 1Multidisciplinary teams, 2018: 1 question | 1Multidisciplinary teams, 2019: 1 question | ·Multidisciplinary teams, 2020: 0 questions | ·Multidisciplinary teams, 2021: 0 questions | ·Multidisciplinary teams, 2022: 0 questions | 1Multidisciplinary teams, 2023: 1 question | 1Multidisciplinary teams, 2024: 1 question | 2Multidisciplinary teams, 2025: 2 questions | 1Multidisciplinary teams, 2026: 1 question | |
| 1The five stages of UCD, 2016: 1 question | 1The five stages of UCD, 2017: 1 question | ·The five stages of UCD, 2018: 0 questions | ·The five stages of UCD, 2019: 0 questions | ·The five stages of UCD, 2020: 0 questions | ·The five stages of UCD, 2021: 0 questions | ·The five stages of UCD, 2022: 0 questions | 2The five stages of UCD, 2023: 2 questions | 1The five stages of UCD, 2024: 1 question | ·The five stages of UCD, 2025: 0 questions | 2The five stages of UCD, 2026: 2 questions | |
| 3Personas and scenarios, 2016: 3 questions | ·Personas and scenarios, 2017: 0 questions | ·Personas and scenarios, 2018: 0 questions | ·Personas and scenarios, 2019: 0 questions | ·Personas and scenarios, 2020: 0 questions | ·Personas and scenarios, 2021: 0 questions | ·Personas and scenarios, 2022: 0 questions | 1Personas and scenarios, 2023: 1 question | ·Personas and scenarios, 2024: 0 questions | ·Personas and scenarios, 2025: 0 questions | 2Personas and scenarios, 2026: 2 questions |
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- Frequently testedin at least a quarter of all papers, and still appearing in the last two years
- Risingappearing more often in the last two years than before
- Regularin roughly one paper in six or more
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Questions on 2.1 User-centred research methods, by exam session
Which papers asked about 2.1 User-centred research methods, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2026
10 questions across 4 papers
May 2025
3 questions across 3 papers
November 2024
2 questions across 2 papers
May 2024
4 questions across 2 papers
November 2023
2 questions across 2 papers
May 2023
4 questions across 2 papers
November 2019
1 question across 1 paper
May 2019
2 questions across 1 paper
May 2018
1 question across 1 paper
November 2017
1 question across 1 paper
May 2017
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2016
4 questions across 2 papers
May 2016
4 questions across 1 paper
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which Design Technology HL exam sessions are covered for 2.1 User-centred research methods?
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 23 papers in this archive.
Which 2.1 User-centred research methods topic comes up most?
Research methods (2.1.4): in 41% of papers, last seen May 26 P2 TZ2. Usually "Outline", worth about 1.4 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.
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