IB Design Technology HL · 2016 to 2025 (outgoing guide)
3.2 Structural systems
10 past paper questions from 9 papers across 8 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
Original Exam Vault questions with AI markscheme feedback for this topic.
HL archive · 2016 to 2026
3.2 Structural systems
Latest exam session: May 2026
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Micro-topics in 3.2 Structural systems
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in. 7 of them have no matching questions in this archive.
3.2.1
No question tagged to this topic in the 42 Design Technology HL papers analysed
No matches in this archiveRevise it3.2.2
No question tagged to this topic in the 42 Design Technology HL papers analysed
No matches in this archiveRevise it3.2.3
No question tagged to this topic in the 42 Design Technology HL papers analysed
No matches in this archiveRevise it- Less common
last Nov 18 P1
- Regular
last May 26 P2 TZ2
- Less common
last May 26 P2 TZ3
3.2.7
No question tagged to this topic in the 42 Design Technology HL papers analysed
No matches in this archiveRevise it3.2.8
No question tagged to this topic in the 42 Design Technology HL papers analysed
No matches in this archiveRevise it- No matches in this archiveRevise it
3.2.10
No question tagged to this topic in the 42 Design Technology HL papers analysed
No matches in this archiveRevise it
Exam pattern
How often each micro-topic has been examined, year by year. Each label is explained under the grid.
Does it repeat?
Questions per year for each micro-topic, including those with no matches in this archive.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2Stress, strain and failure, 2016: 2 questions | 1Stress, strain and failure, 2017: 1 question | ·Stress, strain and failure, 2018: 0 questions | 1Stress, strain and failure, 2019: 1 question | ·Stress, strain and failure, 2020: 0 questions | 2Stress, strain and failure, 2021: 2 questions | ·Stress, strain and failure, 2022: 0 questions | ·Stress, strain and failure, 2023: 0 questions | 1Stress, strain and failure, 2024: 1 question | ·Stress, strain and failure, 2025: 0 questions | 1Stress, strain and failure, 2026: 1 question | |
| ·Young's modulus, 2016: 0 questions | ·Young's modulus, 2017: 0 questions | ·Young's modulus, 2018: 0 questions | ·Young's modulus, 2019: 0 questions | ·Young's modulus, 2020: 0 questions | ·Young's modulus, 2021: 0 questions | ·Young's modulus, 2022: 0 questions | ·Young's modulus, 2023: 0 questions | ·Young's modulus, 2024: 0 questions | ·Young's modulus, 2025: 0 questions | 1Young's modulus, 2026: 1 question | |
| ·Static and dynamic forces, 2016: 0 questions | ·Static and dynamic forces, 2017: 0 questions | 1Static and dynamic forces, 2018: 1 question | ·Static and dynamic forces, 2019: 0 questions | ·Static and dynamic forces, 2020: 0 questions | ·Static and dynamic forces, 2021: 0 questions | ·Static and dynamic forces, 2022: 0 questions | ·Static and dynamic forces, 2023: 0 questions | ·Static and dynamic forces, 2024: 0 questions | ·Static and dynamic forces, 2025: 0 questions | ·Static and dynamic forces, 2026: 0 questions | |
| ·Equilibrium and stability, 2016: 0 questions | ·Equilibrium and stability, 2017: 0 questions | ·Equilibrium and stability, 2018: 0 questions | ·Equilibrium and stability, 2019: 0 questions | ·Equilibrium and stability, 2020: 0 questions | ·Equilibrium and stability, 2021: 0 questions | ·Equilibrium and stability, 2022: 0 questions | ·Equilibrium and stability, 2023: 0 questions | ·Equilibrium and stability, 2024: 0 questions | ·Equilibrium and stability, 2025: 0 questions | ·Equilibrium and stability, 2026: 0 questions | |
| ·Classifying structures, 2016: 0 questions | ·Classifying structures, 2017: 0 questions | ·Classifying structures, 2018: 0 questions | ·Classifying structures, 2019: 0 questions | ·Classifying structures, 2020: 0 questions | ·Classifying structures, 2021: 0 questions | ·Classifying structures, 2022: 0 questions | ·Classifying structures, 2023: 0 questions | ·Classifying structures, 2024: 0 questions | ·Classifying structures, 2025: 0 questions | ·Classifying structures, 2026: 0 questions | |
| ·Safety factor, 2016: 0 questions | ·Safety factor, 2017: 0 questions | ·Safety factor, 2018: 0 questions | ·Safety factor, 2019: 0 questions | ·Safety factor, 2020: 0 questions | ·Safety factor, 2021: 0 questions | ·Safety factor, 2022: 0 questions | ·Safety factor, 2023: 0 questions | ·Safety factor, 2024: 0 questions | ·Safety factor, 2025: 0 questions | ·Safety factor, 2026: 0 questions | |
| ·Structures everywhere, 2016: 0 questions | ·Structures everywhere, 2017: 0 questions | ·Structures everywhere, 2018: 0 questions | ·Structures everywhere, 2019: 0 questions | ·Structures everywhere, 2020: 0 questions | ·Structures everywhere, 2021: 0 questions | ·Structures everywhere, 2022: 0 questions | ·Structures everywhere, 2023: 0 questions | ·Structures everywhere, 2024: 0 questions | ·Structures everywhere, 2025: 0 questions | ·Structures everywhere, 2026: 0 questions | |
| ·Strengthening techniques, 2016: 0 questions | ·Strengthening techniques, 2017: 0 questions | ·Strengthening techniques, 2018: 0 questions | ·Strengthening techniques, 2019: 0 questions | ·Strengthening techniques, 2020: 0 questions | ·Strengthening techniques, 2021: 0 questions | ·Strengthening techniques, 2022: 0 questions | ·Strengthening techniques, 2023: 0 questions | ·Strengthening techniques, 2024: 0 questions | ·Strengthening techniques, 2025: 0 questions | ·Strengthening techniques, 2026: 0 questions |
2 more micro-topics have no matches in this archive.
- Regularin roughly one paper in six or more
- Less commonin fewer than one paper in fifteen
- No matches in this archiveon the syllabus, but has no question tagged to it in this archive. This does not mean it has never been examined
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Questions on 3.2 Structural systems, by exam session
Which papers asked about 3.2 Structural systems, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2026
2 questions across 2 papers
November 2024
1 question across 1 paper
November 2021
1 question across 1 paper
May 2019
1 question across 1 paper
November 2018
1 question across 1 paper
May 2017
1 question across 1 paper
November 2016
1 question across 1 paper
May 2016
1 question across 1 paper
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which Design Technology HL exam sessions are covered for 3.2 Structural systems?
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 9 papers in this archive.
Which 3.2 Structural systems topic comes up most?
Stress, strain and failure (3.2.5): in 17% of papers, last seen May 26 P2 TZ2. Usually "Describe", worth about 1.7 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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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.
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