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

4.1 Manufacturing techniques

56 past paper questions from 23 papers across 14 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.

Generate a custom set

HL archive · 2016 to 2025

4.1 Manufacturing techniques

Latest exam session: May 2025

questions
56
questions
papers
23
papers
exam sessions
14
exam sessions
micro-topics
6

Micro-topics in 4.1 Manufacturing techniques

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

  • 3

    4.1.1

    Five categories

    1 question · in 3% of papersAppears in 1 of the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (3%), at least once each.

    Less common

    last Nov 18 P2

  • 3

    4.1.10

    Finishing techniques

    1 question · in 3% of papersAppears in 1 of the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (3%), at least once each.

    Less common

    last Nov 18 P2

  • 8

    4.1.2

    Additive: 3D printing

    3 questions · in 8% of papersAppears in 3 of the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (8%), at least once each.

    Occasional

    last Nov 18 P2

  • 17

    4.1.7

    Subtractive techniques

    11 questions · in 17% of papersAppears in 6 of the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (17%), at least once each.

    Rising

    last May 25 P2 TZ1

  • 44

    4.1.8

    Forming techniques

    30 questions · in 44% of papersAppears in 16 of the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (44%), at least once each.

    Frequently tested

    last May 25 P2 TZ1

  • 11

    4.1.9

    Joining techniques

    10 questions · in 11% of papersAppears in 4 of the 36 Design Technology HL papers analysed (11%), at least once each.

    Rising

    last May 25 P1 TZ2

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-topic2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
4.1.8Forming techniquesFrequently tested
1Forming techniques, 2016: 1 question7Forming techniques, 2017: 7 questions1Forming techniques, 2018: 1 question1Forming techniques, 2019: 1 question1Forming techniques, 2020: 1 question2Forming techniques, 2021: 2 questions·Forming techniques, 2022: 0 questions4Forming techniques, 2023: 4 questions10Forming techniques, 2024: 10 questions3Forming techniques, 2025: 3 questions
4.1.9Joining techniquesRising · last May 25 P1 TZ2
7Joining techniques, 2016: 7 questions·Joining techniques, 2017: 0 questions·Joining techniques, 2018: 0 questions·Joining techniques, 2019: 0 questions·Joining techniques, 2020: 0 questions·Joining techniques, 2021: 0 questions·Joining techniques, 2022: 0 questions·Joining techniques, 2023: 0 questions2Joining techniques, 2024: 2 questions1Joining techniques, 2025: 1 question
4.1.7Subtractive techniquesRising · last May 25 P2 TZ1
5Subtractive techniques, 2016: 5 questions1Subtractive techniques, 2017: 1 question·Subtractive techniques, 2018: 0 questions·Subtractive techniques, 2019: 0 questions·Subtractive techniques, 2020: 0 questions·Subtractive techniques, 2021: 0 questions·Subtractive techniques, 2022: 0 questions1Subtractive techniques, 2023: 1 question1Subtractive techniques, 2024: 1 question3Subtractive techniques, 2025: 3 questions
4.1.2Additive: 3D printingOccasional
·Additive: 3D printing, 2016: 0 questions1Additive: 3D printing, 2017: 1 question2Additive: 3D printing, 2018: 2 questions·Additive: 3D printing, 2019: 0 questions·Additive: 3D printing, 2020: 0 questions·Additive: 3D printing, 2021: 0 questions·Additive: 3D printing, 2022: 0 questions·Additive: 3D printing, 2023: 0 questions·Additive: 3D printing, 2024: 0 questions·Additive: 3D printing, 2025: 0 questions

2 more micro-topics with a free account

  • 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
  • Occasionalin about one paper in ten

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.

Create a free accountSign in

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.

  1. 1Pick any unit, topic or micro-topic
  2. 2Generate whole exam questions from the archive
  3. 3Practise the same skills with AI marking
Loading the generator

Questions on 4.1 Manufacturing techniques, by exam session

Which papers asked about 4.1 Manufacturing techniques, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.

Past Paper Generator · Pro

Every 4.1 Manufacturing techniques question, unlocked

Generate all 56 questions in this topic 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 4.1 Manufacturing techniques?

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 23 papers in this archive.

Which 4.1 Manufacturing techniques topic comes up most?

Forming techniques (4.1.8): in 44% of papers, last seen May 25 P2 TZ1. Usually "other", worth about 3.6 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