IB Design Technology SL · 2016 to 2025 (outgoing guide)
Design Technology SL Paper 1
280 past paper questions from 17 papers across 14 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
By paper:Paper 1Paper 2All papers
SL archive · 2016 to 2025
Paper 1
Latest exam session: May 2025
- questions
- 280
- questions
- papers
- 17
- papers
- exam sessions
- 14
- exam sessions
- micro-topics
- 30
Where Paper 1 marks go, by unit
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of the marks each one carries.
Unit 1
People in theory
22% of marks61 of the 280 marks across the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (22%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 61 questions
Unit 2
Process in theory
24% of marks68 of the 280 marks across the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (24%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 68 questions
- RisingTesting with CAD
Unit 3
Product in theory
22% of marks61 of the 280 marks across the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (22%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 61 questions
- RisingSmart materials
- RisingPhysical properties
Unit 6
Process in practice
3% of marks7 of the 280 marks across the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (3%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 7 questions
- RisingFinite element analysis
Unit 9
People in context
4% of marks10 of the 280 marks across the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (4%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 10 questions
- RisingObsolescence
Unit 10
Process in context
24% of marks66 of the 280 marks across the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (24%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 66 questions
- DueDesigning sustainably
- RisingThe closed loop
Unit 11
Product in context
3% of marks7 of the 280 marks across the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (3%) were on this unit. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 7 questions
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 30 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ·Mechanical properties, 2016: 0 questions | 3Mechanical properties, 2017: 3 questions | 5Mechanical properties, 2018: 5 questions | 2Mechanical properties, 2019: 2 questions | 1Mechanical properties, 2020: 1 question | ·Mechanical properties, 2021: 0 questions | ·Mechanical properties, 2022: 0 questions | 3Mechanical properties, 2023: 3 questions | 6Mechanical properties, 2024: 6 questions | 3Mechanical properties, 2025: 3 questions | |
10.2.5Renewable energy | 4Renewable energy, 2016: 4 questions | 1Renewable energy, 2017: 1 question | 4Renewable energy, 2018: 4 questions | 2Renewable energy, 2019: 2 questions | 2Renewable energy, 2020: 2 questions | ·Renewable energy, 2021: 0 questions | ·Renewable energy, 2022: 0 questions | 1Renewable energy, 2023: 1 question | 4Renewable energy, 2024: 4 questions | 2Renewable energy, 2025: 2 questions |
1.1.2Anthropometric data | ·Anthropometric data, 2016: 0 questions | 2Anthropometric data, 2017: 2 questions | 1Anthropometric data, 2018: 1 question | 1Anthropometric data, 2019: 1 question | ·Anthropometric data, 2020: 0 questions | ·Anthropometric data, 2021: 0 questions | ·Anthropometric data, 2022: 0 questions | 2Anthropometric data, 2023: 2 questions | 3Anthropometric data, 2024: 3 questions | 2Anthropometric data, 2025: 2 questions |
10.2.4Recovering and restoring | 6Recovering and restoring, 2016: 6 questions | 2Recovering and restoring, 2017: 2 questions | 5Recovering and restoring, 2018: 5 questions | 3Recovering and restoring, 2019: 3 questions | 2Recovering and restoring, 2020: 2 questions | ·Recovering and restoring, 2021: 0 questions | ·Recovering and restoring, 2022: 0 questions | 3Recovering and restoring, 2023: 3 questions | 3Recovering and restoring, 2024: 3 questions | 5Recovering and restoring, 2025: 5 questions |
11 more micro-topics with a free account
- DueDesigning sustainably· last May 24 P1 TZ1
- Dueusually examined, but missing from the last two exam sessions
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Every micro-topic in the heatmap and the complete watch list, free with an account.
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Questions on Paper 1, by exam session
Which papers asked about Paper 1, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2025
2 papers
November 2024
1 paper
May 2024
2 papers
November 2023
1 paper
May 2023
2 papers
November 2020
1 paper
November 2019
1 paper
May 2019
1 paper
November 2018
1 paper
May 2018
1 paper
November 2017
1 paper
May 2017
1 paper
November 2016
1 paper
May 2016
1 paper
Every Paper 1 question, unlocked
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which Design Technology SL exam sessions are covered for Paper 1?
18 exam sessions from 2016 to 2025, the latest May 2025. Every Paper 1 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 17 papers in this archive.
Which Paper 1 topic comes up most?
Mechanical properties (3.1.6): in 39% of papers, last seen May 25 P1 TZ2. Usually "other", worth about 1.6 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.
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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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More Design Technology SL exam preparation
Every question, by paper
What each Design Technology SL 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.
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