IB Design Technology SL · 2016 to 2025 (outgoing guide)
Unit 2: Process in theory
111 past paper questions from 34 papers across 17 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
SL archive · 2016 to 2025
Unit 2: Process in theory
Latest exam session: May 2025
- questions
- 111
- questions
- papers
- 34
- papers
- exam sessions
- 17
- exam sessions
- micro-topics
- 10
Topics in Unit 2: Process in theory
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of the marks each one carries.
2.1
User-centred research methods
19% of marks52 of the 274 marks across the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (19%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 30 questions
- RisingMultidisciplinary teams
2.2
Prototyping techniques
81% of marks222 of the 274 marks across the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (81%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 81 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 10 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2.1.4Research methods | 2Research methods, 2016: 2 questions | 1Research methods, 2017: 1 question | 3Research methods, 2018: 3 questions | 3Research methods, 2019: 3 questions | ·Research methods, 2020: 0 questions | ·Research methods, 2021: 0 questions | ·Research methods, 2022: 0 questions | 2Research methods, 2023: 2 questions | 2Research methods, 2024: 2 questions | 3Research methods, 2025: 3 questions |
2.2.5Testing with CAD | 3Testing with CAD, 2016: 3 questions | ·Testing with CAD, 2017: 0 questions | 3Testing with CAD, 2018: 3 questions | ·Testing with CAD, 2019: 0 questions | 2Testing with CAD, 2020: 2 questions | ·Testing with CAD, 2021: 0 questions | ·Testing with CAD, 2022: 0 questions | 6Testing with CAD, 2023: 6 questions | 2Testing with CAD, 2024: 2 questions | 3Testing with CAD, 2025: 3 questions |
| 1Testing with physical, 2016: 1 question | 2Testing with physical, 2017: 2 questions | 1Testing with physical, 2018: 1 question | 1Testing with physical, 2019: 1 question | ·Testing with physical, 2020: 0 questions | ·Testing with physical, 2021: 0 questions | ·Testing with physical, 2022: 0 questions | 3Testing with physical, 2023: 3 questions | 2Testing with physical, 2024: 2 questions | 2Testing with physical, 2025: 2 questions | |
2.2.6Rapid prototyping | 2Rapid prototyping, 2016: 2 questions | 3Rapid prototyping, 2017: 3 questions | 4Rapid prototyping, 2018: 4 questions | 4Rapid prototyping, 2019: 4 questions | ·Rapid prototyping, 2020: 0 questions | 2Rapid prototyping, 2021: 2 questions | ·Rapid prototyping, 2022: 0 questions | 3Rapid prototyping, 2023: 3 questions | 2Rapid prototyping, 2024: 2 questions | 1Rapid prototyping, 2025: 1 question |
4 more micro-topics with a free account
- RisingMultidisciplinary teams· last May 25 P2 TZ2
- Risingappearing more often in the last two years than before
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Questions on Unit 2: Process in theory, by exam session
Which papers asked about Unit 2: Process in theory, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2025
13 questions across 4 papers
November 2024
5 questions across 2 papers
May 2024
6 questions across 3 papers
November 2023
8 questions across 2 papers
May 2023
11 questions across 3 papers
November 2022
1 question across 1 paper
May 2022
1 question across 1 paper
November 2021
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2020
5 questions across 2 papers
November 2019
4 questions across 2 papers
May 2019
8 questions across 2 papers
November 2018
8 questions across 2 papers
May 2018
5 questions across 2 papers
November 2017
6 questions across 2 papers
May 2017
4 questions across 1 paper
November 2016
5 questions across 2 papers
May 2016
4 questions across 2 papers
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which Design Technology SL exam sessions are covered for Unit 2: Process in theory?
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 34 papers in this archive.
Which Unit 2: Process in theory topic comes up most?
Research methods (2.1.4): in 39% of papers, last seen May 25 P2 TZ2. Usually "other", 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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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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What each Design Technology SL paper tests across all its sittings: the marks by unit and the micro-topics it keeps coming back to.
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