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

2.1 User-centred research methods

19 past paper questions from 16 papers across 11 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.

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SL archive · 2016 to 2026

2.1 User-centred research methods

Latest exam session: May 2026

questions
questions
papers
papers
exam sessions
exam sessions
By year2micro-topics

Micro-topics in 2.1 User-centred research methods

In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in. 3 of them have no matching questions in this archive.

  • 0

    2.1.1

    Designing with empathy

    No question tagged to this topic in the 42 Design Technology SL papers analysed

    No matches in this archiveRevise it
  • 0

    2.1.2

    The five stages of UCD

    No question tagged to this topic in the 42 Design Technology SL papers analysed

    No matches in this archiveRevise it
  • 12

    2.1.3

    Multidisciplinary teams

    5 questions · in 12% of papers

    Rising

    last May 26 P2 TZ2

  • 33

    2.1.4

    Research methods

    14 questions · in 33% of papers

    Frequently tested

    last May 26 P2 TZ2

  • 0

    2.1.5

    Personas and scenarios

    No question tagged to this topic in the 42 Design Technology SL 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-topic20162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
2.1.4Research methodsFrequently tested
1Research methods, 2016: 1 question1Research methods, 2017: 1 question2Research methods, 2018: 2 questions2Research methods, 2019: 2 questions·Research methods, 2020: 0 questions·Research methods, 2021: 0 questions·Research methods, 2022: 0 questions1Research methods, 2023: 1 question2Research methods, 2024: 2 questions1Research methods, 2025: 1 question4Research methods, 2026: 4 questions
2.1.3Multidisciplinary teamsRising · last May 26 P2 TZ2
·Multidisciplinary teams, 2016: 0 questions·Multidisciplinary teams, 2017: 0 questions1Multidisciplinary teams, 2018: 1 question·Multidisciplinary teams, 2019: 0 questions·Multidisciplinary teams, 2020: 0 questions·Multidisciplinary teams, 2021: 0 questions·Multidisciplinary teams, 2022: 0 questions2Multidisciplinary teams, 2023: 2 questions·Multidisciplinary teams, 2024: 0 questions1Multidisciplinary teams, 2025: 1 question1Multidisciplinary teams, 2026: 1 question
2.1.5Personas and scenariosNo matches in this archive
·Personas and scenarios, 2016: 0 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·Personas and scenarios, 2023: 0 questions·Personas and scenarios, 2024: 0 questions·Personas and scenarios, 2025: 0 questions·Personas and scenarios, 2026: 0 questions
2.1.1Designing with empathyNo matches in this archive
·Designing with empathy, 2016: 0 questions·Designing with empathy, 2017: 0 questions·Designing with empathy, 2018: 0 questions·Designing with empathy, 2019: 0 questions·Designing with empathy, 2020: 0 questions·Designing with empathy, 2021: 0 questions·Designing with empathy, 2022: 0 questions·Designing with empathy, 2023: 0 questions·Designing with empathy, 2024: 0 questions·Designing with empathy, 2025: 0 questions·Designing with empathy, 2026: 0 questions
2.1.2The five stages of UCDNo matches in this archive
·The five stages of UCD, 2016: 0 questions·The five stages of UCD, 2017: 0 questions·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·The five stages of UCD, 2023: 0 questions·The five stages of UCD, 2024: 0 questions·The five stages of UCD, 2025: 0 questions·The five stages of UCD, 2026: 0 questions
  • 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
  • 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 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

    4 questions across 4 papers

  • May 2025

    1 question across 1 paper

  • November 2024

    2 questions across 2 papers

  • November 2023

    2 questions across 2 papers

  • May 2023

    1 question across 1 paper

  • November 2019

    1 question across 1 paper

  • May 2019

    1 question across 1 paper

  • November 2018

    1 question across 1 paper

  • May 2018

    2 questions across 1 paper

  • May 2017

    1 question across 1 paper

  • November 2016

    1 question across 1 paper

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Frequently asked questions

Short answers about this page.

Which Design Technology SL 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 16 papers in this archive.

Which 2.1 User-centred research methods topic comes up most?

Research methods (2.1.4): in 33% of papers, last seen May 26 P2 TZ2. Usually "Outline", worth about 1.2 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.

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