IB Design Technology SL · 2016 to 2025 (outgoing guide)
3.1 Material classification
99 past paper questions from 29 papers across 16 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
SL archive · 2016 to 2025
3.1 Material classification
Latest exam session: May 2025
- questions
- 99
- questions
- papers
- 29
- papers
- exam sessions
- 16
- exam sessions
- micro-topics
- 7
Micro-topics in 3.1 Material classification
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in.
3.1.3
2 questions · in 3% of papersAppears in 1 of the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (3%), at least once each.
Less commonlast May 19 P2
3.1.4
21 questions · in 39% of papersAppears in 14 of the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (39%), at least once each.
Frequently testedlast May 25 P1 TZ2
3.1.5
1 question · in 3% of papersAppears in 1 of the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (3%), at least once each.
Less commonlast May 23 P1 TZ1
3.1.6
29 questions · in 56% of papersAppears in 20 of the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (56%), at least once each.
Frequently testedlast May 25 P2 TZ2
3.1.7
27 questions · in 42% of papersAppears in 15 of the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (42%), at least once each.
Frequently testedlast May 25 P1 TZ1
3.1.8
13 questions · in 31% of papersAppears in 11 of the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (31%), at least once each.
Frequently testedlast May 25 P1 TZ1
3.1.9
6 questions · in 14% of papersAppears in 5 of the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (14%), at least once each.
Occasionallast Nov 24 P1
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 7 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Mechanical properties, 2016: 1 question | 4Mechanical properties, 2017: 4 questions | 6Mechanical properties, 2018: 6 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 | 8Mechanical properties, 2024: 8 questions | 4Mechanical properties, 2025: 4 questions | |
| ·Composites, 2016: 0 questions | 1Composites, 2017: 1 question | 9Composites, 2018: 9 questions | 4Composites, 2019: 4 questions | 1Composites, 2020: 1 question | 2Composites, 2021: 2 questions | ·Composites, 2022: 0 questions | 4Composites, 2023: 4 questions | 5Composites, 2024: 5 questions | 1Composites, 2025: 1 question | |
| 7Physical properties, 2016: 7 questions | 1Physical properties, 2017: 1 question | 1Physical properties, 2018: 1 question | 2Physical properties, 2019: 2 questions | ·Physical properties, 2020: 0 questions | 1Physical properties, 2021: 1 question | ·Physical properties, 2022: 0 questions | 3Physical properties, 2023: 3 questions | 2Physical properties, 2024: 2 questions | 4Physical properties, 2025: 4 questions | |
| 1Smart materials, 2016: 1 question | 1Smart materials, 2017: 1 question | 1Smart materials, 2018: 1 question | 1Smart materials, 2019: 1 question | ·Smart materials, 2020: 0 questions | 3Smart materials, 2021: 3 questions | ·Smart materials, 2022: 0 questions | 3Smart materials, 2023: 3 questions | 2Smart materials, 2024: 2 questions | 1Smart materials, 2025: 1 question |
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- Frequently testedin at least a quarter of all papers, and still appearing in the last two years
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Questions on 3.1 Material classification, by exam session
Which papers asked about 3.1 Material classification, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2025
10 questions across 3 papers
November 2024
7 questions across 2 papers
May 2024
9 questions across 3 papers
November 2023
6 questions across 2 papers
May 2023
7 questions across 2 papers
November 2021
1 question across 1 paper
May 2021
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2020
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2019
5 questions across 2 papers
May 2019
6 questions across 2 papers
November 2018
6 questions across 2 papers
May 2018
5 questions across 2 papers
November 2017
4 questions across 2 papers
May 2017
3 questions across 1 paper
November 2016
5 questions across 2 papers
May 2016
3 questions across 1 paper
Every 3.1 Material classification question, unlocked
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which Design Technology SL exam sessions are covered for 3.1 Material classification?
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 29 papers in this archive.
Which 3.1 Material classification topic comes up most?
Mechanical properties (3.1.6): in 56% of papers, last seen May 25 P2 TZ2. Usually "other", worth about 2.9 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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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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