IB Design Technology SL · 2016 to 2025 (outgoing guide)
6.1 The design process
5 past paper questions from 2 papers across 2 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
SL archive · 2016 to 2017
6.1 The design process
Latest exam session: May 2017
- questions
- 5
- questions
- papers
- 2
- papers
- exam sessions
- 2
- exam sessions
- micro-topics
- 2
Micro-topics in 6.1 The design process
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in.
6.1.8
4 questions · in 3% of papersAppears in 1 of the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (3%), at least once each.
Less commonlast May 17 P2
6.1.9
1 question · in 3% of papersAppears in 1 of the 36 Design Technology SL papers analysed (3%), at least once each.
Less commonlast Nov 16 P2
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.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ·Defining the problem, 2016: 0 questions | 4Defining the problem, 2017: 4 questions | ·Defining the problem, 2018: 0 questions | ·Defining the problem, 2019: 0 questions | ·Defining the problem, 2020: 0 questions | ·Defining the problem, 2021: 0 questions | ·Defining the problem, 2022: 0 questions | ·Defining the problem, 2023: 0 questions | ·Defining the problem, 2024: 0 questions | ·Defining the problem, 2025: 0 questions | |
| 1Design specifications, 2016: 1 question | ·Design specifications, 2017: 0 questions | ·Design specifications, 2018: 0 questions | ·Design specifications, 2019: 0 questions | ·Design specifications, 2020: 0 questions | ·Design specifications, 2021: 0 questions | ·Design specifications, 2022: 0 questions | ·Design specifications, 2023: 0 questions | ·Design specifications, 2024: 0 questions | ·Design specifications, 2025: 0 questions |
- Less commonin fewer than one paper in fifteen
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Questions on 6.1 The design process, by exam session
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which Design Technology SL exam sessions are covered for 6.1 The design process?
18 exam sessions from 2016 to 2017, the latest May 2017. Every Paper 2 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 2 papers in this archive.
Which 6.1 The design process topic comes up most?
Defining the problem (6.1.8): in 3% of papers, last seen May 17 P2. Usually "explain / justify", worth about 20 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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