DESIGN-TECHNOLOGY · IB Diploma Programme
DESIGN-TECHNOLOGY/21
(HL/SL Core)
Design technology · June 2025 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: International Baccalaureate Organization
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.0 / 5
80
135 min
Resource management and sustainable production (Core)
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
80
Duration
135 min
Session difficulty
3.0 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The May 2025 Standard Level examination represents a balanced assessment of the core IB Design Technology syllabus.
With an accessible yet thorough Paper 1 and a highly structured Paper 2, the exam challenged students to apply design theory directly to real-world industrial situations.
The case studies used in Paper 2—including Petit Pli's expandable children's clothing and the LOTA+ sanitation unit—perfectly capture the modern designer's shift toward circular economy, sustainable materials, and human-centred solutions.
Compare difficulty across recent years. Compare topic weight by year to spot recurring and returning areas.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Theoretical
Weight: 7100%Recall
Weight: 686%Contextual Application
Weight: 571%Calculations & Critical
Weight: 343%Analysis
Weight: 114%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
IB subject report — grade distributions, IA weighting, and HL/SL distinctions
Level 7
Excellent — top band for competitive university offers
Level 6
Very good — strong HL performance
Level 5
Good — solid pass at higher level
Level 4
Satisfactory — minimum for many university credits
Level 3
Mediocre
Level 2
Poor
Level 1
Very poor
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Match the expected response style for “Outline” questions.
Match the expected response style for “List” questions.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.
Match the expected response style for “Determine” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 2
Min per mark: 1.7
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Resource management and sustainable production (Core)
18 marks this session
Modelling (Core)
17 marks this session
Raw material to final product (Core)
17 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Raw material to final product (Core)
Resource management and sustainable production (Core)
Modelling (Core)
Innovation and design (Core)
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1 (Multiple Choice):
Paper 2 (Short Answer & Extended):
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Resource management and sustainable production (Core)
18 marks this session
Practise in RevuiModelling (Core)
17 marks this session
Practise in RevuiRaw material to final product (Core)
17 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The May 2025 Standard Level examination represents a balanced assessment of the core IB Design Technology syllabus.
- 2Message
With an accessible yet thorough Paper 1 and a highly structured Paper 2, the exam challenged students to apply design theory directly to real-world industrial situations.
- 3Message
The case studies used in Paper 2—including Petit Pli's expandable children's clothing and the LOTA+ sanitation unit—perfectly capture the modern designer's shift toward circular economy, sustainable materials, and human-centred solutions.
- 4Message
Compare difficulty across recent years. Compare topic weight by year to spot recurring and returning areas.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2025 2025
Design technology
The May 2025 Standard Level examination represents a balanced assessment of the core IB Design Technology syllabus. With an accessible yet thorough Paper 1 and a highly structured Paper 2, the exam challenged students to apply design theory directly to real-world industrial situa
The May 2025 Standard Level examination represents a balanced assessment of the core IB Design Technology syllabus.
With an accessible yet thorough Paper 1 and a highly structured Paper 2, the exam challenged students to apply design theory directly to real-world industrial situations.
The case studies used in Paper 2—including Petit Pli's expandable children's clothing and the LOTA+ sanitation unit—perfectly capture the modern designer's shift toward circular economy, sustainable materials, and human-centred solutions.
- Total marks
- 80
- Duration
- 135 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.0 / 5
Session analysis
The May 2025 Standard Level examination represents a balanced assessment of the core IB Design Technology syllabus. With an accessible yet thorough Paper 1 and a highly structured Paper 2, the exam challenged students to apply design theory directly to real-world industrial situations. The case studies used in Paper 2—including Petit Pli's expandable children's clothing and the LOTA+ sanitation unit—perfectly capture the modern designer's shift toward circular economy, sustainable materials, and human-centred solutions.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1 (Multiple Choice):
Paper 2 (Short Answer & Extended):
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
75% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Paper 1)
30·30·38%
Paper 2 Section A)
30·10·38%
Paper 2 Section B)
20·4·25%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 MCQs
0.60 m/minPaper 2 Section A
0.50 m/minTotal marks
50
Total time
90 min
Avg pace
0.56
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
90%90%
Classic design
85%85%
May 2025 Standard Level Design Technology Analysis
The May 2025 Standard Level examination represents a balanced assessment of the core IB Design Technology syllabus. With an accessible yet thorough Paper 1 and a highly structured Paper 2, the exam challenged students to apply design theory directly to real-world industrial situations. The case studies used in Paper 2—including Petit Pli's expandable children's clothing and the LOTA+ sanitation unit—perfectly capture the modern designer's shift toward circular economy, sustainable materials, and human-centred solutions.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 30min
- Total marks
- 50
- Question types
- Data-Based / Case-Study Short Answer, Structured Essay
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.