In simple terms
A friendly intro before the formal notes — no formulas yet.
Decoding Paper 1
Success in the multiple-choice exam isn't just about what you know; it's about how you apply that knowledge under pressure. A strategic approach helps you navigate tricky questions and avoid common pitfalls.
Think of each question as a small crime scene. You are the detective. The question stem provides the clues, and the options are your suspects. Your job is to use the evidence (your DT knowledge) to eliminate the innocent (distractors) and identify the culprit (the correct answer).
- 1
Deconstruct the Question: Carefully read the question stem. Identify key terms, command words, and any negatives (like 'NOT' or 'LEAST').
- 2
Predict the Answer: Before looking at the options, try to formulate the answer in your own mind. This helps avoid being swayed by cleverly worded distractors.
- 3
Eliminate Distractors: Analyse each option (A, B, C, D). Use your knowledge to definitively rule out the ones you know are incorrect.
- 4
Select and Confirm: Choose the best remaining option. Briefly re-read the question with your chosen answer to ensure it makes logical sense.
Explore the concept
Use the live diagram and synced steps — play it or tap a step card to walk through.
Key formulas
Tap any symbol to reveal exactly what it means and its units.
$Average\ Time\ per\ Question = \frac{Total\ Exam\ Time}{Number\ of\ Questions} = \frac{45\ mins}{30\ Qs} = 1.5\ mins/Question$
Full topic notes
Formal explanation with the rigour you need for the exam.
The Anatomy of Paper 1
Paper 1 is a 45-minute exam consisting of 30 multiple-choice questions. It accounts for 20% of your final IB grade. The questions cover the core SL topics (Topics 1-6). You are not permitted to use a calculator, so any calculations required will be simple enough to do mentally or on paper.
Duration: 45 minutes
Questions: 30 multiple-choice
Marks: 30 (1 mark per question)
Weighting: 20% of final grade
Syllabus Coverage: Core Topics 1-6
Tools: No calculator allowed
Strategic Time Management
With 30 questions in 45 minutes, your pacing is critical. On average, you have 90 seconds per question. This isn't a lot of time, so you must work efficiently. A good strategy is to do a first pass, answering all the questions you know immediately. Mark the ones you are unsure about and return to them on a second pass. This ensures you don't miss easy marks by getting stuck on a difficult question early on.
Average\ Time\ per\ .5\ mins/Question
The Four-Step Question Attack Method
A systematic approach to each question can dramatically improve your accuracy. By following a consistent routine, you reduce the chance of making careless errors and falling for common traps set by the examiners. This method forces you to engage critically with both the question and the options provided.
Step 1: Deconstruct: Read the question stem carefully. Underline or circle key words, especially negatives like 'NOT' or 'LEAST', and specific technical terms.
Step 2: Predict: Cover the options and try to answer the question in your own words first. This grounds your thinking in your own knowledge.
Step 3: Eliminate: Uncover the options and use the Process of Elimination (POE). Cross out any answers you are certain are incorrect. This narrows your choices and increases your odds.
Step 4: Select: Choose the best remaining option. If you are left with two plausible options, re-read the stem and decide which one is the 'best fit' or most precise answer.
Worked examples
See the formulas applied — reveal one step at a time, like the exam.
A designer is selecting a material for a child's toy that must not shatter into sharp pieces if dropped. Which property is the most important for this safety requirement?
A. Stiffness B. Hardness C. Toughness D. Density
- 1
Deconstruct the Question: The key phrases are 'child's toy', 'not shatter into sharp pieces', and 'most important property'. This points to a material's ability to resist fracture and absorb impact.
Which of the following is NOT a feature of one-off production?
A. Highly skilled labour is required. B. Production is flexible to meet client specifications. C. Economies of scale lead to a low unit cost. D. The final product is often unique.
- 1
Deconstruct the Question: The key term is 'one-off production' and the negative qualifier is 'NOT'. The question is asking for a characteristic that does not apply to making a single, bespoke item.
How it all connects
The big idea sits in the middle — tap a linked idea to explore the link.
Tap a linked idea to see how it connects back to the main topic — that connection is what examiners reward.
Glossary
Try to recall each definition before you reveal it.
Quick check
Answer in your head first — then tap to check. No pressure.
Revision flashcards
Flip the card. Test yourself before the exam.
What is a 'distractor' in a multiple-choice question?
An incorrect option that is designed to be plausible and tempting to students who have incomplete knowledge of the topic.
Key takeaways
Review these before you close the topic — retrieval beats re-reading.
- ✓
Duration: 45 minutes
- ✓
Questions: 30 multiple-choice
- ✓
Marks: 30 (1 mark per question)
- ✓
Weighting: 20% of final grade
- ✓
Syllabus Coverage: Core Topics 1-6
- ✓
Tools: No calculator allowed
Practice — then mark it
The whole point: a real Cambridge question, marked mark-by-mark.
Test Your Technique with Paper 1 Questions
Test Your Technique with Paper 1 Questions
Extra simulations & links
PhET, GeoGebra and other curated tools — open in a new tab.
Frequently asked
Checkpoint
One marked question is worth ten re-reads — close the loop before you move on.
Reading it isn’t knowing it — prove it.
Before you move on: do Test Your Technique with Paper 1 Questions on paper, snap a photo, and get examiner-style feedback on exactly where you win and lose marks.