Predicted grades matter. They influence university applications, conditional offers, and student confidence — yet many IB Design Technology (DT) students are unclear about how these predictions are actually made. Because DT is not purely exam-based, predictions often feel more subjective than in other subjects.
In reality, DT grade predictions follow clear patterns. Once you understand what teachers look at, predictions become far more predictable — and controllable.
What Predicted Grades Are (and What They Aren’t)
A predicted grade is not:
- A guess
- A reward for effort
- A promise of your final result
Instead, it is a professional judgement based on evidence of how you are likely to perform at the end of the course, under exam conditions and with a completed IA.
Teachers are expected to be realistic, not optimistic.
The Two Main Sources of Evidence
DT predictions are usually based on two pillars:
- IA performance and progress
- Exam-style assessment performance
Strong predictions require consistency across both.
How the IA Influences Predicted Grades
The IA plays a major role in predictions because it shows:
- Design thinking
- Evaluation skill
- Independence
- Consistency over time
Teachers look closely at:
- The quality of your problem definition
- Strength of design requirements
- Evidence of iteration
