Extended response questions are where many students lose the most marks in IB Design Technology exams — not because they lack knowledge, but because their answers lack structure, focus, or evaluation. These questions appear most often in Paper 2, and they are designed to test depth of thinking, not memory.
The good news is that extended responses are highly predictable once you understand what examiners are looking for.
What Is an Extended Response Question?
An extended response question typically:
- Is worth a higher number of marks
- Uses command terms like analyse, evaluate, or justify
- Requires structured paragraphs, not bullet-point lists
- Expects application to a specific scenario
These questions reward students who can build a logical argument, not those who list everything they know.
Why Students Struggle with Extended Responses
Common reasons students underperform include:
- Writing without a plan
- Describing instead of analysing
- Ignoring evaluation
- Not linking ideas to the scenario
Extended responses are not about length. They are about control and clarity.
A Reliable Structure That Scores Marks
A simple structure works for most extended response questions.
Paragraph 1: Identify and Apply the Concept
Start by clearly identifying the relevant concept (for example, ergonomics, sustainability, or user-centred design).
Then:
