IB MYP Design – Criterion B – Developing ideas Practice Questions

These are original questions written for Marlbridge, for revision and practice on this content. They are not reproduced past-paper questions, and they do not replicate the exam’s exact structure, question count or mark tariffs – the IB holds copyright in its own papers. Use these alongside the official past papers available through your school or the IB store.

These questions practise Criterion B (Developing ideas) for IB Middle Years Programme Design, aligned to the International Baccalaureate Organization, Middle Years Programme Subject Brief – Design, from 2014. The brief describes Criterion B as writing a detailed specification that drives the development of a solution, then presenting the solution. MYP has no SL/HL split; the set suits MYP years 4 and 5 and the design ePortfolio.

MYP has no prescribed content list – schools design their own units – and your teacher will share the task-specific clarifications. Real MYP work is judged against criterion level descriptors (eight achievement levels, 1-8, in four bands), so the [1] points below are a revision aid, not IB marks. All clients, products and prices are fictional.

Learn the skills first with the study guide and revision notes. See also the course hub and printable checklist.

Questions

1. (Criterion B) State the two things the MYP Design subject brief says you do in Criterion B. [2]

2. (Criterion B) A student is designing a water-bottle holder for a bicycle frame. Rewrite each point so it can be tested: “It must be strong.” “It must fit the bike.” “It must be cheap.” [3]

3. (Criterion B) Explain the difference between a design brief and a design specification. [2]

4. (Criterion B) A specification for a desk lamp contains: (i) height 350-400 mm; (ii) looks modern; (iii) runs on a 5 V USB supply; (iv) easy to adjust; (v) material cost £12 or less.

(a) Identify the two points that cannot be tested as written. [2] (b) Rewrite one of them so it can be tested. [1]

5. (Criterion B) A student compares three phone-stand ideas. Cost is an essential point because the client’s budget is fixed.

Criterion (weight)	X folding plywood	Y bent acrylic	Z 3D-printed hinge
Stability (3)	4	3	5
Adjustable viewing angle (2)	3	2	5
Cost (2)	5	4	2
Appearance (1)	3	5	4

(a) Calculate the weighted total for each idea and state the maximum possible. [3] (b) Z’s cost score of 2 means it is over the client’s budget. Explain whether Z should be chosen. [2]

6. (Criterion B) A storage box measures 360 mm long, 240 mm wide and 150 mm high. You will draw the front view, plan and right-hand end view in third-angle projection on A4 landscape with a usable area of 277 mm × 190 mm and 20 mm gaps between views.

(a) Show that a scale of 1:2 does not fit across the sheet. [2] (b) Show that a scale of 1:5 fits in both directions. [2] (c) State how long a 45 mm hole is drawn at 1:5, and what dimension you write on it. [1]

7. (Criterion B) For a lunchbox project, a student presents three ideas: a rectangular plastic box with a clip lid in blue, the same box in green, and the same box with rounded corners. Explain why this is not a range of ideas and suggest two ideas that would make it one. [4]

8. (Criterion B) A student has a £20 material budget and 6 hours of workshop time.

Idea	Material cost	Estimated making time
I	£14.80	5.0 hours
II	£23.50	4.0 hours
III	£12.40	9.5 hours

(a) Identify which ideas are feasible, giving a reason for each rejected idea. [3] (b) Suggest one change that could make Idea III feasible. [1]

9. (Criterion B, digital design) A student is designing a revision-quiz app for Year 7 pupils.

(a) Write two measurable specification points for the app. [2] (b) Name two planning diagrams the student should produce, and state what each one shows. [4]

10. (Criterion B) A planning drawing of a wooden shelf is drawn in third-angle projection.

(a) State where the plan and the right-hand end view are placed relative to the front view. [2] (b) State two items, other than the title, that should appear in the title block. [2]

11. (Criterion B, extended) A fictional primary school wants a display stand for pupils’ clay models in a narrow corridor. The corridor is 1,500 mm wide and must keep at least 1,200 mm clear for safety, and the wall is 1,500 mm long between two doors.

(a) Write four measurable specification points, each with a reason. [4] (b) Outline two genuinely different ideas. [2] (c) Justify choosing one of them against your specification. [4]

Answers

1. Write a detailed specification that drives the development of a solution [1]; present the solution [1]. [2] Examiner insight: “Make a design” is Criterion C, so it does not earn the second point.

2. Example answers: holds a 750 ml full bottle without dropping it over 5 km of rough track [1]; fits frame tubes of 28-35 mm diameter [1]; material cost £6 or less [1]. [3] Examiner insight: Each rewrite needs a number with a unit or a yes/no test; “very strong” still earns nothing.

3. The brief is a short statement of the problem, client and goal [1]; the specification is a list of measurable requirements the solution must meet, used to judge ideas and test the product [1]. [2] Examiner insight: The second point needs the word “measurable” or “testable”, not just “more detailed”.

4. (a) (ii) “looks modern” [1] and (iv) “easy to adjust” [1]. (b) Example: the lamp head can be moved to a new angle with one hand in under 3 seconds [1]. Examiner insight: A rewrite of (ii) needs a user-rating test, for example at least 4 out of 5 from five users; “sleek” is still an opinion.

5. (a) X = 3×4 + 2×3 + 2×5 + 1×3 = 31; Y = 3×3 + 2×2 + 2×4 + 1×5 = 26 [1]; Z = 3×5 + 2×5 + 2×2 + 1×4 = 33 [1]; maximum = 5 × (3 + 2 + 2 + 1) = 40 [1]. (b) No: Z has the highest total but fails an essential point, and a matrix total cannot outweigh a failed essential requirement [1]. X should be chosen unless Z can be redesigned within budget, for example by printing less of it [1]. Examiner insight: In (b) the second point is only earned by naming a better choice or a fix, not by restating that Z is expensive.

6. (a) At 1:2 the front view is 180 mm and the end view 120 mm [1]; 180 + 20 + 120 = 320 mm, which is more than 277 mm [1]. (b) Across: 72 + 20 + 48 = 140 mm, within 277 mm [1]; down: 30 + 20 + 48 = 98 mm, within 190 mm [1]. (c) Drawn 9 mm; dimensioned as 45 [1]. Examiner insight: Writing the drawn size (9) as the dimension on a scaled drawing is wrong: dimensions always give real sizes.

7. All three share one form, material and closing method, so they are variants of one idea [1]; only colour or corner shape changes [1]. Example alternatives: a folding fabric wrap with a hook-and-loop fastening [1]; a stacking set of stainless tins held by a strap [1]. [4] Examiner insight: Each suggested idea earns credit only if its material, form or working principle differs from the box.

8. (a) Idea I is feasible: £14.80 ≤ £20 and 5.0 h ≤ 6 h [1]. II is rejected because £23.50 is over budget [1]. III is rejected because 9.5 h is over the time available [1]. (b) Example: replace hand-cut joints with a simpler joint or laser-cut parts to reduce making time below 6 hours [1]. Examiner insight: A rejection needs the actual comparison (cost or time against the limit), not just “too hard”.

9. (a) Examples: a new user starts a quiz in 3 taps or fewer [1]; each question screen loads in under 2 seconds on a school tablet [1]. (b) Wireframes [1] show the layout of each screen, buttons and text areas [1]. A flowchart or site map [1] shows how the user moves between screens [1]. Examiner insight: Naming “a mock-up” without saying what it shows earns only the naming point.

10. (a) The plan is above the front view [1]; the right-hand end view is to the right of the front view [1]. (b) Any two: scale; projection method or symbol; units (“All dimensions in mm”); name; date [1] [1]. Examiner insight: Placing the plan below the front view is first-angle layout, so it loses the first point if you said third angle.

11. (a) Indicative points, one for each measurable point with a reason: projects no more than 300 mm from the wall, so the corridor stays at least 1,200 mm wide [1]; overall width 1,500 mm or less to fit between the doors [1]; holds at least 20 models of up to 0.5 kg each [1]; no edge sharper than a 3 mm radius because young pupils pass it [1]. (b) Example: wall-mounted slatted shelves in birch plywood [1]; a shallow glass-fronted wall cabinet with adjustable shelves [1]. (c) Choice stated with scores or clear comparison, for example shelves chosen [1]; linked to specification points (depth 250 mm meets the 300 mm limit; width 1,400 mm fits between doors) [1]; comparison with the rejected idea (cabinet safer for models but over budget and heavier to fix) [1]; feedback or a weakness to develop (staff asked for a lip so models cannot be knocked off; will add a 20 mm front rail) [1]. [10] Examiner insight: Part (c) earns the comparison point only if the rejected idea is named with a specific reason tied to the specification.

Where marks are usually lost

• Specification points built on adjectives (“strong”, “modern”, “easy”) with no target or test.
• Points with no reason linking back to Criterion A research.
• Idea sets that are colour or size variants of one concept.
• Feasibility claims with no comparison against budget, time, tools or skills.
• Decision matrix totals quoted without checking essential points.
• Arithmetic slips in weighted totals: multiply each score by its weight before adding.
• Scaled drawings dimensioned with drawn sizes instead of real sizes.
• Third-angle and first-angle layouts mixed up, or no projection symbol shown.
• Digital projects that show a polished screen but no navigation flowchart.
• Justifications that praise the chosen idea without saying why the others were weaker.

Next steps

• Criterion B revision notes
• Criterion B study guide
• Criteria in practice questions and design cycle practice
• IB MYP Design course hub
• Printable MYP Design checklist
• All free 10-minute diagnostics
• Book a free trial class

Official syllabus

International Baccalaureate Organization, Middle Years Programme Subject Brief – Design, from 2014.