IB Mathematics
Mathematics is one of the toughest subjects in the IB subject groups. There are four new courses available in Mathematics (Introduced in 2021) namely:
- Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL
- Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL
- Mathematics: applications and interpretation SL
- Mathematics: applications and interpretation HL
Because different people have different needs, interests, and abilities, each Mathematics course is designed to meet the individual needs of students: for those who want to learn mathematics in depth, either as a subject or to broaden their interests and knowledge in mathematics-related fields;
Those who want to improve their understanding and competence in other subjects; and those who are unaware of how mathematics may be relevant to their studies and its importance in their daily lives. For students seeking additional support, consider IB Online Academic Tutoring to enhance comprehension and performance.
While making a selection of mathematics, students should take the following points into account –
- Their abilities in mathematics and the mathematics type in which they can be successful
- Their interest in mathematics, and those areas of the subject that may be of most interest to them
- Their choices of other subjects for the Diploma Programme
- Their academic plans mean the choice of subjects they wish to study in future
- Their choice of career
- Aspirants can take help and advice from their teachers on how to choose and opt for their choice of mathematics course.
As part of their diploma, students can only take one mathematics course. All DP mathematics courses are designed to meet students’ diverse needs, interests, and abilities, as well as to meet the requirements of various university and career programs.
These courses aim to enable students to –
- develop mathematical knowledge, concepts, and principles
- develop logical, critical, and creative thinking
- employ and refine their powers of abstraction and generalization
Students are also encouraged to appreciate mathematics’ international dimensions and the diversity of its cultural and historical perspectives.
Students must be proficient with graphic display calculators and appreciate the use of technology in mathematics in all DP mathematics courses.
What is IB Math AA SL?
IB Mathematics Analysis and Approaches (AA) Standard Level (SL) is one of the four math courses introduced in the current IB Mathematics curriculum (2021-2027). The AA SL course is a traditional mathematics course, whereby students develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts and solve both real and theoretical problems, with and without technology. The Analysis and Approaches SL course should be considered by students who are moderately strong at mathematics, and are interested in pursuing courses and pathways involving mathematics after their IB Diploma Program (economics, sciences, etc.)
Which Students should take this course?
- Students who are interested in mathematics
- Are fairly moderate at it
- Keen to study courses involving mathematics after high school (Eg. Economics & Sciences)
Topics Covered in Math AA SL
- Number and Algebra (19 Hours)
- Functions (21 Hours)
- Geometry and Trigonometry (25 Hours)
- Probability and Statistics (27 Hours)
- Calculus (28 Hours)
- Toolkit and Exploration (30 hours)
What is IB Math AA HL?
IB Mathematics Analysis and Approaches (AA) Higher Level (HL) is one of the four math courses introduced in the current IB Mathematics curriculum (2021-2027). The AA HL course is a traditional mathematics course, whereby students develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts and solve both real and theoretical problems, with and without technology. The Analysis and Approaches HL course should be considered by students who are strong at mathematics, and are interested in pursuing courses and pathways involving mathematics after their IB Diploma Program (economics, sciences, etc.)
Which Students should take this course?
- Students who are interested in mathematics
- Are fairly moderate at it
- Keen to study courses involving mathematics after high school (Eg. Economics & Sciences)
Topics Covered in Math AA SL
- Number and Algebra (19 Hours)
- Functions (21 Hours)
- Geometry and Trigonometry (25 Hours)
- Probability and Statistics (27 Hours)
- Calculus (28 Hours)
- Toolkit and Exploration (30 hours)
Planning to Prepare for IB Math?
What is IB Math AI SL?
IB Mathematics Applications and Interpretation (AI) Standard Level (SL) is one of the four math courses introduced in the current IB Mathematics curriculum (2021-2027). The AI SL course was designed by the IB to cater to ‘citizens in our future world’, whereby students can harness the power of technology to solve real-life practical problems. The Applications and Interpretation SL course should be considered by students who are moderate at mathematics, and are likely to pursue courses and pathways that don’t rely on mathematics after their IB Diploma Program (law, arts, etc.)
Which Students should take this course?
- Students who are not strong at math
- Do not plan to study any mathematics-based course after high school
Topics Covered in Math AI SL
- Number and Algebra (16 Hours)
- Functions (31 Hours)
- Geometry and Trigonometry (18 Hours)
- Probability and Statistics (36 Hours)
- Calculus (19 Hours)
- Toolkit and Exploration (30 hours)
What is IB Math AI HL?
IB Mathematics Applications and Interpretation (AI) Higher Level (HL) is one of the four math courses introduced in the current IB Mathematics curriculum (2021-2027). The AI HL course was designed by the IB to cater to ‘citizens in our future world’, whereby students can harness the power of technology to solve real-life practical problems. The Applications and Interpretation HL course should be considered by students who are strong at mathematics, but undecided if they want to pursue courses and pathways that rely on mathematics after their IB Diploma Program.
Which Students should take this course?
- Students who are strong at math
- Enjoy it
- don’t plan on studying any mathematics-based course after high school
Topics Covered in Math AI HL
- Number and Algebra (29 Hours)
- Functions (42 Hours)
- Geometry and Trigonometry (46 Hours)
- Probability and Statistics (52 Hours)
- Calculus (41 Hours)
- Toolkit and Exploration (30 hours)
External assessment
- Individual questions will develop from a single theme where the emphasis is on problem solving
leading to a generalization or the interpretation of a context. - Questions may be presented in the form of words, symbols, diagrams or tables, or combinations of
these. - Normally, each question reflects an incline in difficulty, from relatively easy at the start of a question to
relatively difficult tasks at the end of the question. The emphasis is on problem solving.
Common Study Errors That IB Math Students Make
The Analysis & Approaches courses cover a lot of material. With so much material, you can’t afford to fall behind because you won’t be able to catch up. You’ll need to master the subjects during the school year in order to excel on the IB Math SL/HL papers.
Common errors that IB Math students make include :
- Ignoring the material you don’t understand: If you didn’t understand it from your teacher, then you need to look for outside help. This IB Math study guide is a great start, but you may need to supplement with outside tutoring, too.
- Only studying right before the exam: As we said before, there are too many topics for both courses to master in only a few weeks (that’s why these courses are spread out over a couple of years!). This is why it’s so important that you master the subjects when you’re learning them in class. If you’re still struggling, this guide can help—but don’t be afraid to get tutoring from a teacher or other expert.
