IB Math AA Paper 1 – Expert Strategies to Ace It
Everything you need to know about IB Math AA Paper 1 - from structure and scoring to proven preparation tips. Master both SL and HL exams with confidence.
At the end of your IB Mathematics Analysis and Approaches journey, you must complete exams that will contribute to your final grade for the course. There are two final exams for SL students, and for HL, there are three final exams. In this article, we will take a closer look at what you can expect from paper 1, as well as present you with hints on how to best prepare for this exam!
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Time and worth
The paper 1 exam is a non-calculator one, consisting of two sections - A and B. SL students are given 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete questions that sum up to around 80 points in total. HL students have 2 hours to complete the 110 point-worth exam. The paper contributes 40% to the final grade of SL students and 30% for HL students. The point of the paper 1 examination is to test how well you can perform when having to solve questions without the help of a graphic-display calculator.
Section A
This section consists of short-answer questions, where each question is usually worth anywhere between 4 to 7 points. The goal of these questions is to test your general knowledge on the topics covered during the Math AA course. Typically, they will include a diagram, picture, table, equations and symbols.
As written at the beginning of every Math IB examination, you are asked to show your working. Depending on the number of points to be achieved for each subquestion, you may find hints that can guide you to the final solution and what the examiners will be looking for in your intermediate steps. If a sub-question is worth only a single point, then only the final answer is required. For example, let us take a look at section A, question 3 from the May 2024 examination session:
[Maximum mark: 5]
(a) Solve 3m² + 5m - 2 = 0. [3]
(b) Hence or otherwise, solve 3 × 9ˣ + 5 × 3ˣ - 2 = 0. [2]
Subquestion a) is worth 3 points, implying that more than just the final answer given is required. Here, the points would be rewarded for realising that you have to use the quadratic formula, writing down an intermediate step of the calculation and the final solutions. Part b) by stating ‘hence or otherwise’ indicates that you need to apply what you found in the previous subquestion. The first point is awarded for recognition of the correct substitution and use of part a), the second for the final solution.
Section B
This section is based on long-answer exercises. A typical question from this section is worth anywhere between 10 and 20 points. These are built to test only a selected number of topics found in the syllabus, but they require more in-depth thinking and connection-making than section A. They often include at least 4 sub-questions to be answered, each following what was found in the previous one. An example could be being asked to find a derivative of a function, finding a point where a tangent to the initial function is horizontal, showing whether this point is a maximum or a minimum and having to graph the function.
For HL students, you can expect section B questions to be related to HL-only syllabus topics. Examples of such are permutations, combinations, complex numbers, Viete’s formulas, vectors and Maclaurin series. You may still be tested initially on more basic skills, but then gradually you will move on to more difficult ones.
Ready to master Section B? Tackle high-value questions that dive deeper into key syllabus topics and sharpen your problem-solving skills step by step. Whether it's derivatives, vectors, or Maclaurin series—start building your confidence now and get exam-ready!
General exam tips
Mathematics is a prime proof that practice makes perfect - nothing makes you more prepared for a math exam than working over as many questions as possible. As a start, it is important to understand the basis of what you're studying and see worked-through examples of questions. When you feel ready, test out your skills in exam-style questions. Our tutors are here to provide any necessary guidance to help you understand the syllabus, clear up any doubts and show what IB requires in your answers.
Tip 1 - Use timed practice exams to identify and improve weak areas
The moment you are done getting familiar with the contents of the Math AA syllabus, try to do as many practice exams as possible. Sit down in a quiet spot, set a timer for the duration of the exam and try it out for yourself. When the time runs out, compare your answers to the exam’s mark scheme - did you do well? This way you can easily track whether you are lacking the theoretical knowledge, time, connection-making or following through different subquestions. Find out your weak points, then practice to get better!
Tip 2 - Look for clues in the question text to answer ‘Write Down’ sub-questions quickly
Oftentimes, the text of the questions already contains sufficient information to answer the first sub-question - this can be spotted whenever the question includes words such as ‘write down’. For example, you may be given a graph of a derivative f’(x) including its x-intercepts and the first sub-question is asking you to find the x-coordinates of the minima/maxima of the function f(x). As these coordinates are when f’(x) = 0, you can immediately answer the question without any need for calculations.
Tip 3 - Use correct notation and units to avoid losing easy marks
Although it may seem insignificant, it is important to use correct notation. If your final answer is a reducible fraction, you should write it in the simplest form possible. When there is a trigonometric equation to be solved for x, watch out whether the range of x is given in terms of radians or degrees. If the question states that the solutions should be anywhere between 0 and 180 degrees, your final answer should also be stated in degrees. If it is easier for you to compute such an equation in radians, it’s not a problem and you will not be penalised for doing so. However, keep in mind that in the end, you need to convert the answer to the unit stated in the text of the question. Failing to do any of the above correctly may end up costing you at least one point, thus potentially a lower final grade.
Tip 4 - Break down the question and visualize the problem to avoid feeling stuck
If you ever find yourself stuck or overwhelmed by the amount of information given in a question, start by slowly analysing and writing down every detail that the text provides. If the question is based on a geometry or trigonometry question and a drawing is not provided, make a supplementary one to help yourself visualise the problem at hand. IB Math questions never provide useless information - if in the text you are given an angle in a triangle, you will need to use this information at some point in your solution. When everything is clearly laid out, it should become easier to find the expected solution.
Tip 5 - Master the formula booklet and focus on method over minor mistakes
The formula booklet is there for a reason - do not be afraid to make use of it! Make sure that you are familiar with its contents and the meaning of each symbol before you enter any of your math exams. The perfect time to get used to using the booklet is when practising with past paper questions. After all, these were made to be solved with the company of supplementary formulas.
You may find yourself making a calculation or a sign mistake at the beginning of a section B question and not having enough time to redo the entire exercise - do not worry! If you followed through with the wrong numbers but used the right formulas and thinking, you will be rewarded full points for the correct approach. This means that you will only be penalised for a calculation mistake once.
