Math AA - How to Ace Your Paper 2
Struggling with IB Math AA Paper 2? Don’t let the calculator fool you — success lies in knowing how to use it strategically. This guide breaks down the exam structure, tips, and common mistakes so you can walk in prepared and walk out confident.
Following your Paper 1, you will have to complete the second Mathematics Analysis and Approaches exam. Many students consider paper 2 the ‘easier’ one, as it requires the use of a calculator. However, knowing how to use your GDC properly is an important skill that you will need to succeed in this exam. Here, we have compiled an explanation of the exam’s structure, as well as tips to help you prepare as best as possible!
Struggling to prepare for your IB Math AA Paper 2? Our expert IB tutors can help you master exam techniques, understand mark schemes, and boost your score with confidence.
Time and worth
For students following the subject as SL this exam is worth 40% of your final grade. If you are an HL student, then paper 2 is worth 30% of your grade. The rest of the percentages are allocated for the other exams and the Internal Assessment, completed earlier during your IB journey.
Similar to Paper 1, this exam consists of two sections - A and B. As an SL student, you can score a total of 80 points in 1 hour and 30 minutes, and as an HL student, these values increase to 110 points and 2 hours. Section A is based on short-answer style questions, whereas Section B consists of long-answer style questions.
For HL students, there is more content in the syllabus that can be expected of you during the exam, whether it’s paper 1, 2 or 3. Here, you are likely to be asked about solutions of linear equation systems, graphing modulus equations and inequalities, vectors, statistical analyses for discrete and continuous variables, volumes of revolutions by the two axes, x and y. You may still encounter questions that require you to use SL concepts, however, these will gradually move onto HL-only topics in further subquestions.
Wondering how much Paper 2 really matters? Let’s break down the structure, timing, and scoring - so you know exactly what’s at stake and how to prepare smart.
General exam tips
Tip 1 - Master Your Calculator to Maximize Marks on Paper 2
The most obvious tip here is, of course, to get used to your graphic display calculator. Since paper 2 was written while keeping in mind that you are supposed to use a GDC, it’s necessary to use it to score as many marks as possible. This does not mean that you will need it for every single sub-question, but definitely for the majority of them. Such a powerful tool allows you to solve many questions without much hassle, as long as you know how to use the calculator properly. Therefore, make sure that you know how to find what you might need in your device before you sit down to complete the paper 2 exam. Make sure your calculator is charged before the exam, to avoid being left without a device to complete paper 2 successfully!
For example, some of the methods that you should know are how to graph a function, look for its extreme and inflection points, find its derivative at a certain point and the integral from one x-value to another, how to enter data into a table and complete a statistical analysis with it, solve for probabilities in the context of binomial and normal distributions. There are more obvious concepts, such as powers, logarithms or fractions - those are, of course, crucial to the use of a calculator. If you ensure that you remember where to find all of the above tools in the calculator, then in the end, you are likely to score a lot of marks.
Although the calculator is required to complete the exam, theoretical knowledge is still necessary. You may know how to find probability in a binomial distribution in your GDC, but not know what any of the concepts mean. Oftentimes, paper 2 questions include sub-questions where you are to comment on the significance of a result you just obtained. Such questions usually appear in the context of derivatives and integrals being used for optimisation (of volume or area of a certain shape). In such a case, you need a good enough knowledge and understanding of the core concepts in calculus, not just the use of a calculator.
Tip 2 - Don’t Lose Easy Marks: Precision, Notation, and Presentation Matter
Pay attention to how many significant figures or decimal places you are supposed to write your final answers. If the question does not indicate such a number, it is expected that it will be approximated to three significant figures. Correct notation, approximations and use of appropriate units may feel small and unimportant; however may end up costing you easy points. Always double-check whether all of the answers you wrote down have the correct and expected notation applied. Make sure that your handwriting is legible, clear and that the solutions are chronological (as much as possible).
Tip 3 - Steps matter in scoring full marks
To score full marks for a subquestion, you need to always demonstrate your working. For example, assume that a sub-question worth four points provides you with an equation of a function f(x) and asks to find the points where the tangent to f(x) is perfectly horizontal. Here, you would score two points for the recognition of finding the points where f’(x), the derivative of f(x), is equal to zero. The remaining two would be awarded for the correct values of x when the gradient of the function is zero. If your only answer to such a sub-question would be the final values of x, you will not be awarded full marks. Writing intermediate steps not only helps the examiner understand your reasoning but also helps you spot potential errors in your solutions when double-checking them.
Tip 4 - Use the Formula Booklet like a pro
Aside from knowing how to use the graphic calculator, you should know how to use the formula booklet provided for the exam. It is a collection of both SL and HL equations that you are not expected to know by hand for any of the IB Mathematics AA exams. While doing practice questions, keep it close and get familiar with its contents. This way, when in the exam, instead of spending time looking through the booklet, you will quickly know in which section you can find the formula needed to solve a problem at hand. Make sure that you understand the symbols used to convey the theorems - for example, what do ‘a’ and ‘A’ stand for in the formula describing the sine rule (Topic 3: Geometry and Trigonometry, SL 3.2).
Tip 5 - Don’t get stuck on one question
If you find yourself stuck on a question in section A, move on to the further questions. Losing a lot of time on a short question worth 4-7 points may minimise your chances of being able to complete any following ones. As questions found in section B are long-answer, it makes more sense to focus on getting those correctly rather than wasting time on a question worth approximately 5% of the exam’s total points. By giving yourself space and focusing on other questions ahead, you may think of a way to solve the question you were previously stuck on - a win-win situation.
Do not worry, our tutors are ready to help! We can guide you during the last-minute preparation for the upcoming examination session. Simply sign up here for the Think Smart Tutoring services to set up your introductory lesson and connect you with the best suitable tutor for your needs.
