The IBO offers two different IB math courses to meet the different needs and aspirations of students.
Both courses are offered at Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL). IB Math AA is tailored towards deeper abstract and theoretical understanding of mathematical concepts, whereas IB Math AI is tailored towards application of mathematical concepts to solve a wide range of practical problems.
Most recently, IB has undertaken a restructuring of its math curriculum in which the previous categories of Math Studies, Math Standard Level (SL), Math Higher Level (HL) and Further Math have now been replaced by Math Analysis and Approaches (AA) and Math Application and Interpretation (AI), each offered at Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL).
These changes are applicable for the May 2021 assessment cohort and beyond.
The purpose of these changes is to provide students with more flexibility in their choice of mathematics pathways while also improving practically relevancy of the curriculum in this digital age.
So, what are the differences between Math AA vs AI?
Essentially, Math AA is tailored towards deeper abstract and theoretical understanding of mathematical concepts. It incorporates topics such as advanced calculus and proof by induction, and there is one paper without a calculator.
You will also have the option of picking between math AA SL and HL, and as with your other subjects, the coverage of content is naturally greater in HL.
Although it is difficult to draw parallels between these categories and the old categories, Math AA SL is most similar to old Math SL and Math AA HL is most similar to old Math HL.
Math AI is for students who enjoy mathematics when applied to a practical context. Topics such as statistics, distributions, matrices comprise a core part of its foundation and you will have access to a calculator for all papers.
As with Math AA, you have the option of picking between AI SL and AI HL. Math AI SL is most analogous to Math Studies, however Math AI HL is unlike any of the previously offered math courses.
One interesting part to mention is that AA and AI do share topics in common. They first cover the same 5 topics but with varying emphasis in each area. These topics are:
These topics fall under the core concepts and will be covered in the first 60 hours of the course.
However, the way these concepts are approached will depend. They will be approached via a theoretical lens if a student is studying it as an AA topic but the same topic will be taught with an ‘implementation’ mindset in an AI class.
In general, if you are someone who enjoys math and would like to opt for a math intensive degree like physics, engineering, or pure math, then Math AA HL would be the ideal choice.
When it comes to specific requirements for the UK, most universities are still finalizing their prerequisites (especially for the 2021 intake). A few such as Cambridge and King’s College London have indicated an explicit requirement for Math AA HL for their math-heavy courses.
However, Oxford and Edinburgh have stated they have no preference for either the Analysis and Approaches (AA) course or the Applications and Interpretation (AI) course. So, unless stated on their website, it is worth reaching out to the admissions office at your chosen university to seek further clarification.
If you’re someone who does plan to pursue a moderately math-linked course such as economics or sciences, most universities would still prefer having Math AA, either at SL or HL.
On the other hand, if you absolutely resent math, and would prefer to take courses such as law, arts, language or social sciences, then there usually are no specific math requirements for your chosen course. You would be most comfortable with Math AI SL.
Assessments in both math courses are to ascertain the ability of students to recollect and use appropriate mathematical concepts or techniques in both familiar and unfamiliar contexts. Problem-solving is key to learning mathematical concepts, and it requires application of a wide range of concepts and skills. Students are also required to sketch mathematical graphs or diagrams and present their arguments, reasoning and solutions clearly and logically using appropriate notations. The ability to effectively use appropriate technology to solve problems is also examined.
The internal assessment is an integral part of both math courses, and it is done by both SL and HL students. This is to assess the ability of students to independently investigate mathematics in their area of interest without the time constraints of written examinations. It enables students to analyse mathematical information, generate hypotheses, test their validity, draw conclusions and clearly communicate their findings.
The timing and weightage of assessments is the same for both courses, but the format of the papers is different. HL students take 3 papers, while SL students only take 2 papers.
| Type | Format | Time | Weightage of final grade | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA | AI | SL | HL | SL | HL | |
| External | 80% | |||||
| Paper 1 | No technology allowed. Section A: Short response questions Section B: Extended response questions | Technology allowed. Short response questions | 1 hour 30 minutes | 2 hours | 40% | 30% |
| Paper 2 | Technology allowed. Section A: Short response questions Section B: Extended response questions | Technology allowed. Extended response questions | 1 hour 30 minutes | 2 hours | 40% | 30% |
| Paper 3 | Technology allowed. Two Extended response problem solving questions | Technology allowed. Two Extended response problem solving questions | - | 1 hour | - | 20% |
| Internal | 20% | |||||
| Internal Assessment (IA) | Investigation and report | Investigation and report | 15 hours | 15 hours | 20% | 20% |
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