Start IB Maths by identifying your course and checking the skills you will use repeatedly. A preparation plan should make algebra, functions and interpretation more secure before you try to rush through unfamiliar chapters. Mathematics: analysis and approaches (AA) and Mathematics: applications and interpretation (AI) each have SL and HL options, so a resource labelled “IB Maths” is not specific enough. This guide offers ten starting-point questions and a flexible routine. It does not replace your school’s course advice, official subject guide or university admission requirements.
Confirm AA or AI, SL or HL, and your examination year. The IB has announced updated mathematics courses for first teaching in August 2027 and first assessment in May 2029. Keep cohort-specific guides separate. Use the skills check below to choose your first practice tasks rather than guessing where to begin.
Plan around the scale of IB maths
Leave room for regular problem-solving and your own mathematical exploration.
Recommended SL teaching
IB Mathematics: analysis and approaches course allocation.
IB mathematics AA · assessments 2021–2028 — original sourceRecommended HL teaching
A larger teaching allocation reflects greater breadth and depth.
IB mathematics AA · assessments 2021–2028 — original sourceMathematical exploration
Internal assessment contributes this share at both SL and HL.
IB mathematics AA · assessments 2021–2028 — original sourceBuild separate slots for current classwork, revisiting errors and exploration milestones. Bring your course name, level and examination year when choosing an IB maths tutor.
Context: Figures from the AA subject brief for the course first assessed in 2021 and last assessed in November 2028. Teaching hours are course guidance, not required private tuition or homework hours. First assessment of the revised course is May 2029.
Which IB Maths course and cohort are you preparing for?
Confirm all three details: AA or AI, SL or HL, and examination year. The IB’s announced curriculum update begins teaching in August 2027 with first assessment in May 2029. Students preparing for 2027 or 2028 examinations should not apply future assessment details simply because a resource calls itself the “new syllabus.”
AA emphasises mathematical reasoning and analytical approaches; AI emphasises applications, interpretation and modelling. Both require mathematical understanding. Do not choose solely on a claim that one is easy. Discuss your strengths and intended university courses with your school, then check the exact admission requirements with each university.
| Confirm with school | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| AA or AI | The course focus and resources differ |
| SL or HL | Depth and workload differ |
| Exam year | Curriculum and assessment versions must match |
| Approved technology | Practice should use permitted tools |
Which skills should you check before starting IB Maths?
Check whether you can handle fractions, equations, functions, gradients and basic probability without relying on a remembered page layout. The ten questions below are preparation exercises, not an IB entrance test or predicted examination questions. Their purpose is to show you which steps need attention before more advanced work depends on them.
Attempt them with written reasoning. Mark each as independent, completed with help or not yet understood. A wrong answer with a clear method gives useful information; a correct guess does not confirm a secure skill. Ask your teacher which additional prerequisites matter for your particular course and level.
| skills check | Answer to check after trying |
|---|---|
| 1. Calculate 3/4 + 2/3. | 17/12 |
| 2. Calculate 2³ × 2⁴. | 128 |
| 3. Solve 3x − 5 = 16. | x = 7 |
| 4. Factor x² − 5x + 6. | (x − 2)(x − 3) |
| 5. Find f(−2) for f(x) = x² + 3x. | −2 |
| 6. Find the gradient through (1, 2) and (3, 8). | 3 |
| 7. Find the line with gradient 2 through (0, −1). | y = 2x − 1 |
| 8. A right triangle has shorter sides 6 and 8. Find its hypotenuse. | 10 |
| 9. Find the mean of 2, 4, 4, 10. | 5 |
| 10. A bag has 3 red and 2 blue counters. Find P(red). | 3/5 |
How should you repair an algebra or functions gap?
Repair the earliest uncertain step, then test it with a different question. In the function example, f(−2) means substituting −2 wherever x appears; brackets preserve the sign. The result is 4 − 6 = −2. Skipping the brackets can hide why the squared term becomes positive while the linear term remains negative.
For factorisation, reverse the process to check your answer. Expanding (x − 2)(x − 3) gives x² − 5x + 6, so the factors match the expression. The check is useful even when the answer appears obvious. Build the habit now so longer expressions do not become guesswork.
worked answers and fresh checks
- Fractions: 3/4 + 2/3 = 9/12 + 8/12 = 17/12. Use a common denominator.
- Function: f(−2) = (−2)² + 3(−2) = 4 − 6 = −2.
- Gradient: (8 − 2)/(3 − 1) = 6/2 = 3. Keep coordinate order consistent.
- Fresh function: if g(x) = x² − 2x, then g(−3) = 9 + 6 = 15.
- Fresh factorisation: x² − 7x + 12 = (x − 3)(x − 4).
What does interpreting an answer involve?
Interpreting means explaining what the mathematics says in its context, including its limits. In our model C = 40 + 12d, C is a hypothetical delivery cost in EGP and d is distance in kilometres. The gradient 12 means an additional 12 EGP per kilometre, while 40 is the model’s fixed charge.
For d = 5, the model gives C = 100 EGP. That calculation does not prove a real company charges that amount or that the same rule applies at any distance. State the assumptions and realistic domain. Practising this distinction helps you move from producing a number to communicating a mathematical conclusion.
- Define each variable and its unit.
- Explain the meaning of a coefficient or gradient.
- State the result in a sentence about the situation.
- Check whether the result is sensible within the model.
- Separate a model assumption from an observed fact.
How do you build an IB Maths study plan you can maintain?
Build your first week around the skills check and your school’s current topic. The routine below separates repair, application and review so you can see what each session is for. It is a suggested structure, not an IB homework requirement, and should be adjusted around your timetable and existing assignments.
Use short, focused tasks that you can finish carefully. At the end, record one unresolved question for class. Avoid collecting more resources than you can use: a school-approved guide, your notes and a small set of relevant questions make progress easier to review than several conflicting syllabus playlists.
| Session | Focus | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|---|
| First | Repair one prerequisite gap | A corrected example and fresh independent solution |
| Second | Practise the current school topic | Written reasoning and a question for your teacher |
| Third | Mix old and new skills | A note explaining which method you selected |
| Review | Revisit an earlier mistake | A new attempt without the old solution |
When is an IB Maths tutor useful?
A tutor is useful when you can identify a persistent gap or need help understanding the connection between steps. Bring your course, level, exam year and attempts. A session can then focus on a decision you struggle to make instead of repeating a whole chapter you partly understand already.
Ask the tutor to let you reason aloud, explain errors and solve a related question independently. Keep assessed work your own: support should develop understanding and respect your school’s academic integrity rules. Review whether you can use the method later without prompting. That evidence matters more than finishing a difficult worksheet together.
Find an IB Maths tutor for your course
Explore IB Maths tutor profiles and confirm AA or AI, SL or HL, and your exam year. Compare lesson prices alongside current platform fees before planning regular support.
Make it your own
Check things off as you go. Your selections last while this page is open.
A few more answers.
Is IB Maths AI easier than AA?
That is not a reliable way to choose. The courses have different emphases, and both offer SL and HL. Consider the kind of mathematics you enjoy, your preparation and the entry requirements of intended university courses. Confirm the choice with your school rather than relying on a generic ranking.
Does the 2029 update apply to my 2027 exam?
The announced update has first teaching in August 2027 and first assessment in May 2029. Do not apply those future assessment details to a 2027 examination. Ask your coordinator for the guide matching your own examination session, especially when selecting online resources.
Should I learn calculus before starting IB Maths?
Ask your teacher what your course expects. Strengthening fractions, algebra and functions can be a more useful starting point when those skills are uncertain. Racing ahead without secure prerequisites may make later explanations harder to follow. Use the skills check to identify where preparation should begin.
Can an IB tutor help with my exploration?
A tutor can explain underlying mathematics and help you develop skills, within your school’s rules. They should not produce assessed work for you. Discuss permitted support with your teacher and keep the reasoning, decisions and submitted work genuinely your own.
Sources & further reading
Explore the original resources for more detail. Practice examples in this guide are illustrative, not official examination questions.
International Baccalaureate: DP mathematics coursesInternational Baccalaureate: mathematics AA curriculum update, first assessment May 2029International Baccalaureate: mathematics AI curriculum updateYour questions. The right teacher.
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