IB · Group 5 · Higher Level
Mathematics AI HL
Modelling, statistics and technology-heavy mathematics, with a calculator allowed in every paper. It is the least-taught of the four maths courses, and by some distance the hardest to find help with.
Where the marks go
Six things that cost students the grade.
Applications and Interpretation at Higher Level is very content-heavy, with a lot of material that is not found in any of the other courses. You also need to be proficient in using the calculator to do quite complicated operations.
Number and algebra
Matrices and eigenvalues
One of the main topics that is exclusive to AI HL, and it underpins several other areas of the course. Learning it well is one of the most useful things you can do.
Geometry and trigonometry
Graph theory
Adjacency matrices, walks, Kruskal’s and Prim’s algorithms — a lot of new terms and concepts that you will certainly never have seen before.
Calculus
Coupled differential equations
This is perhaps the most demanding material in the course, and where students lose many marks on papers. Both calculator skills and analytical abilities are required to master these.
Statistics and probability
Hypothesis testing
In HL, there are so many different tests that it is easy to get lost. Don’t understand the difference between t-tests, chi-squared, correlation tests and population tests? You are not the only one.
Number and algebra
Complex numbers
Introduced as a modelling tool in the AI HL course, which makes it very different from AA HL. Many teachers do not see the difference, which leaves students confused.
Assessment
Paper 3
Two long modelling problems built on unknown scenarios — by far the hardest paper, while simultaneously the one students spend least time preparing for.
From an Applications and Interpretation student
“His ability to break down complex topics into manageable steps and ensure that I truly understood the reasoning behind the methods.”
Try a trial class
Show me your biggest obstacle.
Calculus, complex numbers, or something else entirely — perhaps the IA? Let’s meet for a free 30-minute class, no commitments, and we will tackle it together.