IB Diploma Programme Mathematics: applications and interpretation, SL and HL
SL and HL papers
Both levels sit Papers 1 and 2 and write the exploration. HL adds Paper 3. Technology is required in every paper.
Standard level (SL)
Paper 1: short-response questions 1 h 30 min, 80 marks, 40% of the grade.
Compulsory short-response questions on the whole syllabus. Technology required.
Paper 2: extended-response questions 1 h 30 min, 80 marks, 40% of the grade.
Compulsory extended-response questions on the whole syllabus. Technology required.
Internal assessment: the mathematical exploration 20 marks, 20% of the grade.
An individual piece of written work investigating an area of mathematics. Marked by your teacher and moderated by the IB.
Number and algebraFunctionsGeometry and trigonometryStatistics and probabilityCalculusThe papers, technology and the explorationTimed checks
47 exam questions at SL, every part marked on its markscheme.
Higher level (HL)
Paper 1: short-response questions 2 h, 110 marks, 30% of the grade.
Compulsory short-response questions on the whole syllabus, SL and HL. Technology required.
Paper 2: extended-response questions 2 h, 110 marks, 30% of the grade.
Compulsory extended-response questions on the whole syllabus, SL and HL. Technology required.
Paper 3: extended problem solving 1 h, 55 marks, 20% of the grade.
Two compulsory extended-response problem-solving questions. Technology required.
Internal assessment: the mathematical exploration 20 marks, 20% of the grade.
As at SL, with the HL descriptors for the use of mathematics. Marked by your teacher and moderated by the IB.
Number and algebraFunctionsGeometry and trigonometryStatistics and probabilityCalculusThe papers, technology and the explorationTimed checks
101 exam questions at HL, every part marked on its markscheme.
Two kinds of question
Calculator style. The GDC does the arithmetic; the marks are for setting the problem up and reading the answer.
Technology style. The question needs the GDC's tools: the equation and finance solvers, regression, statistical tests, distributions, matrices and graphs.
Answers are exact or to three significant figures unless a question says otherwise, as in the IB's papers. The exploration is your own written investigation, so it is described in a lesson rather than practised here.