Everything you need to know about writing a successful Math Internal Assessment (IA), whether you're taking AI or AA, at SL or HL.
📚 Structure of the IA
Your IA should flow like a mathematical essay — logical, personal, and mathematically rich. Here's a suggested structure:
📝 Title Page
- A clear and descriptive title
- Candidate number
- Course (e.g., Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation SL)
📌 Introduction
- What is the topic about?
- Why did you choose it?
- What is your aim or research question?
- What can the reader expect from this exploration?
🧠 Mathematical Background
- Explain key definitions, formulas, and concepts
- Demonstrate understanding before applying them
🔍 Development / Exploration
- The core of your IA
- Apply math to solve your problem or model a situation
- Include:
- Graphs and calculations
- Step-by-step explanations
- Screenshots or visuals from technology tools
- Your thinking and decision-making process
🪞 Reflection and Evaluation
- Analyze your results
- Discuss limitations and errors
- Suggest improvements or extensions
- Reflect on the relevance of your findings
✅ Conclusion
- Wrap it all up
- Refer back to your aim
- Summarize what you discovered
📚 Bibliography
- Include all references (APA, MLA, or other accepted style)
- Include tools, websites, books, and datasets
📎 Appendix (optional)
🚫 Avoid placing important mathematics here — it will not be marked!
- Use only for raw data or supplementary material
📏 Formatting Guidelines
🔢 Length
- Recommended: 6–12 pages
- Focus on clarity and quality
🔤 Fonts & Spacing
- Font: Arial, Times New Roman, etc.
- Size: 11–12 pt
- Line spacing: 1.5
- Margins: ~2.5 cm (1 inch)
🧷 Organization
- Use headers and subheaders
- Add page numbers
- Label graphs/tables (e.g., Figure 1: Histogram of test scores)
📌 Content Guidelines
📘 Mathematical Focus
- Use math from the IB syllabus
- HL students should include more advanced topics (e.g., calculus, matrices)
🧮 Level of Sophistication
- SL: Simpler math used deeply and reflectively
- HL: Show rigor and complexity in your math
🧰 Technology Use
- Tools like: Desmos, GeoGebra, Excel, TI-Nspire, Python
- Mention and explain all tech tools
- Always cite sources and screenshots
🎯 Assessment Criteria (Total: 20 Marks)
Criteria | Marks |
A. Presentation | 4 |
B. Mathematical Communication | 4 |
C. Personal Engagement | 3 |
D. Reflection | 3 |
E. Use of Mathematics | 6 |
All criteria are assessed holistically, so each part influences the overall impression.
❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using generic or copied theory with little depth
- Choosing a topic too basic for IB level
- Not showing original thinking or personal involvement
- Forgetting to reflect on results
- Overusing the appendix
- Writing too much with little actual math