IB Math IA Guidelines – Complete Student Guide

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)

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