| Component | Max | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 25 | 41 | 56 | 71 |
SL Paper 1
Composite functions, sequences and the binomial expansion were well done, but general proof, inequalities read from graphs, trigonometric equations and areas between curves were weak.
Found difficult
- algebraic proof
- inequalities
- trigonometric equations
- area between curves
- counting outcomes in probability
Well prepared
- composite functions
- arithmetic and geometric sequences
- binomial expansion
- rational functions
- quadratic equations
- quadratic functions
- discrete probability distributions
| Q | Topic | How it went | Where marks were lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | composite functions | Answered well | multiplied f(0) by g(0) instead of composingTip: (f o g)(x) means apply g first, then f to the result; it is not a product. |
| 2 | arithmetic sequence | Answered well | did not substitute n = 1 to get the first term; algebra slips giving a negative nTip: Check that n is a positive integer before accepting it as an answer. |
| 3 | deductive proof about consecutive integers | Mixed | checked specific numbers instead of using n, n+1, n+2Tip: A proof must use general algebraic terms; numerical examples never prove a statement. |
| 4 | graph of a rational function and an inequality | Mixed | solved the inequality algebraically instead of reading it from the graphTip: When an inequality follows a sketch, use the graph's intercepts and asymptotes to read off the solution. |
| 5 | trigonometric equation with a positive solution | Most struggled | left a negative x as the final answer; picked the wrong quadrant angle when forcing x positiveTip: List all angles in the needed range for the whole argument before solving for x. |
| 6 | binomial coefficients and a resulting quadratic | Mixed | kept x = 0 although it was excludedTip: Check each solution against the conditions stated in the question before finalising. |
| 7 | quadratic in vertex form, tangent and increasing or concave intervals | Mixed | wrote the tangent as L = ... instead of y = ...; could not turn the derivative condition into an intervalTip: Give line equations in terms of x and y, and finish derivative inequalities with an explicit interval. |
| 8 | intersection and area of two regions | Most struggled | used the wrong limits, integrating from 3 to k for both regionsTip: Sketch the region and identify each boundary before choosing integration limits. |
| 9 | discrete distribution and outcomes from dice rolls | Most struggled | verified the given p and q instead of deriving them; missed ordered outcomes like 3+4 and 4+3; no justification in the final partTip: In show-that questions work forward to the given values, and list ordered outcomes systematically. |
What to practise
- Cover the whole syllabus and practise exam-style questions on every area.
- Teach what command terms like show that, justify and prove require.
- Give lots of practice completing algebraic solutions of equations.
- Read each question for links between parts and check answers make sense.
SL Paper 2
Triangle trigonometry, finance-style sequences, regression and standard distributions were sound, but accuracy, kinematics, box plot interpretation, conditional probability and calculator mode errors cost many marks.
Found difficult
- accuracy and rounding
- box plots
- kinematics
- calculator use
- conditional probability
- independent and mutually exclusive events
Well prepared
- sine and cosine rules
- arithmetic and geometric sequences
- linear regression
- integration
- normal distribution
- binomial distribution
| Q | Topic | How it went | Where marks were lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | chord length and shaded area | Answered well | found the arc length instead of the chord; found the unshaded region's areaTip: Check which length and which region the diagram actually refers to. |
| 2 | finding a function from its derivative | Mixed | omitted the constant of integration; errors integrating the exponential term; stopped at C = -1 without writing g(x)Tip: After finding C, write out the full function the question asks for. |
| 3 | geometric growth and regression on the GDC | Mixed | divided the rate by 100 wrongly or used exponent 9; not rounded to the nearest dollar; worked from a few points instead of GDC regressionTip: Use GDC regression on all data and copy coefficients in scientific notation carefully. |
| 4 | probability equation leading to a quadratic | Most struggled | treated events as mutually exclusive when adding probabilitiesTip: For the union of events, subtract the intersection unless the events are known to be mutually exclusive. |
| 5 | box plots and judging evidence | Most struggled | estimated the mean from end points or quartiles; drew strong conclusions from medians or extremes aloneTip: A box plot does not give the mean; comment on sample size when judging evidence. |
| 6 | kinematics: change of direction, acceleration, greatest speed | Most struggled | looked at v(0) or maximum v for change of direction; calculator in degrees; took greatest speed as maximum velocityTip: Direction changes where v = 0 changes sign; speed is |v|, so check minimum v too. |
| 7 | cosine rule, sine rule and triangle area | Mixed | assumed BD bisects angle ABC; reused values found in radian mode; premature or inconsistent roundingTip: Check your calculator is in degrees and that answers fit the diagram. |
| 8 | trigonometric functions, their derivatives and intersections | Most struggled | left the calculator in degree mode; did not realise the derivatives were needed; answered 3.15 from a rounded value instead of 3.14Tip: Switch back to radians for calculus and keep full accuracy until the final step. |
| 9 | inverse normal and conditional binomial probability | Most struggled | did not use inverse normal for z; rounded z before finding sigma; considered exactly one late instead of at most oneTip: Translate phrases like no more than into the full set of values before calculating. |
What to practise
- Keep at least three significant figures throughout and round only at the end.
- Solve equations on the GDC with the solver or graph intersections rather than lengthy algebra.
- Show what was done on the GDC, for example with a sketch, to earn method marks.
- Always check degree or radian mode.
- Check that numerical answers are plausible for the diagram or function.
Internal assessment
What moderators raised about the exploration this session, criterion by criterion.
- A. aim delayed by pages of background; it should appear early
- A. long unformatted data tables inflate the length; condense them
- B. graphs, especially zoomed screenshots, lacking axis labels and scales
- B. computer notation and missing approximation signs
- C. interest in the context mistaken for engagement with the mathematics
- D. reflection left to the end instead of throughout; limitations of models rarely discussed
- E. regression models produced by software without justifying the function choice
- E. formulae applied mechanically with no conceptual explanation
About this summary
After every session the IB sends schools a subject report: how candidates did on each paper and question, and what teachers should work on. This page is my reading of the Maths AA SL report for May 2022 TZ2, in my own words. No text from the report or from the exam questions is reproduced, and it is not endorsed by the International Baccalaureate.
Session codes: TZ is the time zone variant of the papers. Other variants of the same session:
Frequently asked questions
Which questions were hardest in Maths AA SL May 2022 TZ2?
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The questions most candidates struggled with were on trigonometric equation with a positive solution, intersection and area of two regions, discrete distribution and outcomes from dice rolls and probability equation leading to a quadratic. The tables above list every question discussed in the report, paper by paper.
What did candidates find difficult in May 2022 TZ2?
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Across the papers the examiners listed algebraic proof, inequalities, trigonometric equations, area between curves, counting outcomes in probability, accuracy and rounding, box plots and kinematics, among others.
What were the grade boundaries for Maths AA SL May 2022 TZ2?
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Maths AA SL: a 7 from 71 out of 100 overall in May 2022 TZ2. The component boundaries are in the table on this page.
Is this the official IB subject report?
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No. It is my summary of the report the IB issues to schools after each session, rewritten in my own words with a teacher's reading of it. No text from the report or from exam questions is reproduced. Your school's IB coordinator can access the original.