| Component | Max | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 34 | 48 | 64 | 79 |
| Internal assessment | 20 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 |
| Paper 1 | 80 | 25 | 37 | 50 | 62 |
| Paper 2 | 80 | 27 | 37 | 50 | 62 |
SL Paper 1
Working was generally more organised than before, but students struggled whenever they had to decide how to approach a question, and general equation solving and fraction arithmetic were weak.
Found difficult
- equations with parameters
- hidden quadratics
- transformations of functions
- interpreting integrals in context
- fraction arithmetic
Well prepared
- equations of lines
- asymptotes
- inverse functions
- probability from tables
- double angle identities
- integration
- product rule
- kinematics
| Q | Topic | How it went | Where marks were lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | midpoint, perpendicular gradient and line equation | Answered well | started from y = mx + c and got lost in fractions; wrote L = instead of y =Tip: Use point-gradient form to write a line equation in one step. |
| 2 | zero, asymptotes and inverse of a rational function | Mixed | computed f(0) instead of solving f(x) = 0; wrote VA = 2 instead of x = 2; weak algebra isolating y; read the inverse notation as reciprocal or derivativeTip: State asymptotes as full equations such as x = 2 and y = 7/2. |
| 3 | probability from a table and expected value | Mixed | arithmetic slips; gave the mode as the expected value; used a probability instead of the expected value as the estimateTip: Expected value is the sum of x times P(x), not the most likely outcome. |
| 4 | cos 2x identity and a quadratic in sin x | Mixed | missed the negative solution -pi/2; tried trial and errorTip: After solving for sin x, find every angle in the given interval, including negative ones. |
| 5 | quadratic in e^x and the discriminant | Most struggled | did not spot the quadratic in e^x; missed the lower bound k > 0Tip: Substitute u = e^x to reveal a quadratic, and remember u must be positive. |
| 6 | parameters and sketch of a trigonometric graph | Mixed | wrong horizontal stretch; inaccurate intercepts and turning pointsTip: Use period = 2pi/b to find the stretch factor, and plot key points accurately. |
| 7 | product rule, second derivative and concavity | Answered well | used a non-strict inequality for the intervalTip: Use strict inequalities for intervals where a function is strictly increasing or concave. |
| 8 | arithmetic and geometric sequences combined | Most struggled | assumed S6 - S5 = d; missed that a negative term forces r < 0; found only one value of rTip: S6 - S5 equals the sixth term; if a question hints at two values, look for both. |
| 9 | kinematics from a velocity-time graph | Mixed | integration and arithmetic slips; copied maximum velocity into the next part; misread the velocity-time graphTip: Read the graph carefully: area gives displacement and the gradient gives acceleration. |
What to practise
- Practise basic arithmetic so that early slips do not make later work messy.
- Teach students to read questions closely and use the wording as hints.
- Give regular practice solving exponential, trigonometric and quadratic equations, including disguised quadratics.
SL Paper 2
Triangle trigonometry, finance and sector areas were secure, but regression of x on y, normal quartiles, binomial terms, rates in context and probability without replacement were challenging, often due to weak GDC use.
Found difficult
- graphing on the GDC
- linear regression
- normal distribution
- binomial expansion
- rates of change in context
- limits
- conditional probability
- independent and mutually exclusive events
Well prepared
- sine and cosine rules
- compound interest
- composite functions
- arcs and sectors
| Q | Topic | How it went | Where marks were lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | bearings and the sine rule | Mixed | misinterpreted the given bearing; calculator in radian modeTip: Draw a north line at each point and mark bearings clockwise before finding interior angles. |
| 2 | depreciation and compound interest | Answered well | misstated the annual depreciation rate; wrong payments or compounding periods per year; used r = 0.03 instead of 3; inconsistent 3 s.f. answersTip: When using the finance app, write down every value entered for each parameter. |
| 3 | composite function and its sketch on a domain | Mixed | confused tan^3 x with tan(x^3); sketch extended beyond the domain; extrema inaccurately placed; calculator in degreesTip: Sketch only within the given domain and label endpoints and extrema with accurate coordinates. |
| 4 | regression line of x on y | Mixed | gave the y on x line instead; rounded 0.0935 to 0.094; substituted into the wrong variableTip: For x on y, enter y as the independent variable so the equation reads x = ay + b. |
| 5 | interquartile range of a normal distribution | Most struggled | mixed up probabilities and diameter values; used 0.28 as an area or z-valueTip: Sketch the normal curve: the quartiles cut off 25% each side, and the IQR is a length. |
| 6 | binomial expansion with two unknowns | Most struggled | expanded (ax)^3 as a x^3; powers of x left on only one side of the equation; could not solve simultaneous equationsTip: Raise both coefficient and variable to the power, then equate coefficients only. |
| 7 | exponential cooling model and rate of change | Mixed | slow analytical methods instead of the GDC; double negative in the cooling rate; missing units; did not give the time as an integerTip: Graph the model on the GDC and give answers in the exact form and units asked. |
| 8 | two-way table, selection without replacement, independence and binomial | Mixed | used binomial for selection without replacement; explained independence in words only; wrong bounds for P(X >= 5) on the GDCTip: Test independence numerically by comparing P(A|M) with P(A). |
| 9 | area of a cross-section and volume by integrating a rate | Most struggled | did not label area components; converted radians to degrees and lost accuracy; did not integrate the rate for total volume; used the upper bound instead of the lowerTip: Integrating a flow rate over time gives the total volume; label each area you calculate. |
What to practise
- Teach GDC techniques alongside algebraic ones and discuss when each is more efficient.
- Practise sketching many function types on a given domain with accurate key features.
- Assume radians unless told otherwise.
- Avoid intermediate rounding and distinguish significant figures from decimal places.
- Present show-that work fully and end with the given result.
Internal assessment
What moderators raised about the exploration this session, criterion by criterion.
- A. repeating the same calculations for several cases makes the work less concise
- B. few reached the top level because notation, subscripts, approximation signs and variable definitions were inconsistent
- C. copying a standard method from other work shows little originality
- D. reflection descriptive rather than critical, and not linked to the aim
- E. long repeated calculations instead of explaining what results such as regression parameters mean
- E. mathematics beyond the course not explained clearly enough for a peer
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 2023 TZ1, 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 2023 TZ1?
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The questions most candidates struggled with were on quadratic in e^x and the discriminant, arithmetic and geometric sequences combined, interquartile range of a normal distribution and binomial expansion with two unknowns. The tables above list every question discussed in the report, paper by paper.
What did candidates find difficult in May 2023 TZ1?
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Across the papers the examiners listed equations with parameters, hidden quadratics, transformations of functions, interpreting integrals in context, fraction arithmetic, graphing on the GDC, linear regression and normal distribution, among others.
What were the grade boundaries for Maths AA SL May 2023 TZ1?
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Maths AA SL: a 7 from 79 out of 100 overall in May 2023 TZ1. 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.