| Component | Max | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 32 | 44 | 55 | 66 |
| Internal assessment | 20 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 17 |
| Paper 1 | 110 | 31 | 42 | 54 | 65 |
| Paper 2 | 110 | 33 | 44 | 54 | 65 |
| Paper 3 | 55 | 18 | 25 | 32 | 39 |
HL Paper 1
The first half was handled reasonably, but the second half produced few correct solutions, and many marks went on accuracy rules and calculator angle mode.
Found difficult
- euler's method
- logarithms and indices
- matrix transformations
- normal distribution
- binomial distribution
- complex numbers
- rounding and accuracy
Well prepared
- arc length and sector area
- financial mathematics
- slope fields
- composite functions
| Q | Topic | How it went | Where marks were lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | opening calculation (topic not named in the report) | Answered well | gave 5.12 instead of the correctly rounded 5.13Tip: Round only at the end and check the last digit. |
| 2 | quadratic function and its axis of symmetry | Mixed | gave the general result x = -b/2a instead of the specific valueTip: Answer with the value for the given function, not the general formula. |
| 3 | straightforward question requiring two decimal places | Answered well | rounded to an integer instead of two decimal placesTip: Follow the precision the question asks for exactly. |
| 4 | binomial expectation and related algebra | Most struggled | gave np for part (a) incorrectly; algebra in parts (b) to (d) too difficultTip: Practise algebra with binomial parameters, not only numerical probabilities. |
| 5 | cosine rule and a bearing | Mixed | added lengths instead of applying the cosine rule; answer with no working; bearing calculation wrongTip: When a method is expected, show the cosine rule substitution even if the answer looks obvious. |
| 6 | probability where order matters | Mixed | ignored the order of outcomes in part (b)Tip: Ask whether different orders give different outcomes and count them. |
| 7 | kinematics: velocity graph, zero acceleration and distance | Mixed | calculator in degree mode; graph drawn outside the domain or wrong start; missed a minimum point; took zeros of velocity as zero accelerationTip: Use radians, set a suitable window, and integrate the absolute velocity in one step. |
| 8 | definite integral to find an unknown limit | Mixed | integrated by hand and got stuck on a quarticTip: Set up the integral equation and solve it on the GDC. |
| 9 | normal probability feeding a binomial probability | Most struggled | treated the normal as discrete with a continuity change; used a rounded normal probability in the binomial step; little progress on (b)Tip: Store the unrounded normal probability and use it directly as the binomial p. |
| 10 | laws of logarithms leading to a solution | Most struggled | did not know the log laws; confused (-x)^2 with -x^2; dropped the minus root when square rootingTip: Revise the log laws and keep both signs when taking a square root. |
| 11 | showing a sequence is geometric | Mixed | checked only the first three terms instead of the general termTip: Prove a sequence is geometric by showing the ratio of consecutive general terms is constant. |
| 12 | slope field solution curve and algebraic follow-up | Most struggled | did not understand what part (b) needed; missed a simple factorisation into a perfect squareTip: Look for perfect square factorisations when an expression has three related terms. |
| 13 | reflection and rotation matrices | Mixed | multiplied the matrices but did not see the product was a reflectionTip: Learn the standard reflection matrix in y = x tan theta to read off the angle. |
| 14 | adding complex numbers in exponential form on the GDC | Most struggled | could not combine the two exponential forms with the calculatorTip: Practise handling complex numbers in polar form with your calculator. |
| 15 | Euler's method for a second order differential equation | Most struggled | only relevant equations written, often with undefined notation; final answer with no supporting workTip: Rewrite as a coupled first order system and record each Euler step with defined notation. |
What to practise
- Cover the whole syllabus; reflection and rotation matrices were skipped in some centres.
- Make sure students know and follow the accuracy rules.
- Check calculator angle mode for every question.
- Revise the laws of logarithms and Euler's method for second order equations.
HL Paper 2
This paper seemed harder than earlier ones because of sustained reasoning, and working was notably disorganised compared with past cohorts.
Found difficult
- basic probability
- volume and surface area
- interpreting results in context
- inverse functions
- quotient rule
- vector equation of a line
- modelling with functions
- separable differential equations
- logarithms and indices
Well prepared
- summary statistics
- coordinate geometry
- non-linear regression
- vectors
- percentages
| Q | Topic | How it went | Where marks were lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | summary statistics, comparing data and skewness | Mixed | slips substituting into the mean formula; vague comparisons without naming the data year; wrong skew direction or mentioned the mean; left (e) and (f) blankTip: When comparing distributions, quote specific statistics and say which data set each comes from. |
| 2 | line equations, Voronoi diagram, area and unit conversion | Mixed | wasted time rearranging line equations and computing distances; did not write the given answer at the end; disorganised area working; multiplied by 2.5 instead of 2.5 squaredTip: Scale areas by the square of the length factor and sketch how you split a region. |
| 3 | regression model, derivative meaning and inverse confusion | Most struggled | did not adjust years as defined; did not compare the value with 1; could not interpret f'(110); found an inverse when a derivative was askedTip: Distinguish f'(x) from f^(-1)(x) and interpret a derivative as a rate with units. |
| 4 | vector motion of a plane, intersection and skew lines distance | Mixed | described the equation parts instead of the path; no clear statement why paths do not meet; answer not given as a vector equation; no idea how to find the shortest distanceTip: State your conclusion explicitly after checking for intersection and practise minimum distance between skew lines. |
| 5 | 3D coordinates, right angles and volume of a prism | Mixed | claimed a right angle without noting the axes are perpendicular; used a volume other than the given 625; struggled with similar shapes in (d)(ii)Tip: Use values given in the question and justify geometric facts explicitly. |
| 6 | direct proportion and a separable differential equation | Most struggled | could not derive the proportionality constant; weak separation of variables and log combination; ignored the factor of 1000Tip: Practise separating variables and using log laws to find the integration constant. |
| 7 | volume of revolution about the y-axis with a cylinder | Most struggled | took the third expression as the sum of two volumes; wrong upper limit for the integral; no three distinct expressions for follow-throughTip: When rotating about the y-axis, rewrite x in terms of y and check the limits carefully. |
What to practise
- Remember this is an HL course that expects solid algebra alongside GDC use.
- Give students practice writing extended answers on lined paper in an organised way.
- In show that questions, finish by writing the given result.
HL Paper 3
Markov chain setup and the one-sample test went well, but the paired t-test, geometric series in context and the sampling distribution caused difficulty.
Found difficult
- t-test
- geometric sequences and series
- central limit theorem
Well prepared
- markov chains
| Q | Topic | How it went | Where marks were lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Markov chain transition matrix, steady state and geometric series | Mixed | used the fourth power instead of the fifth; steady state left as a matrix not a vector; confused percentage points with a percentage; used the wrong ratio in the geometric sumTip: Write the steady state as a single vector and read percentage change questions carefully. |
| 2 | sample mean distribution, t-tests and a confidence interval | Mixed | premature rounding; did not use the distribution of the sample mean; interval not written as an inequality; hypotheses in words and vague paired test assumptionsTip: Write hypotheses with mu symbols and state the assumptions of a paired t-test in context. |
What to practise
- Give answers to the required precision using unrounded intermediate values.
- Expose students to more situations calling for a paired t-test.
- Encourage hypotheses in mathematical notation rather than words.
Internal assessment
What moderators raised about the exploration this session, criterion by criterion.
- A. losing sight of a clear aim made work incoherent; off-syllabus material needs explaining while syllabus methods do not
- A. repetitive work and hand calculations that technology could do reduced conciseness
- B. calculator notation, small or unclear diagrams, long tables in the body and no equation editor
- C. genuinely original work was rare, though small personal changes to standard problems are increasing
- D. long but descriptive reflection, including AI-style generic lists of limitations
- E. procedural, exam-style mathematics without justifying the choice of method
- E. chi-squared used to judge curve fit, and tests applied without checking conditions
- E. nearest neighbour run from one vertex only and Voronoi diagrams used where the context does not suit them
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 AI HL report for May 2025 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 AI HL May 2025 TZ1?
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The questions most candidates struggled with were on binomial expectation and related algebra, normal probability feeding a binomial probability, laws of logarithms leading to a solution and slope field solution curve and algebraic follow-up. The tables above list every question discussed in the report, paper by paper.
What did candidates find difficult in May 2025 TZ1?
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Across the papers the examiners listed euler's method, logarithms and indices, matrix transformations, normal distribution, binomial distribution, complex numbers, rounding and accuracy and basic probability, among others.
What were the grade boundaries for Maths AI HL May 2025 TZ1?
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Maths AI HL: a 7 from 66 out of 100 overall in May 2025 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.