How to Prepare for IB Maths AA Paper 1?

The culmination of your two-year IB Diploma Programme journey is a multi-stage assessment in every subject. For Mathematics AA, it begins with Paper 1. But what exactly is IB Maths AA Paper 1, and how can you best prepare for it?

We joined forces with our Maths teachers, and examiners at TutorsPlus to find the answer. In this article, we’ll explain AA Paper 1 question types, content, and requirements. Along with this, we will provide valuable tips on how to revise for your IB Maths AA exam to get the best possible result.

Understand the IB AA Maths Paper 1 Exam Format

As you know you cannot sufficiently prepare for IB AA Maths Paper 1 if you don’t know what it is, and the type of questions it will challenge you on.

In a nutshell, Paper 1 for Analysis and Approaches tests your analytical abilities. Your task here is to show your understanding of mathematical concepts and relationships (such as reading diagrams). You may not use a calculator, although you will have to do some arithmetical manipulations.Regardless of the level, it consists of two sections: Section A requires short answers and Section B – sustained reasoning. That being said, the duration, complexity, and mark allocation are not the same for Standard and Higher Levels.

Why is Proper Preparation for AA Paper 1 Important?

Paper 1 marks contribute 30% (at HL) or 40% (at SL) to your entire IB AA Maths grade. With such a significant weighting, every mark iscrucial. This means that of course you can’t just show up for your exam and hope for the best – you need to prepare for it as carefully as possible.

Paper 1 doesn’t assess isolated mathematical skills. On the contrary, it requires a comprehensive understanding of the entire syllabus. Some questions will focus on one specific topic while others connect several areas of AA Maths. For example, they may introduce a mix of geometry with algebra, or combine trigonometry with calculus. Moreover, in your AA Maths Paper 1, you’ll face questions that test both your analytical skills and problem-solving abilities. Hence, along with being good at calculating, you also need to think mathematically.

The bottom line, you can’t pass this exam with just a couple of tricks up your sleeve – you need to know them all. This is the reason why proper preparation for AA Paper 1 is so important. So, how do you go about preparing for it?

Key Topics and Sections in IB Maths AA Paper 1

As we have already said, AA Paper 1 covers the entire syllabus. Therefore, questions will concern all the topics you have studied over the two years of the IBDP Maths course.

Section A of Paper 1 for Analysis and Approaches typically includes a diverse range of assignments. Here, the most common key areas are the following:

• Algebraic problems involving logarithms;
• Questions about sequences and series;
• Composite function calculations;
• Standard integration and differentiation challenges;
• Inverse function graph interpretations;
• Brief vector or probability-related questions.

When it comes to Section B, it often features:

• Extended probability investigations;
• In-depth exploration of curve properties;
• Detailed analysis of quadratic functions;
• Examination of the axis of symmetry concepts;
• Calculation of vertex coordinates.

As you can see, a thorough understanding of mathematical concepts and the ability to apply them in practice is the key to acing AA Paper 1.

Recommendations for Preparation for IB Maths AA Paper 1

Hopefully, now you have a better idea of the IB Maths AA Paper 1 format and requirements. Next, let us introduce effective ways to prepare for your examination.

1. Assessing Your Weaknesses and Strengths

Understanding how good your mathematical skills are is the first step towards success, not only in IB Maths AA Paper 1 but also in the entire assessment. Your goal here is to find your weaknesses and transform them into areas of confidence.

“You can often hear that you should approach your exams well-armed. Basically, this means owning a full arsenal of tools and skills required to solve problems you have at hand. But your most powerful tool should be, perhaps, your self-awareness. If you know exactly where you struggle and where you excel, you can create a targeted study plan to maximise your potential.”

But how to identify those?

First of all, conduct a grade analysis. Gather all your test papers from the past two years of the IBDP and dissect them. Specifically, you need to note:

• Which topics consistently challenged you;
• Topics and areas that brought you the highest scores;
• Specific types of questions that trip you up.

You must be brutally honest with yourself since you know your mathematical journey better than anyone. We suggest that you take the syllabus, look once again at all the topics, and ask yourself:

• Which Maths concepts make me feel confident?
• What topics make me nervous?
• Where do I hesitate or feel uncertain?

Along with this, you may consult your Maths teacher. They’ve been there for you throughout your two years in high school. Therefore, they should be well aware of your strengths and weaknesses and be able to offer insights you might miss.

One more valuable data source for your self-assessment is past papers. They are not just an introduction to exam format and question types, but also an analytical tool. You need to solve them regularly, especially in your second year. After completing a paper, check your answers and look at your work critically.

Were there errors? If there were any mistakes, take a moment to consider what caused them. Should they be due to carelessness, slow down and double-check your answers. On the other hand, if the issue lies in knowledge gaps, make sure to focus more on challenging topics during your revision sessions.

2. Creating a Revision Plan

All this analytical work has one more advantage – it should help you build your personalised revision plan. It should reflect both what to revise and how to.

In this revision schedule, give more attention to the topics and skills you want to improve. For example, up to 50% of your time can go to studying and repeating the most difficult sections of the IB AA Maths syllabus. 30% you can allocate to the tasks of medium difficulty (which you know well enough but occasionally make mistakes) and 20% – to the areas you are more confident about.

It goes without saying that practising Maths regularly is the key to success. This doesn’t, however, mean that you must spend hours on end with textbooks. The truth is, just 30 minutes of studying per day is a good contribution to training your mathematical muscles. This way, you can build your confidence without feeling overwhelmed. Although, if you are getting close to exam day you will need to significantly increase the amount of time you allocate to Maths revision.

You can benefit from your study sessions even more if, instead of repeated exercises, you try varied approaches. For example, invest some time in improving your understanding of theoretical foundations and, simultaneously, apply them to solve problems. In addition, it can be useful to create mind maps and diagrams, as well as access online learning platforms, educational YouTube Channels, and Mathematics forums and discussion groups. You can even create your own study group to discuss complex topics with your classmates.

“Most importantly, don’t forget that Mathematics isn’t just a theoretical discipline – it manifests itself in many aspects of our lives. It could be beneficial to try and find connections between what you learn at school and the real world. For example, you can analyse the performance statistics of your favourite sports team, design an optimal garden layout, or create a design and calculate the cost of building your dream house. Understanding that Maths will come in handy in your future life can make studying more purposeful and meaningful.”

3. Practising Without a Calculator

Paper 1 for AA challenges you to solve mathematical problems without the use of your GDC calculator. And this is justified because mental calculation is a critical mathematical skill.

Needless to say, your exam preparations must include exercises to train your ability to calculate fast and correctly. For example, whenever you practice with past papers, put your calculator away. Solve problems using only mental calculations and make sure to carefully show all your workings at each step. This way, you can easily spot potential mistakes. After completing all your tasks, you may verify your results using technology.

The goal is to make mental mathematics feel effortless. This is not going to happen without consistent practice. Solve problems repeatedly with a focus on the types of calculations that you find the most difficult.

“We’ve witnessed countless students become overly dependent on technological tools. However, AA Paper 1 is designed to assess your ability to solve problems using your biological computing machine – your brain. If you don’t train this skill regularly, you’ll find yourself struggling during the actual exam.”

4. Mastering Algebra and Functions

Although your AA Paper 1 will have tasks from every section of the syllabus, Algebra and Functions are the topics that form the backbone of your examination. Basically, they are the building blocks of more complex problems.

First and foremost, you need to practice manipulating expressions without your calculator, especially when dealing with logarithms, exponentials, and rational functions. It is vital that you can quickly recognise function transformations and sketch graphs based just on their algebraic properties.

We also recommend focusing on composite and inverse functions, as these frequently show up in Section A questions. Don’t forget to carefully check the domains! Many students keep repeating the same mistake – they forget to verify domains and ranges. That’s why you must make it a habit to test critical values and boundary conditions.

Remember, exam questions often connect multiple concepts together, such as inverse functions in the context of complex equations. To prepare for this challenge, you should regularly solve maths problems that combine different skills.

5. Improving Time Management

Time management is a critical skill – you will benefit from it both during your revision and when sitting your exam. If you don’t get used to working against the clock, you will put yourself at risk of running out of time before you complete your paper.

Time Management Strategies for Revision

We have already said that studying Maths for 30 minutes a day can make a great difference in the end. However, the closer your exam dates, the longer and more intense the training sessions should be. Some practices can be as long as the actual exam, and not just Paper 1, but also Paper 2 and 3 (if you’re an HL student) combined. This way, you may get a better sense of time.

One of the most efficient time management strategies is to set certain time goals. For instance, you might challenge yourself to solve a specific section within an hour or complete 5 questions in 30 minutes. However, you need to be confident that it is possible. Otherwise, you might just end up with frustration.

When you work on solving maths problems, it is a good idea to set a timer to see how much time you need to tackle each task. You can start with one hour and analyse how much you’ve done. Was it enough to solve everything? Or is it necessary to develop faster problem-solving techniques?

As the examination date approaches, align your study sessions with the actual exam structure. For example, the IB Mathematics SL exam consists of two 90-minute papers. Mirror this format in your preparation. This means, you need to study for 90 minutes, take a short break to let your brain reset, and then proceed with the other half. During this time, put your phone away to avoid distractions.

Maths AA Paper 1 Time Management

By the time your exam comes, you should already know how long it takes to answer different question types. Also, the number of marks you can earn may give you a good idea of how much time you can spend on them – the fewer marks earned, the quicker you need to solve them.

If you get stuck with one of the questions, skip it for now and move to the next one. It is better to lose marks in one of the questions than not to complete the rest of the paper. If you still have time at the end, get back to the unsolved question and try again. Perhaps the second attempt will give you a better perspective on how to approach the task.

Remember, the Paper 1 examination for Analysis and Approaches SL will have Sections A and B, with 6 and 3 questions respectively. However, due to their various difficulty levels, it should take about the same time to solve each part. In a 90-minutes exam, you will have about 40 mins for Section A and 40 mins for Section 2. The remaining 10 mins are for double-checking. If, after the first 40 minutes, you find yourself falling behind this schedule, you really should quicken your pace.

Last but not least, it is critical that you don’t leave a single question unanswered. Even partial workings can earn you valuable marks. While you won’t receive full points for an incomplete solution, even one or two marks can make a big difference in the end.

6. Reading the Questions Thoroughly

One of the most important aspects of preparing for your IB Maths AA Paper 1 is to ensure that you understand the requirements of each question. Specifically, you need to pay close attention to the command terms, as they will show the type of answer the examiners expect you to provide.

For instance, terms such as “sketch” and “draw” may seem similar. However, they require different levels of precision. A “sketch” might be a quick, rough drawing to illustrate a concept, while a “draw” implies a more accurate and detailed diagram.

Similarly, commands “write down” and “find” have distinct expectations. While “write down” doesn’t require showing your workings, it is an absolute must to detail all your steps with “find”.

So, if you know what command terms mean, you can tailor your responses appropriately. As a result, you won’t lose marks when a more elaborate response is needed and, vice versa, won’t waste your time writing unnecessarily lengthy answers.

7. Working with a Tutor to Strengthen Weak Areas

You might be struggling to understand complex Maths concepts, feeling too slow in problem-solving, or lacking confidence in mental calculations. You are not alone, as these challenges are common among your peers. However, they don’t have to define your academic performance.

Overcoming your weaknesses should be your priority. That being said, you might not have sufficient time and independent learning capacity to do this alone. If that’s exactly your case, an experienced IB Mathematics tutor may come in handy.

A professional tutor can help you:

• Diagnose specific skill gaps and learning obstacles;
• Provide personalised explanations adjusted to your learning style;
• Develop strategies for improving mathematical reasoning;
• Improve problem-solving techniques and mental calculation skills;
• Offer practice with exam-style questions and time management;
• Recommend high-quality learning resources and study materials
• Boost your mathematical confidence through structured support.

At TutorsPlus, we are proud to have a team of outstanding IB Maths tutors. They are committed to helping students like you achieve their academic goals. Thanks to years of experience in teaching IB Maths, they know the IBDP curriculum like the back of their hand and offer effective teaching techniques. You can trust our tutors to provide you with the support needed to excel in your exam.

8. Checking Your Work for Mistakes

We’ve said it once, and we want to say it again – double-check your answers!

If your time management was on point and your Maths skills were on par, you should have enough time to review your work. Check your calculations, decimal points, diagrams, and written explanations with the utmost precision. A quick scan can often reveal errors that you might have missed during the initial solving process.

As enticing as it may be to take a longer break before the next stage of your exam, it is better to use this time to make sure everything is correct. Careless mistakes happen even with the most brilliant mathematicians. You cannot let oversights take valuable points from you!

How to Use Past Papers for AA Paper 1 Preparation?

Past papers are your best way to find out what to expect at your IB Maths assessment and prepare for it accordingly.

Many students postpone working with past papers until they have finished their syllabus content. However, if you wait too long, you will simply not have enough time for comprehensive exam preparation. The most effective approach is to integrate past paper practice throughout your entire second year of high school.

Naturally, you will have some knowledge gaps. When you identify tasks you can’t solve at the moment, mark these and revisit them later. If you have strong self-motivation, you may even try to learn new topics independently (one of our IB Maths tutors can help you do this more effectively).

To make the most of your IB Maths AA past papers practice, our tutors recommend:

• stick to exam time limits, i.e. complete the whole AA Paper 1 within 90 (SL) or 120 (HL) minutes without any break;
• eliminate distractions;
• keep the formula booklet close at hand for quick reference;
• highlight keywords and command terms to understand what questions ask you to do exactly;
• start with easier tasks;
• if you find a question difficult, move on to another one and get back to it later;
• always track how much time every task takes to solve;
• don’t use a calculator because you will not be able to access it in the real exam;
• write all the steps of your workings;
• carefully read multi-part questions since later parts might provide clues for earlier sections;
• always try to give an answer, even if it is partial. You might get some points for showing workings even if you failed to reach the right answer.

Summary

IB Maths AA Paper 1 is just one of the milestones of your examination, along with further Papers and Internal Assessment. This doesn’t, however, mean that you shouldn’t prepare for it specifically. Since it is responsible for around one-third of your final grade, you won’t be able to get your desired IB Maths grade if you approach it carelessly.TutorsPlus and our experienced IB Maths tutors are at your service if you’re looking for help and guidance. For many students, Mathematics is just too complicated to master. We understand this. That’s why our tutoring is always tailored to your abilities, learning style, and goals. You can talk to our team and hire a tutor at 022 731 8148 and .

By Sara Lloyd

Sara has been an education consultant for TutorsPlus for 15 years, and is an expert on international IB education.  She is also a parent of two lively children.