IB Maths IA hub · AA & AI · SL & HL
Everything you need to write a strong Maths IA
Choose a topic, understand exactly how it is marked, see annotated exemplars, plan it, draft it and get feedback — with guidance from Pete Bromfield, a practising IB Mathematics IA examiner. Free guides and 153 ideas; optional tools when you want them.
Find an IA idea How to write a Maths IA Free examiner checklist
Start here: the IA in six steps
How the Maths IA is marked
| Criterion | Marks | In one line |
|---|---|---|
| A · Presentation | 4 | The organisation, coherence and conciseness of the exploration as a whole |
| B · Mathematical communication | 4 | Whether the mathematical language |
| C · Personal engagement | 3 | The extent to which you engage with the exploration and make it your own |
| D · Reflection | 3 | How you review, analyse and evaluate the exploration |
| E · Use of mathematics | 6 | Whether the mathematics you use is relevant to the exploration and at an appropriate level for your course, whether you show understanding of it (not just results), and whether it is correct. At HL the top bands also expect sophistication and rigour. |
| Total | 20 | 20% of your final IB Maths grade (SL and HL) |
Grade yourself against the descriptors on the criteria self-grade sheet. Our summaries follow the current criteria (exams up to 2028). New criteria apply to students who start the DP in August 2027 — see the FAQ.
Criterion guides
IA ideas library
153 ideas across 14 topics, each with a research question, the maths it needs for AA/AI and SL/HL, real data sources, an outline and the pitfalls.
- Modelling with functions13 ideas
- Calculus & optimisation10 ideas
- Differential equations & dynamics10 ideas
- Statistics & hypothesis testing13 ideas
- Probability & chance13 ideas
- Geometry, trigonometry & Voronoi diagrams12 ideas
- Finance & economics11 ideas
- Sport10 ideas
- Environment & climate11 ideas
- Health, biology & medicine9 ideas
- Networks, graphs & algorithms9 ideas
- Pure maths, number & proof12 ideas
- Art, music & design9 ideas
- Games & puzzles11 ideas
A few to start with
- Where should my town put its next defibrillator? A Voronoi analysisAI SLAI HLSolid
- Is a hanging chain a parabola? Catenary versus quadratic modelsAA SLAA HLAI SLAI HLSolid
- Is home advantage in football disappearing?AI SLAI HLAA SLAA HLAccessible
- How long does a game of Snakes and Ladders last?AI HLAA HLAmbitious
- How long does a skydiver take to reach terminal velocity?AA HLAI HLAmbitious
- Should I lease or buy my first car?AI SLAI HLSolid
Annotated exemplars
7 original explorations written for teaching — AA SL, AA HL, AI SL, AI HL, statistics and Voronoi — each marked criterion by criterion, plus a deliberately mid-band draft that shows how to improve.
- Is a hanging chain a parabola? Comparing catenary and quadratic modelsAA SL · 19/20
- How long does a skydiver take to reach terminal velocity?AA HL · 20/20
- Should I lease or buy my first car?AI SL · 17/20
- How long does a game of Snakes and Ladders last on my grandmother's board?AI HL · 18/20
- Do students who sleep less react more slowly?AI SL · 18/20
- Sleep and reaction time: a mid-band draft, annotated to show how to improveAI SL · 10/20
- Where should our town put its next defibrillator? A Voronoi analysisAI SL · 18/20
Tools for every stage of your IA
The IA package
Full exemplars in a protected viewer, AI feedback credits, saved planner and Desmos projects, and the examiner checklist — one payment, no subscription, 14-day money-back guarantee. See what's included.
Guides
- How to write a Maths IA, step by step
- Mistakes that cost marks
- Timeline and printable planning template
- AI tools and academic integrity
- The checklist I use as an examiner (PDF)
- Criteria descriptors, checklist and self-grade sheet
- Interactive IA topic explorer
- For teachers: IA launch pack and class tracker
Frequently asked questions
What is the IB Maths IA?
The internal assessment (the “exploration”) is a 12–20 page piece of mathematics on a topic you choose. It is marked by your teacher and moderated by the IB against five criteria, and counts for 20% of your final grade in both AA and AI, at SL and HL.
What are the Maths IA criteria?
A: Presentation (4 marks), B: Mathematical communication (4), C: Personal engagement (3), D: Reflection (3) and E: Use of mathematics (6) — 20 marks in total. Only Criterion E differs between SL and HL.
How do I choose a Maths IA topic?
Start with something you care about, turn it into a precise question with an answer, check it needs mathematics at the level of your course, and check you can get the data. Our ideas library has 153 worked-up starting points.
Are the IA criteria changing?
Yes, for students who start the Diploma Programme in August 2027 (first exams in May 2029). The exploration stays, but criteria A–E are replaced by four inquiry criteria (problem specification, abstraction, computation and interpretation), the same at SL and HL and still out of 20. Everything on this hub follows the current criteria, which apply to exams up to and including 2028.
Is using this site for my IA allowed?
Yes, as coaching: ideas, guides, exemplars and feedback help you write your own exploration. Everything in your IA must be your own work, and you should acknowledge any tools you used, following your school's policy.