Maths IA guide
Maths IA word count and page limit: how long should it be?
There is no word count for the IB Maths IA. The IB's guides recommend that the exploration be about 12 to 20 pages long with double line spacing, and length is judged through Criterion A: whether the work is concise. This page explains what that means in practice, what counts, and what to do if your draft is too long or too short.
The rules at a glance
| Word limit | None. The Maths IA is guided by pages, not words. |
|---|---|
| Recommended length | About 12–20 pages, double-spaced (the IB Mathematics guides (analysis and approaches; applications and interpretation), first assessment 2021). |
| What counts | The body of the exploration, including the graphs, tables and diagrams in it. |
| What usually doesn't | The title page, a contents page, the bibliography and appendices. But the reader must not need an appendix to follow your argument. |
| Penalty for going over | No automatic deduction, but an overlong IA is rarely concise, which limits Criterion A, and padding weakens B and D. |
| Too short? | Also no automatic penalty. Under about 12 pages there is rarely room for the mathematics and reflection the top bands need. |
What about words?
Because a typical IA page mixes paragraphs with equations, tables and graphs, most 12–20 page explorations contain roughly 2,000 to 4,000 words of prose. That is an observation, not a rule: the IB does not count words, and a page of dense algebra has very few.
Too long? Six ways to cut without losing marks
Cut the history
Biographies, the origin of a formula and general background rarely earn marks. Keep only the context a classmate needs.
Show one calculation, then a table
Repeating the same calculation for every data point is the most common source of extra pages.
Move raw data to an appendix
Keep a summary or a sample in the body, and refer to the full table.
Merge graphs that make the same point
One well-labelled graph with two models on it can replace two separate graphs.
Delete statistics you never interpret
A value you calculate but do not use costs space and can cost Criterion E credit.
Tighten the introduction
Your reason for choosing the topic and your aim should fit in well under a page.
Too short?
Check that you have compared more than one model or method, reflected after each result (not only at the end), and used mathematics at the level of your course. Those are the usual missing pieces — see Criterion D and Criterion E.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Maths IA word limit?
There isn't one. The IB guides recommend about 12 to 20 pages, double-spaced, and judge length through conciseness in Criterion A.
Do graphs and tables count towards the 12–20 pages?
Yes, when they are in the body of the exploration. The page guidance is for the whole body, not just the text.
Does the bibliography count towards the page limit?
No. The title page, contents, bibliography and appendices are not part of the 12–20 page guidance, but anything needed to follow your argument must be in the body.
Will I lose marks for 22 pages?
Not automatically. You lose marks if the extra length makes the exploration less concise or less coherent, which is usually what happens. Cut before you submit.
Is 10 pages enough for a Maths IA?
It can be if it is complete, but it is unusual: short IAs often lack the depth of mathematics or the running reflection that the top bands of Criteria D and E need.
See how long top-band IAs really are
Our complete annotated exemplars run to 11–18 pages each; the IA package has them all in full, with a note on every section. €39 once, 12 months' access, 14-day money-back guarantee. It helps you write your own IA; it never writes it for you.