IB Maths AI HL mock exam: what is on it and how to revise
The paper format, a free full Paper 1 to sit, a 2-week and a 4-week revision plan, and the AI HL mistakes that cost the most marks. Everything here is free.
By Pete Bromfield, former Head of Maths with IB examining experience (independent)
What is on the AI HL mock
Your school writes or chooses your mock, so ask your teacher which papers and topics are in it. Most mocks copy the format of the real exam, which for AI HL is:
| Paper | Time | Calculator | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 2 hours | Calculator (GDC) | 30% |
| Paper 2 | 2 hours | Calculator (GDC) | 30% |
| Paper 3 | 1 hour 15 minutes | Calculator (GDC) | 20% |
| Internal assessment | Coursework | – | 20% |
The formula booklet is given in every paper. The internal assessment (your exploration) is coursework, so it is not part of a mock. Paper 3 is two long problem-solving questions. More on each paper: AI HL past papers · AI HL formula booklet guide.
Sit a free AI HL mock paper
Sit one paper under timed conditions before you revise: the marks you lose tell you which topics to fix first.
Start here
A full Paper 1 mock, free
Our own Paper 1 for AI HL, written in the IB format: 2 hours, calculator allowed, with a full markscheme. The first section is open to everyone; a free account (no card) opens the whole paper.
These are our Prediction Papers, not IB papers. The other papers come with an IB plan or the free 7-day trial.
Marked as you go
Interactive practice papers
Short papers you answer on screen, with instant feedback and worked solutions. No sign-up.
Print it
Unit practice exams (PDF)
One printable exam per unit, each with its own mark scheme. Good for a mock on just the units you have covered.
2-week AI HL mock revision plan
Ten days on topics, in the order students lose the most marks, then four days on papers. HL papers can test the SL core as well as the HL topics, so each step below mixes the two. Each topic links to free exam-style questions and a Skill Builder.
- Days 1 and 2
Statistics and probability
- Days 3 and 4
Calculus
- Days 5 and 6
Geometry and trigonometry
- Days 7 and 8
Number and algebra
- Days 9 and 10
Functions
- Day 11
Paper 1, timed
Sit the free Prediction Paper 1 in one go, timed, with the formula booklet.
- Day 12
Mark it and fix the gaps
Mark it with the markscheme, put every lost mark in My mistakes, then do the Skill Builder for your two weakest topics.
- Day 13
Paper 2 and Paper 3 practice
Do Practice Paper 2, then one question from Practice Paper 3.
- Day 14
Formulas and calculator
Learn the formulas that are not in the booklet, then run the calculator exam-day checklist. Rest the evening before.
4-week AI HL mock revision plan
Four weeks lets you cover every unit and sit two full papers. Topics with the most exam-style questions come first in each unit.
Show the 4 weeks, topic by topic
- Week 1
Statistics and probability · Calculus
Start with a diagnostic: the free first section of Prediction Paper 1, timed. Then:
Statistics and probability
- Confidence Intervals and Hypothesis Testing for Means
- Data Collection and Non-Linear Regression
- Linear Combinations of Random Variables & The Central Limit Theorem
- Probability SL core
- Bivariate Data SL core
Calculus
- Week 2
Geometry and trigonometry · Number and algebra
Geometry and trigonometry
- Graph Theory
- Vectors and Kinematics
- Scalar Products and Voronoi
- Coordinate Geometry SL core
- Voronoi Diagrams SL core
Number and algebra
- Logs and Infinite Geometric Series
- Complex Numbers and Argand Diagrams
- Eigenvalues, Eigenvectors and Markov Chains
- Financial Mathematics SL core
- Sequences and Series SL core
End the week by redoing everything in My mistakes.
- Week 3
Functions, then a full paper
Functions
- Composite, Inverse and Transformations
- Advanced Modelling
- Scaling and Linearising Data
- Applications of Functions SL core
- Functions: Domain, Range & Inverses SL core
At the weekend, sit the whole Prediction Paper 1 timed and mark it.
- Week 4
Papers and the last gaps
Sit Practice Paper 1, Practice Paper 2 and Practice Paper 3, each timed. Spend the days between on the Skill Builders for your weakest topics, the formulas to memorise and the calculator checklist.
Want the four weeks ticked off and a reminder each Monday? Mock Season Plan counts back from your mock date. Only 12 days? Use the 12-day AI HL mock plan.
The AI HL mistakes that cost the most marks
From our summary of the IB’s published subject reports for AI HL. Check your mock against each one.
Accuracy: premature rounding, 2 s.f. answers and ignored instructions
Fix: Use the full GDC value in every later step, round once at the end to 3 s.f. (or as instructed), and write the unrounded value first. Round, don't truncate. Give a sensible level of accuracy for the context.
Hypothesis tests: hypotheses in words, the wrong test, and conclusions that don't follow
Fix: Write H₀ and H₁ with symbols for population parameters (μ, ρ, p). Choose the test from the design (paired data → paired t; σ unknown → t). State the p-value, compare it with the stated significance level, then conclude in context. For goodness of fit: df = cells − 1 − parameters estimated.
HL algebra: product rule, brackets, logs and exact solutions
Fix: Practise the core manipulations without the GDC: product and chain rules, brackets, log laws, exponentiating both sides, exact quadratic solutions. Then use the GDC to check.
IB notation: AB as a length, vectors in columns, f⁻¹ vs f′, the variables asked for
Fix: AB (no arrow) is a length; AB with an arrow is a vector, written as a column. Displacement AB = b − a. f⁻¹ is the inverse, f′ the derivative. Answer in the question's variables.
Finance on the GDC: signs, months vs years, P/Y and C/Y, and the rounding asked for
Fix: List every TVM entry (N, I%, PV, PMT, FV, P/Y, C/Y). Money out and money in have opposite signs. N = years × payments per year. Round the final answer as the question says.
Worked examples of each, and the rest of the list: where AI HL students lose marks.
Make your mock revision count: free account
- The whole Prediction Paper 1Sit the full paper with its markscheme, not just the first section.
- Build your own mockPick your weak topics and take a test made from the free questions, then mark it.
- My mistakesEvery question you get wrong goes into one list, ready to retry before the mock.
Make a free account: no card needed5 more practice questions on every topic with instant feedback, full worked answers on free questions, and your streak and progress on any device.
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Common questions
What is on the IB Maths AI HL mock exam?
Your school sets it, so check with your teacher. Most mocks follow the real AI HL exam: Paper 1 (2 hours, calculator), Paper 2 (2 hours, calculator), Paper 3 (1 hour 15 minutes, calculator). The formula booklet is given in every paper.
Is there a free AI HL mock paper?
Yes. Paper 1 of our AI HL Prediction Papers is free: the first section is open to everyone and a free account opens the whole paper with its markscheme. Our interactive practice papers are free with no sign-up.
Can I use a calculator on AI HL Paper 1?
Yes. Every AI HL paper allows a graphic display calculator (GDC), including Paper 1.
How long should I revise for my AI HL mock?
Two weeks is enough for a focused plan: two days per unit, then papers. Four weeks lets you cover every unit in more depth and sit two full papers. Both plans are on this page.
Are these real IB papers?
No. Our Prediction Papers and practice papers are written by us in the IB format. For the IB's own past papers, see our past papers page, which links to the official store.
Other courses
IB Maths AA SL mock exam · IB Maths AA HL mock exam · IB Maths AI SL mock exam · all IB Maths mock exams
Also for AI HL: course page · revision notes · questions by topic · Skill Builders · exam season plans
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