IB Maths SL Tutoring (AA and AI)
One-to-one online preparation for the Mathematics Standard Level syllabus
The first conversation in IB Maths SL tutoring is about where you want to apply: the answer to AA or AI is usually written into the entry requirements of the degree, and the subject choice should follow it. Once the strand is settled, 90-minute one-to-one lessons close the foundation gaps and we put an early calendar on the Maths Exploration.
Quick Answer
Because the strand decision can take a while, our packages are not tied to one: ten or twenty lessons can be split between AA and AI, and they never expire. Since Exploration topics need school approval, which takes time, we start the IA plan during IB 1.
SL
Level
Fully Online
Format
90 min
Lesson length
€85 per 90 min one-to-one lesson
Not happy after your first lesson? Full refund.
See packages and lower per-lesson rates
SLIB Specialists
Experienced Team
Choose your syllabus
IB Maths SL has two separate syllabuses
Pick the page tailored to your syllabus below to see the detailed syllabus, exam structure, IA support and pricing.
IB Maths AA SL
Analysis and Approaches – functions, calculus fundamentals and statistics
- For SL students aiming for engineering, the sciences or theoretical fields
- Functions, trigonometry, basic calculus and statistics
- Paper 1 (no calculator) + Paper 2 (GDC) + IA
IB Maths AI SL
Applications and Interpretation – statistics, modelling and technology
- For SL students aiming for business, social sciences, the arts or humanities
- Statistics, probability, modelling and GDC use
- Paper 1 + Paper 2 (both with GDC) + IA
About IB Maths SL Tutoring (AA and AI)
IB Maths SL is the compulsory mathematics course of the IB Diploma Programme and, since 2019, has been split into two distinct syllabuses: Analysis and Approaches (AA) and Applications and Interpretation (AI). At SL, both syllabuses have a manageable content scope; however, their topic focus, exam structure and IA type differ. For this reason we maintain two separate tutoring pages for AA SL and AI SL.
Analysis and Approaches SL covers functions, trigonometry, basic calculus (introductory differentiation and integration), algebra and statistics. This syllabus is generally suitable for SL students aiming for engineering, the sciences or theoretical fields involving mathematics. Exam: Paper 1 (no calculator) and Paper 2 (with GDC), each 1 hour 30 minutes. The Internal Assessment is in the form of a mathematical exploration (Maths Exploration).
Applications and Interpretation SL focuses on statistics, probability, mathematical modelling and the use of technology. It suits students aiming for business, social sciences, the arts or humanities at university. In AI SL, both Paper 1 and Paper 2 are sat with a GDC; modelling and real data analysis are central.
When deciding which syllabus to choose, consider both your university goal and your current mathematical skill level. On a free intro call, our team helps you work out which syllabus best suits your goals.
All of our IB Maths SL tutoring programmes are delivered fully one-to-one through our own online teaching platform. We have experienced teachers who know the IB assessment criteria for both syllabuses.
IB assessment experience
Lessons are planned with teachers who have relevant subject experience and a strong command of the IB assessment criteria. Matching is done by subject, level, the student's current standing and teacher availability.
Syllabus Topics
And what does the board look like at HL?
The same topics, taught at HL
HLExam Papers
IB Maths SL exam structure and focus areas
| Paper | Duration | Weighting | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 1 hour 30 minutes | 40% | Short and long-response questions (AA: no calculator, AI: with GDC), 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Paper 2 | 1 hour 30 minutes | 40% | Short and long-response questions (GDC in both syllabuses), 1 hour 30 minutes |
| IA | — | 20% | Internal Assessment – mathematical exploration |
Source: the assessment components and weightings on this page follow the IB Maths SL (AA and AI) subject guide published by the International Baccalaureate Organization. Your school's IB coordinator can access the current session documents. ibo.org
About grade boundaries: According to the grade boundary documents the International Baccalaureate Organization publishes for each exam session, the total percentage needed for a 7 varies by subject, level and session in a band of roughly 55–85%. Your school's IB coordinator can access the relevant May/November Grade descriptors and boundaries document. In our one-to-one lessons we review the student's realistic grade range together using past-session boundaries and mock results.
IA / Written-Task Support
Where do one-to-one lessons help with the Internal Assessment and written tasks?
The strand decides the Exploration too
An AA exploration is usually built on a mathematical structure, while AI expects you to have a real dataset in hand. Looking for a topic before the strand is settled wastes time, so we open the Exploration conversation only after the AA or AI decision is made.
Pitching the topic at SL level
The two accidents we see most often at SL are a topic whose mathematics sits below the syllabus, or one so far above it that the student cannot defend the work. We test a candidate topic by having you list, one by one, the mathematics you would actually use.
Making your interest visible in the writing
One criterion asks for this directly, and the sentence 'this topic interests me' earns nothing. The interest has to show in how you chose the data or built the example; we look for that while narrowing the topic.
Getting calculator and software output into the report
Pasting a screenshot from your GDC or spreadsheet is not enough on its own. You need to write what that output computed and why you treat the result as reliable.
School approval and draft rounds
Starting to write before your school approves the topic is risky, and that approval calendar is not ours to set. So we begin the Exploration plan during IB 1 and give feedback separately at the topic stage and on the full text.
Comparing Preparation Paths
How self-study, group classes and one-to-one support compare for IB Maths SL
| Preparation path | Pros | Limitations | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working on your own |
|
| Students with solid foundations who only want exam practice. |
| School lessons and group courses |
|
| Students whose foundations are sound. |
| One-to-one online lessons with us |
|
| Students who have drifted away from maths and feel they cannot follow the class. |
Lesson packages
Not happy after your first lesson? Full refund. Split 10- and 20-lesson packages across any subjects you like, with no expiry date.
Study Plan Framework
A typical five-phase plan for IB Maths SL in one-to-one lessons, adapted to the student's exam date.
The strand decision
first session
- We read the entry requirements of your target courses together
- We measure your algebra and trigonometry with a short diagnostic
- The AA or AI decision comes out in writing, with its reasoning
Repairing the foundations
usually 6-8 sessions
- Gaps in algebra, indices and trigonometry – material that precedes the syllabus
- Finding the step that actually caused the wrong answer
- We do not move to exam practice until this stage is finished
Syllabus content
8-12 weeks, depending on the strand
- Functions and introductory calculus in AA; statistics and modelling in AI
- The typical exam question at the end of each topic
- Keeping in step with the order your school teaches
The Maths Exploration
5-6 weeks, set by your school's approval calendar
- Reducing the topic to a question that will be approved
- Settling the mathematics to be used and the source of the data
- Reading the topic proposal and the full draft
Exam practice
the 6-8 weeks before the exam
- Practising AA Paper 1 separately under no-calculator conditions
- Writing out the steps behind answers reached on the GDC
- Full-length past papers under timed conditions
This framework is a sample plan; it is customised for each student based on exam date, target grade and current level.
How One-to-One Lessons Work
How IB Maths SL sessions are structured
The first session is a decision, not a lesson
Its job is not to teach content but to settle which strand you take. Most of that first 90 minutes goes on reading the entry requirements of your target courses and measuring where you currently stand; the teaching plan follows from that decision.
We tell you upfront what a late switch costs
Moving from AA to AI, or the other way, part-way through IB 2 costs real time: everything the two syllabuses do not share has to be studied again. That is why we push for the decision inside IB 1. Your lessons are not tied to a strand, so the package itself survives the switch.
Foundations before exam practice
For most students arriving at SL the real gap is not in the syllabus but in the algebra and trigonometry that come before it. Working through questions before that gap closes only rehearses the same mistake, so we keep the order.
A written progress report every two weeks
We share which topics were covered, what stage the Exploration is at and what comes next, in writing.
IA Grader
Evaluate your Internal Assessment report yourself. IA Grader for all subjects →
Upload Your IA Report
Upload your IA report in PDF or DOCX format and let our AI assess it automatically.
Drag your file here
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IA Preparation Checklist
Check the key elements of your IA report before moving on to scoring.
0/12 completed
0%Presentation
Communication
Personal Engagement
Mathematics
Reflection
Criterion-Based Scoring
Assess yourself on each criterion. Use the slider to set your score.
Presentation
0/4The structure, organisation and clarity of the mathematical exploration.
No structure or presentation.
Mathematical Communication
0/4Mathematical language, notation and terminology.
No mathematical communication.
Personal Engagement
0/3Personal interest, creativity and independent thinking.
No evidence of personal engagement.
Reflection
0/3Interpreting the results and evaluating the process.
No reflection.
Use of Mathematics
0/6The accuracy, breadth and depth of the mathematics used.
Very limited use of mathematics.
Total IA Score
Areas for Improvement
Want feedback on your IA from a teacher?
Work one-to-one with teachers who know the IB assessment criteria and IA rubrics inside out, and strengthen your report with feedback on each criterion.
If you'd like personalised feedback on your IA from a teacher, you can work with one of our tutors. This tool produces an estimated score; it does not replace official IB assessment.
Where Students Struggle
Our experienced IB teachers help you get past each of them.
Our Teaching Approach
IB-Focused Methodology
Work with teachers who know the IB assessment criteria inside out.
Where We Start
The first lesson sets the level, and the topic order follows from it.
The IA and the Exam
From the research question to the report, from past papers to mark schemes.
Past-Paper Focused
Real exam questions and mark scheme analysis.
Share before your first lesson
The information below helps the lesson plan focus on the student's real needs from the very first minutes.
- Target IB grade (e.g. 6 or 7) and exam date
- Current level: latest mock grade, predicted grade or weak topics
- School curriculum: the textbook used, IA / EE topic, deadlines
- Study schedule: lessons per week, available days and time slots
Who Is This Programme For?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between AA and AI in IB Maths SL?
Is there a Paper 3 at SL?
How do I decide which syllabus to choose?
Is IB Maths SL tutoring online?
Programme Features
- Choosing AA or AI against your university target
- Reading the course entry requirements together
- The package waits while you decide between AA and AI
- Closing basic algebra gaps early
- Starting the Maths Exploration plan during IB 1
- A solid SL foundation in differentiation and integration
- Fully online lessons (through our own teaching platform)
Contact us for a lesson plan
Tell us your target grade, where you are now and when you sit the exam, and we will work out the weekly schedule with you.
Quick Info
Tutors who teach this course
- Burak K.
IB Mathematics Teacher
- Mert Y.
IB Mathematics Teacher
- Selin A.
IB Mathematics Teacher
- Kerem A.
IB Mathematics Teacher
- Ayşe K.
IB Mathematics Teacher
- Onur D.
IB Mathematics Teacher
- Ece Y.
IB Mathematics Teacher
- Berk Ş.
IB Mathematics Teacher
Our teachers are currently working in IB schools, so we cannot share their full surnames.
Our tutors provide mentoring, structure suggestions and feedback during the IA / EE process. IB Courses does not write a student's IA or assignment for them.
Related IB Courses & Support
Other IB support often chosen alongside IB Maths SL
IB Maths AA SL Tutoring
IB Maths AA SL tutoring covers functions, calculus fundamentals, statistics, the IA and Paper 1/2 preparation in line with the IB assessment criteria.
Go to the IB Maths AA SL Tutoring pageIB SLMathematicsIB Maths AI SL Tutoring
IB Maths AI SL tutoring covers modelling, statistics, GDC use, the IA and Paper 1/2 preparation in line with the IB assessment criteria.
Go to the IB Maths AI SL Tutoring pageIB HLMathematicsIB Maths HL Tutoring (AA and AI)
Compare IB Maths HL Analysis and Approaches (AA) and Applications and Interpretation (AI), then plan tutoring, IA and exam preparation.
Go to the IB Maths HL Tutoring (AA and AI) pageIB ProgrammeInternal AssessmentIB Internal Assessment Tutoring
IB IA support covers topic choice, research structure, data analysis and interpretation, with improvement suggestions aligned to the rubrics.
Go to the IB Internal Assessment Tutoring pageLet's work out where to start with IB Maths SL
On a free intro call with our experienced IB teachers, we'll decide together how many lessons you need and what to focus on.
The intro call is free and non-binding. We do not guarantee a specific IB grade.