IB Maths Tutoring: AA, AI, HL and SL
Short answer
IB Mathematics splits into two syllabuses: Analysis and Approaches (AA) and Applications and Interpretation (AI). Each is offered at HL and SL, giving four combinations. HL is assessed by Papers 1, 2 and 3 plus a 20% Exploration; SL by Papers 1 and 2 plus the Exploration. IB Courses tutors all four combinations one-to-one.
IB Maths Tutoring is taught entirely online, one to one; every lesson runs 90 minutes.
Lessons are sold as a single lesson or as packages of 1, 10 and 20 lessons.
The starting price is €85 per lesson.
Lesson packages
Not happy after your first lesson? Full refund. Split 10- and 20-lesson packages across any subjects you like – no limit, no expiry date. We do not offer free trial lessons. Payment is required before your first lesson.
The first decision in IB Maths is not which topic to revise but which syllabus you are on. AA weights pure mathematics and theoretical analysis; AI weights modelling and statistics. Choosing the wrong one creates a disadvantage that is hard to undo across two years.
Pick your combination below for the syllabus topics, paper weightings and study plan.
Choose your syllabus and level
IB Maths HL (AA & AI)
Papers 1-3 · Exploration 20%
AA and AI compared at Higher Level, with a route through to your own syllabus page.
Go to subject pageIB Maths SL (AA & AI)
Papers 1-2 · Exploration 20%
AA and AI compared at Standard Level, with a route through to your own syllabus page.
Go to subject pageWhat is the difference between AA and AI?
The two syllabuses share a subject name but measure different skills. The choice should follow the degree you are aiming at.
| Analysis and Approaches (AA) | Applications and Interpretation (AI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Emphasis | Pure mathematics, algebraic method, proof | Modelling, statistics, use of technology |
| Calculus | Deeper and more theoretical | Application-led |
| Calculator | Paper 1 is non-calculator | GDC in every paper |
| Typical destination | Engineering, physics, maths, econometrics | Business, economics, social sciences, design |
Plan Maths lessons for your examination session
Your examination session matters as well as the route. The IB has announced new mathematics courses for first teaching in August 2027 and first assessment in May 2029. Those changes should not automatically be applied to students taking the earlier examination syllabus. Before planning lessons, confirm your AA or AI route, level and exam session with your school.
How your IB Maths tutor makes AA reasoning visible
A useful AA lesson can begin with a solution you have attempted. Explain why you chose the method before repeating the algebra. Check the domain, any restrictions introduced during the working and whether the final result answers the original question. This helps distinguish an algebraic error from a gap in your understanding of the function or relationship involved.
Once a method is secure, change one feature of the problem. Explain which steps still apply and which need to change. A solution learned by pattern recognition can fail when a question uses a different representation. Moving between an expression, a graph and a verbal explanation tests whether the underlying idea is secure.
AI: interpret the model and the calculator output
Technology can produce a value quickly, but it cannot decide what that value means in the situation. State the variables, units and assumptions before selecting a model. After using a calculator, interpret the result and consider whether the model is reasonable over the range studied.
For example, a model with an initial value of 120 and a multiplier of 0.85 per time step represents a 15% decrease at each step. Identify what one step means before using it to predict a later value. A sensible lesson then asks where the model might stop being appropriate. That is different from simply entering numbers and copying the displayed answer.
How your IB Maths tutor supports your exploration
Begin with a question whose mathematical steps you can explain. A topic that interests you becomes an exploration only when you identify a workable investigation and develop the mathematics relevant to it. Collecting pages of formulae or calculator screenshots does not establish a coherent argument.
We can discuss the scope of your question, the organisation of your working and how you interpret the outcome. Your reasoning and writing must remain yours. Bring the draft and any data you actually used so that the discussion stays connected to evidence. Check the assessment criteria for your examination session; an updated guide for a future session is not a reason to replace the criteria your school is using now.
Source: the subject weightings and exam durations on this page follow the subject guides published by the International Baccalaureate Organization. ibo.org
IB Maths tutoring: frequently asked questions
Should I take AA or AI?
Look at the degree you are targeting. Most engineering, physics, mathematics and econometrics courses require AA, usually at HL. Business, economics, social science and design courses accept AI. The decision follows university entry requirements, not personal preference for the subject.
Can I move from Maths HL to SL?
Yes, where your IB coordinator and timetable allow; the change is registered with the IB up to a published deadline. Academically the move is straightforward because the SL syllabus is a subset of HL.
Is Paper 3 only at HL?
Yes. Paper 3 exists only at Higher Level and carries 20%. It is long, multi-step and contextual, so it needs preparation of its own.
Let's settle the right syllabus and level together
On a free intro call we look at your target degree and current level and resolve the AA/AI and HL/SL question. We do not guarantee any specific IB grade.