IB Maths AA Tuition Online (Analysis and Approaches, SL and HL)
IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches at SL and HL: five topics, one paper without a calculator, one with, Paper 3 at HL, and the exploration.
Founder & Head of School, Afterkelas
Afterkelas teaches IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches online at SL and HL. University tutors run live classes, 1-to-1 or in small groups, on the five topics, the papers with and without a calculator, and the mathematical exploration.
What IB Maths AA covers
The five topics of the guide, shared by SL and HL. HL goes further in each, adding complex numbers, vectors in three dimensions, proof by induction, Maclaurin series and differential equations.
Five topics, SL and HL
5 topics- Number and algebra
- Functions
- Geometry and trigonometry
- Statistics and probability
- Calculus
Algebra and calculus done by hand
Analysis and Approaches puts the weight on algebra, functions and calculus, and on reasoning and proof. Paper 1 allows no calculator, so methods have to hold up without one: logarithms, trigonometric identities, differentiation and integration by hand. At HL the course adds complex numbers, vectors in three dimensions, proof by induction, Maclaurin series and differential equations, then tests problem solving in Paper 3.
Tutors split practice the way the papers do: analytic methods without a calculator for Paper 1, efficient use of the graphic display calculator for Paper 2, and longer unfamiliar problems for HL Paper 3.
Where marks are lost
Many lost marks are method marks: an answer with no working, an exact value given as a decimal, a solution that ignores the domain of a logarithm, as in the worked question below. IB mark schemes give method and accuracy marks separately, so complete working protects most of the marks even when the final answer slips.
The exploration
The mathematical exploration is a piece of written work investigating an area of mathematics the student chooses, worth 20 percent at both levels. A tutor can help check that the mathematics is correct and at the right level, and explain the assessment criteria, but the topic, the investigation and the writing are the student's own.
A question, worked through
A Paper 1 question, so no calculator. The marks go to using the laws of logarithms and to rejecting the solution that breaks them.
Question
Solve log₂ x + log₂ (x − 2) = 3.
- Combine the logarithms: log₂ (x(x − 2)) = 3.
- Rewrite in exponential form: x(x − 2) = 2³ = 8, so x² − 2x − 8 = 0.
- Factorise: (x − 4)(x + 2) = 0, so x = 4 or x = −2.
- Check the domain: log₂ x needs x > 0 and log₂ (x − 2) needs x > 2, so x = −2 is rejected.
Answer x = 4.
Frequently asked questions
Is AA harder than AI?
They are different. AA asks for more algebra and calculus by hand and more proof; AI asks for more statistics, modelling and judgement in context. At HL both are demanding, and the better choice depends on the student and the degree they are aiming for.
What does HL add to AA?
More depth in every topic, plus complex numbers, vectors in three dimensions, proof by induction, Maclaurin series and differential equations, and a third paper of problem-solving questions.
When should IB Maths AA tuition start?
Early in the first year, while algebra and functions are taught, since calculus and the HL topics build on them.
How much does IB Maths AA tuition cost?
The fee depends on the format (1-to-1 or a small group), how many classes a week and the tutor, so there is no single figure. Send an academic advisor the level, the school and the latest predicted grade on WhatsApp, and you will get the current packages and a quote, usually within one working day.