IB exam tips
This includes what to expect for your IB exams, and how to write solutions that gain the most marks.
Contents
Structure of final exams
The final IB Analysis and Approaches exams are worth 80% of your IB grade. IB grades are calculated from a weighted average of your component percentage marks. This “scaled mark” is what determines your grade out of 7. The specifics are listed in the following tables.
| Paper | Weight | Marks | Time | Marks per 1% of final grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SL Paper 1 | 40% | 80 | 90 min | 2 |
| SL Paper 2 | 40% | 80 | 90 min | 2 |
| HL Paper 1 | 30% | 110 | 120 min | 3.67 |
| HL Paper 2 | 30% | 110 | 120 min | 3.67 |
| HL Paper 3 | 20% | 55 | 60 min | 2.75 |
Note each HL Paper 3 mark is worth roughly of each HL Papers 1 and 2 mark.
Each mark should take roughly 1 minute on average. It may mean some marks take less than 30 seconds, and some may take more than 90 seconds.
Paper 1 does not allow a calculator of any kind.
Paper 2 and HL Paper 3 require all students to have access to a permitted graphing calculator. Neither scientific calculators nor more advanced graphing calculators are permitted.
Paper 1 and 2 are both split into two parts: part A short questions and part B extended questions. Both parts require full solutions. In Papers 1 and 2, five of first six questions are common across SL and HL aside from some possible minor differences, and the first HL part B question will be near-identical to an SL question from the same session. Both part A and part B progress in increasing difficulty; first question of part B is longer but easier than last question in part A.
Exam day
November 2024 IB Analysis and Approaches exam schedule
| Paper | Nov 2024 exam date |
|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Oct 24, afternoon |
| Paper 2 | Oct 25, morning |
| HL Paper 3 | Oct 29, afternoon |
You can bring
- blue and/or black ballpoint pens
- soft pencils, for graphing
- stationary, such as ruler, eraser, protractor
- graphing calculator (excluding Paper 1) and extra batteries
- a bilingual dictionary, subject to proctor inspection
- water, subject to proctor approval
- a small and non-distracting lucky charm, subject to proctor approval
You can bring gel pens and highlighters, but they must not be used in your answer boxes or answer booklets.
You may request school to provide you a personal clock, subject to prior notice and school approval.
You cannot bring
- scientific calculator
- correction fluids or whiteners
- rough paper (but you may use extra booklets)
- notes, textbooks, guides, calculator manual
- wristwatches
- electronics
- colored pencils
Before each (math) exam, you will be given time to check all pages are present, and an additional 5 minutes to read through the exam. It helps to read through the more difficult questions to help you prioritize questions and plan the order of answering questions. It helps to solve all Paper 2 trig questions in degrees before changing to radians for the rest of the exam.
Writing solutions
For each part A question, only the box on the question booklet is scanned.
Conduct of examinations booklet 2024:
[For part A questions,] if a candidate is unable to complete their answer in the box provided, they must continue their answer in an answer booklet. The candidate must indicate they have done this by writing a note in the answer box. The number of the question that is being answered must be shown in the answer booklet.
Write clearly; ideally write each step in a separate line, align your equal (and inequality) signs, and separate the working area into 2 columns when answer has to be in the box. But different columns should all be on the same part of a question. If necessary, use arrows to indicate the order of columns or steps. Cross out sections you do not want examiners to read.
Conduct of examinations booklet 2024:
Poor handwriting will not be penalized, but if an examiner cannot read a script, then they cannot mark it.
Graphing questions are the only questions that permit use of pencils. When graphing functions, be sure to use a single stroke for each continuous part of the graph. Ensure that functions pass the vertical line test. Use a eraser when needed.
Color-code with blue and black pens strategically to help you perform algebra more accurately and efficiently.
It is important to note that there is no “follow through” marks within a single part. So check your algebra fairly frequently in each question.
Mark allocation
Consider the number of marks allocated for the question or the part. More marks mean you need to provide more steps or justifications.
For numerical answers, each value is worth one mark.
For “show that” questions, the final answer is worth zero marks. Be sure to add sufficient details to earn all the marks.
Algebraic mistakes allow for “follow through” between part a) and part b), but not within part a). Check for errors every few lines of algebra, so you catch errors as soon as they occur.
When question breaks into subparts i) and ii), write a little bit more than what you think may be enough for each part, unless each is worth only a single mark.