IB Maths AA or AI: which course should your child take?
Every IB Diploma student takes one maths course, and the choice between Analysis and Approaches and Applications and Interpretation, at Standard or Higher Level, can affect university options. Here is how to decide.
Tutelage team · · 3 min read
Two courses, two levels
IB Diploma maths comes as Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (AA) and Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (AI). Each is offered at Standard Level (SL), with about 150 teaching hours, and Higher Level (HL), with about 240. The two courses share some common content at SL, which is why some schools let students switch early in the course.
The IB is revising its maths courses, with a new syllabus first examined in 2029, so check which version your child's year group will follow.
Analysis and Approaches
AA leans on algebra, functions, calculus and proof. It suits students who enjoy working by hand, following an argument and seeing why a method works. Paper 1 is taken without a calculator, so algebraic fluency matters.
Applications and Interpretation
AI focuses on modelling real situations, statistics and using technology. It suits students who like applying maths to data and to questions from the sciences, social sciences and business. A graphing calculator is used throughout the course and the exams.
How each is assessed
Both courses have written papers at the end of the Diploma, with an extra paper at HL, and an internal assessment called the mathematical exploration, a written piece on a topic your child chooses, worth 20% of the final grade. The exploration must be your child's own work.
Start from university plans
The choice matters most for students aiming at maths-heavy degrees. Many university courses in mathematics, engineering, physics and some economics programmes ask for AA at Higher Level, while others accept AI HL. Requirements vary by university and change from year to year, so look up the published entry requirements for the courses your child is considering before deciding.
For students heading towards medicine, biology, psychology, business or the humanities, AI at SL or HL is often a good fit, but again, check the courses on your child's list.
SL or HL?
Higher Level adds a substantial amount of content and an extra exam paper, and it takes a much bigger share of study time than SL. Choose HL when a university course your child is considering asks for it, or when your child enjoys maths and is doing well in it.
Otherwise, SL leaves more time for the subjects your child will go on to study. A student who takes HL only for the challenge and then struggles can pull down their overall Diploma score, which matters more to most universities than the level of one subject.
Questions to settle the choice
- Which degree subjects and countries is your child considering, and what do those courses ask for?
- Does your child prefer proof and algebra, or data and modelling?
- How did your child find maths in MYP or IGCSE, and how much time can they give maths alongside five other subjects?
- Does the school allow a switch between courses or levels, and until when?
Support for either course
Our IB maths tutoring covers AA and AI at SL and HL, including guidance on the exploration within IB rules. Students coming from IGCSE can also look at IGCSE maths to close gaps before the Diploma starts.