Students have to conduct research on a mathematical topic and then submit their findings in the form of a written report. Based on this, it is evident that the learner must know the necessary mathematical language as well as relevant key phrases to participate in the subject matter. Let’s take a look at the criteria for your Math IA. Knowing how you’re being graded will make it much easier to make sure you’re ticking all the boxes.
Presentation (4 marks)
The first criterion is about the presentation, with the aim of assessing the general organization and coherence of your IA.
Although students tend to focus on the complexity of math that their exploration demonstrates, a full 4 points are rewarded for the clarity of your explanations and structure.
In order to score in the top range here, make sure your IA is clearly structured. We’ve shared the optimal format in the next section.
Mathematical Communication (4 marks)
The second criterion looks largely at the mathematical language you have used, such as:
• Notation
• Symbols
• Terminology
Ensure that these three components are accurate and consistent throughout your IA.
Terms like “plug in” or “put in” should be replaced with mathematically sophisticated words like “substitute.”
Personal Engagement (3 marks)
To achieve the top marks for personal engagement, your engagement must be truly authentic and drive the exploration forward.
It needs to be independent and unique. It should display a degree of creativity in that you present mathematical ideas in your own way and explore the topic from various different perspectives.
This involves making predictions about things you may be interested in, and then finding ways to manipulate the problem, formula, or question to encompass those areas.
Reflection (3 marks)
The IB needs us to do more than just show what we’ve done.
During the reflective stage, connect the results with the initial aims. By doing this, you can determine findings throughout the process.
It is about evaluating the research to pick up on all evidence that goes beyond what a typical mathematical test would.
The IB is all about learning, so be sure to show the marker your growth throughout the IA.
Use of mathematics (6 marks)
This section looks at the quality of the maths and how relevant it is to the exploration.
The IB is measuring relevancy by checking that you only included maths that is directly intended to answer the research question.
It is also worth noting that the maths produced should be at a similar level to the math you cover in your syllabus. This doesn’t mean that you’re confined to only looking into topics that are covered on your syllabus, but it should be of the same rigour!