The courses are arranged into five broad topics - Number & Algebra; Functions; Geometry & Trigonometry; Statistics & Probability and Calculus. Higher Level Mathematics students learn all of the content and skills expected at Standard Level, but in greater depth, as well as additional HL-only subtopics. For example, both AA HL and AI HL students will study complex numbers and vectors whereas SL students will not. However, these HL-only topics will be approached quite differently depending on whether they are part of the AA Higher Level or AI Higher Level course.
At the end of the program, all SL and HL Mathematics students sit the IB Mathematics examinations. Analysis and Approaches Standard Level students will sit paper 1 (non-calculator) and paper 2 (calculator). Higher level students will sit both these examinations and also paper 3, an extended response problem solving paper. Applications and Interpretation Standard Level students will sit paper 1 (short-response) and paper 2 (extended-response), both of which require a graphical display calculator. Higher level students will sit both these examinations and also paper 3, an extended response problem solving paper.
Finally, both Standard Level and Higher Level students in AA and AI are required to submit an internal assessment - a written piece of work known as the exploration. This is an opportunity for students to apply mathematics learned in the course to a topic of interest to them.