Statistically speaking, the lowest mean mark in IB exams belongs to IB Mathematics. Studying for your IB DP Maths exam can be stressful and frustrating, and you might be wondering how to make the best out of it. Here are some tips on how to boost your performance and succeed on your IB Maths exam.
Before the IB Maths exam
Get a head start
The IB Maths exam is usually one of the last in the IB DP examination schedule. Very frequently, students don’t begin studying until after they’re done with their previous exams.
This is an exam that requires a large amount of practice and training and it’s important to be aware of this and start preparing ahead of time.
Write your own summaries and memorize your booklet
Writing your own IB summaries ensures the information you are writing down is the one that you (and you specifically) need.
Studying from somebody else’s summary might be faster, but not as effective as writing your own.
Summarizing is also useful in making sure you’ve understood and processed the information.
Memorizing your IB booklet is also a key factor in achieving good results. If you know it by heart, from a to z, you’ll be able to spot the formula you need in a matter of seconds.
Past IB papers
Practise, practise and practise yet more. Success is closely related to how many past IB Maths papers you’ve used and gone through during your preparation.
The questions you might find in your IB coursework book are easier and focused on a particular topic, while the questions you’ll find in past IB papers encompass several topics in the same question.
Start by having your summaries at hand and start eliminating them gradually until you don’t need them any longer.
An extra tip: since the actual exams have a time limit, it’s a good idea to use a timer and try to finish within 90 minutes.
Get an IB DP Maths Tutor
A tutor will help you and guide you towards your goal. They can help you with tips and recommendations that you won’t find in a classroom, as well as overcoming your obstacles and clearing your doubts. Many times, a different approach or an explanation can ‘click’ and provide the confidence that comes with finally understanding that concept that just wasn’t clear before.
During the IB Maths exam
Read all the questions carefully.
Start by skimming the whole exam and identifying the topics you know the best. Begin by answering the questions that are the easiest for you: this will boost your confidence and help you handle better the stress.
Always make sure you read each question thoroughly and carefully. Try to answer exactly what is asked.
If you’re stuck in a question, move on to the next. Try not to spend too much time on it — you can go back and solve it later.
Make good use of your calculator and the formula booklet
First and foremost, you should make sure your calculator works properly: verify that you have an extra set of batteries just in case and that there’s nothing written on it. Otherwise, you might not be allowed to use it!
Remember to use your booklet: many of the questions may be entirely based on formulas.
Answering the IB DP Maths questions
When answering trigonometry questions, corroborate that the calculator is set in the right angle mode, either radians or degrees. Be careful with the diagrams! Just because an angle appears to be a right angle, it doesn’t mean it is. Always refer to the information given in the question.
If the question doesn’t specify it, always round to three significant figures or give the exact value.
Use the keywords wisely: if a question uses words such as “find” or “calculate”, the whole algebraic process should be demonstrated. If it says “write down”, it’s because the answer can be found readily in the question.
Occasionally, you will find questions that appear to be extremely difficult but are easily solved with the use of your calculator by plotting a graph or by using the equation solver.