Click here to explore thousands of examiner marked IA, EE and TOK exemplars!
The IB Math AI Internal Assessment is a significant component of the course, worth 20% of the final grade. From mathematical communication to personal engagement and reflection, each criterion targets specific skills the IB expects you to demonstrate. In this post, we break down exactly what examiners look for and provide a clear checklist to help you stay focused and maximize your marks.
Math AI IA Criteria and Checklist
The Math AI IA is graded on a scale of 20 points, as outlined in the following criteria.
Criterion A: Presentation - 4 points
Your investigation should be coherent, well-organized, and concise. A coherent IA has a logical structure that is easy to follow - the introduction, body and conclusion link to each other. Each part fulfils its aim, for instance, the introduction describes the aim and topic of the exploration, whereas the conclusion states the answer to the research question and evaluates the IA. Relevant elements such as calculations, graphs, etc are correctly labelled and included in the investigation (not the appendices), while irrelevant elements are excluded from the work. An effective presentation helps the reader easily follow your process and understand how each step contributes to answering the investigation question.
For a maximum of 4 points:
Introduce the topic, provide a brief context, and clearly state a focused research question that guides all mathematical exploration and conclusions.
Organise the IA into clear sections that follow a logical progression from method selection to calculations, analysis, and finally interpretation and conclusion. Include a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
Make the investigation easy to follow so readers do not need to reread sections.
Include all relevant data in the investigation and avoid unnecessary calculations.
Place graphs, tables, and diagrams in appropriate locations. Attach only large tables (raw data) or additional diagrams and graphs as appendices.
Use consistent fonts, spacing, headings, and equation formatting so the work looks professional and is easy for examiners to follow.
Clearly indicate and explain the use of technology.
See here for a well-presented investigation.
Criterion B: Mathematical communication - 4 points
This criterion focuses on how well you use mathematical language, symbols, notation, and representations. Calculator or computer notation is only acceptable if they are software generated. You should use different forms of representation such as formulae, diagrams, tables, charts, graphs and models. Remember to label them correctly and indicate precision values for all calculations. Strong communication demonstrates that you can clearly explain mathematical ideas and interpret results.
For a maximum of 4 points:
Use accurate and consistent mathematical notation, symbols, and terminology throughout the report.
Define and clarify all key terms, variables, and concepts upon first use.
Include various forms of mathematical representation such as formulae, diagrams, tables, charts, graphs, and models, and label them appropriately.
Include titles, labelled axes, scales, and units where appropriate so readers can understand graphical representations without additional explanation.
Indicate the level of precision for all rounded values.
Accompany all mathematical calculations with explanations, and thoroughly describe any presentation of data. Include computer notation only when it is generated by software.
When using calculators or software, interpret results in words instead of simply pasting screenshots or tables without explanation.
Check out a good mathematical communication based on this exemplar.
Criterion C: Personal engagement - 3 points
Personal engagement includes thinking independently and presenting mathematical ideas in your own way. This criterion measures how personally meaningful and original your exploration is. You should show why you chose the topic, how you made decisions, and how you adapted your approach based on results. Personal engagement is demonstrated through thoughtful reflection, creative approaches, and independent thinking. Examiners look for evidence that you took ownership of the investigation rather than following a standard template or choosing a generic topic.
For a maximum of 3 points:
Explain why the topic interests you personally or academically, linking it to your experiences or future goals.
Show that you selected the models or methods yourself rather than following a template or a purely teacher-directed structure.
Describe how you adjusted your approach when you encountered errors, unexpected results, or better alternative mathematical strategies.
Use self-collected data to demonstrate the originality of your investigation.
Comment on the difficulties you faced and how you overcame them, showing growth and a deeper understanding of the topic.
Read this exemplar to get a glimpse of the matter.
Criterion D: Reflection - 3 points
Reflection assesses how well you interpret your results and evaluate the effectiveness of your approach. To show meaningful reflection, you should link to the aims of the exploration, comment on what you have learned, state the limitations of your data or models, and suggest realistic improvements or extensions. Strong reflection shows critical thinking and awareness that mathematical models are simplifications of reality, especially when using real-world data and technology.
For a maximum of 3 points:
Explain what your final values, graphs, or models mean in relation to the original research question.
Include a final evaluation that analyses both the strengths and weaknesses of the exploration and suggests improvements.
Assess whether your chosen techniques were appropriate and efficient, and explain whether other methods might have produced better results.
Discuss rounding, data uncertainty, or measurement errors and how these could influence final answers or trends.
Present potential extensions to the study, including collecting more data, using stronger models, or exploring related questions.
Tie the evaluation back to the initial objectives of the exploration.
You can refer to this IA.
Criterion E - Use of mathematics: SL - 6 points
The mathematics utilized should align to advance the exploration towards its completion. Avoid overly complex mathematics, as it may be deemed irrelevant. Ensure that the methods employed in the investigation adhere to the level of the syllabus. Upon deriving a solution, provide clear reasoning and evidence to support your findings. While leveraging technology to obtain answers is encouraged, it is essential to demonstrate comprehension of the underlying concepts. You can demonstrate your knowledge by reasoning or evidence and illustrating with examples or practical application.
For a maximum of 6 points:
Relevant mathematics commensurate with the level of the SL course is used. Any mathematics extending beyond the syllabus is clarified.
The mathematics explored is correct and error-free.
Thorough knowledge and understanding are demonstrated without any shortcuts. All calculations are provided with explanations.
Unnecessarily complex mathematics is avoided.
Criterion E - Use of mathematics: HL - 6 points
The mathematics examined should align with the Higher Level syllabus or be of an equivalent level. Precision in mathematics entails ensuring error-free calculations and maintaining an appropriate level of accuracy throughout. Sophistication involves grasping and applying complex mathematical concepts, exploring problems from various angles, and recognizing underlying structures to establish connections between different mathematical domains. To ensure rigour in your investigation, prioritize clarity in logical reasoning and language when presenting mathematical arguments and calculations. Ensure that any claims relevant to the development of the exploration are adequately justified or proven. Also, remember that if you are using technology, just substituting values into a formula does not necessarily demonstrate understanding of the results and is likely to result in a deduction of points.
For a maximum of 6 points:
The mathematics used is part of the HL syllabus or at a similar level. Any mathematics extending beyond the syllabus is clarified.
Mathematics is error-free and uses appropriate approximation at all times.
Sophistication is shown by using challenging mathematical concepts, looking at a problem from different perspectives, or linking different areas of mathematics together.
Unnecessarily complex mathematics is avoided.
Mathematical claims relevant to the investigation are justified or proven.
See here for a good SL example and HL example.
We hope this post has helped you learn more about the Math AI IA criteria and checklist. For more useful materials associated with the IB, check out the wide variety of IA, EE and TOK exemplars available at Clastify and other guides available on our blog.
The IB Math AI Internal Assessment is a significant component of the course, worth 20% of the final grade. From mathematical communication to personal engagement and reflection, each criterion targets specific skills the IB expects you to demonstrate. In this post, we break down exactly what examiners look for and provide a clear checklist to help you stay focused and maximize your marks.
Math AI IA Criteria and Checklist
The Math AI IA is graded on a scale of 20 points, as outlined in the following criteria.
Criterion A: Presentation - 4 points
Your investigation should be coherent, well-organized, and concise. A coherent IA has a logical structure that is easy to follow - the introduction, body and conclusion link to each other. Each part fulfils its aim, for instance, the introduction describes the aim and topic of the exploration, whereas the conclusion states the answer to the research question and evaluates the IA. Relevant elements such as calculations, graphs, etc are correctly labelled and included in the investigation (not the appendices), while irrelevant elements are excluded from the work. An effective presentation helps the reader easily follow your process and understand how each step contributes to answering the investigation question.
For a maximum of 4 points:
Introduce the topic, provide a brief context, and clearly state a focused research question that guides all mathematical exploration and conclusions.
Organise the IA into clear sections that follow a logical progression from method selection to calculations, analysis, and finally interpretation and conclusion. Include a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
Make the investigation easy to follow so readers do not need to reread sections.
Include all relevant data in the investigation and avoid unnecessary calculations.
Place graphs, tables, and diagrams in appropriate locations. Attach only large tables (raw data) or additional diagrams and graphs as appendices.
Use consistent fonts, spacing, headings, and equation formatting so the work looks professional and is easy for examiners to follow.
Clearly indicate and explain the use of technology.
See here for a well-presented investigation.
Criterion B: Mathematical communication - 4 points
This criterion focuses on how well you use mathematical language, symbols, notation, and representations. Calculator or computer notation is only acceptable if they are software generated. You should use different forms of representation such as formulae, diagrams, tables, charts, graphs and models. Remember to label them correctly and indicate precision values for all calculations. Strong communication demonstrates that you can clearly explain mathematical ideas and interpret results.
For a maximum of 4 points:
Use accurate and consistent mathematical notation, symbols, and terminology throughout the report.
Define and clarify all key terms, variables, and concepts upon first use.
Include various forms of mathematical representation such as formulae, diagrams, tables, charts, graphs, and models, and label them appropriately.
Include titles, labelled axes, scales, and units where appropriate so readers can understand graphical representations without additional explanation.
Indicate the level of precision for all rounded values.
Accompany all mathematical calculations with explanations, and thoroughly describe any presentation of data. Include computer notation only when it is generated by software.
When using calculators or software, interpret results in words instead of simply pasting screenshots or tables without explanation.
Check out a good mathematical communication based on this exemplar.
Criterion C: Personal engagement - 3 points
Personal engagement includes thinking independently and presenting mathematical ideas in your own way. This criterion measures how personally meaningful and original your exploration is. You should show why you chose the topic, how you made decisions, and how you adapted your approach based on results. Personal engagement is demonstrated through thoughtful reflection, creative approaches, and independent thinking. Examiners look for evidence that you took ownership of the investigation rather than following a standard template or choosing a generic topic.
For a maximum of 3 points:
Explain why the topic interests you personally or academically, linking it to your experiences or future goals.
Show that you selected the models or methods yourself rather than following a template or a purely teacher-directed structure.
Describe how you adjusted your approach when you encountered errors, unexpected results, or better alternative mathematical strategies.
Use self-collected data to demonstrate the originality of your investigation.
Comment on the difficulties you faced and how you overcame them, showing growth and a deeper understanding of the topic.
Read this exemplar to get a glimpse of the matter.
Criterion D: Reflection - 3 points
Reflection assesses how well you interpret your results and evaluate the effectiveness of your approach. To show meaningful reflection, you should link to the aims of the exploration, comment on what you have learned, state the limitations of your data or models, and suggest realistic improvements or extensions. Strong reflection shows critical thinking and awareness that mathematical models are simplifications of reality, especially when using real-world data and technology.
For a maximum of 3 points:
Explain what your final values, graphs, or models mean in relation to the original research question.
Include a final evaluation that analyses both the strengths and weaknesses of the exploration and suggests improvements.
Assess whether your chosen techniques were appropriate and efficient, and explain whether other methods might have produced better results.
Discuss rounding, data uncertainty, or measurement errors and how these could influence final answers or trends.
Present potential extensions to the study, including collecting more data, using stronger models, or exploring related questions.
Tie the evaluation back to the initial objectives of the exploration.
You can refer to this IA.
Criterion E - Use of mathematics: SL - 6 points
The mathematics utilized should align to advance the exploration towards its completion. Avoid overly complex mathematics, as it may be deemed irrelevant. Ensure that the methods employed in the investigation adhere to the level of the syllabus. Upon deriving a solution, provide clear reasoning and evidence to support your findings. While leveraging technology to obtain answers is encouraged, it is essential to demonstrate comprehension of the underlying concepts. You can demonstrate your knowledge by reasoning or evidence and illustrating with examples or practical application.
For a maximum of 6 points:
Relevant mathematics commensurate with the level of the SL course is used. Any mathematics extending beyond the syllabus is clarified.
The mathematics explored is correct and error-free.
Thorough knowledge and understanding are demonstrated without any shortcuts. All calculations are provided with explanations.
Unnecessarily complex mathematics is avoided.
Criterion E - Use of mathematics: HL - 6 points
The mathematics examined should align with the Higher Level syllabus or be of an equivalent level. Precision in mathematics entails ensuring error-free calculations and maintaining an appropriate level of accuracy throughout. Sophistication involves grasping and applying complex mathematical concepts, exploring problems from various angles, and recognizing underlying structures to establish connections between different mathematical domains. To ensure rigour in your investigation, prioritize clarity in logical reasoning and language when presenting mathematical arguments and calculations. Ensure that any claims relevant to the development of the exploration are adequately justified or proven. Also, remember that if you are using technology, just substituting values into a formula does not necessarily demonstrate understanding of the results and is likely to result in a deduction of points.
For a maximum of 6 points:
The mathematics used is part of the HL syllabus or at a similar level. Any mathematics extending beyond the syllabus is clarified.
Mathematics is error-free and uses appropriate approximation at all times.
Sophistication is shown by using challenging mathematical concepts, looking at a problem from different perspectives, or linking different areas of mathematics together.
Unnecessarily complex mathematics is avoided.
Mathematical claims relevant to the investigation are justified or proven.
See here for a good SL example and HL example.
We hope this post has helped you learn more about the Math AI IA criteria and checklist. For more useful materials associated with the IB, check out the wide variety of IA, EE and TOK exemplars available at Clastify and other guides available on our blog.
The Fast Track To Your
Best IB Coursework & College Essays
All content on this website has been developed independently from and is not endorsed by the International Baccalaureate Organization. International Baccalaureate and IB are registered trademarks owned by the International Baccalaureate Organization.