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IB Maths AA HL Drilling Guide: Paper Order, No-Calculator Writing and a 12-Week Plan
TUTORZONE EXAM DRILL GUIDE · IB MATHEMATICS AA HL
Built on the published assessment framework: Paper 1 (no technology): Compulsory short-response; HL 110 marks, 2 h, 30% (HL 30% / SL 40%); Paper 2 (technology allowed): Compulsory extended-response; HL 110 marks, 2 h, 30% (HL 30% / SL 40%); Paper 3 (HL only, no technology): Two compulsory extended problem-solving questions; 55 marks, 1 h (HL 20% (HL only)); Mathematical exploration (IA): 20% at both levels; 15 recommended hours (20% (SL and HL)). AA HL rewards rigour: two papers at thirty per cent each, an HL-only paper three and an internal assessment. Method only: paper order, a twelve-week plan, how to write the no-calculator paper, per-question pacing, the usual mark losses and an error log.
How is IB Mathematics AA HL assessed, and what does each part carry?
Paper 1 (no technology): Compulsory short-response; HL 110 marks, 2 h, 30% (HL 30% / SL 40%); Paper 2 (technology allowed): Compulsory extended-response; HL 110 marks, 2 h, 30% (HL 30% / SL 40%); Paper 3 (HL only, no technology): Two compulsory extended problem-solving questions; 55 marks, 1 h, 20% (HL 20% (HL only)); Mathematical exploration (IA): 20% at both levels; 15 recommended hours (20% (SL and HL))
Assessment at a glance (2027)
| Component | Content | Weighting | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (no technology) | Compulsory short-response; HL 110 marks, 2 h, 30% | HL 30% / SL 40% | 2 h |
| Paper 2 (technology allowed) | Compulsory extended-response; HL 110 marks, 2 h, 30% | HL 30% / SL 40% | 2 h |
| Paper 3 (HL only, no technology) | Two compulsory extended problem-solving questions; 55 marks, 1 h, 20% | HL 20% (HL only) | 1 h |
| Mathematical exploration (IA) | 20% at both levels; 15 recommended hours | 20% (SL and HL) | 15 recommended hours |
The official HL Paper 1 runs 120 minutes for 110 marks; this set’s 10 questions work out at about 11 minutes each. No-calculator marks are rarely lost to slow arithmetic but to leaving a decimal where an exact value is wanted – AA answers are surds, fractions or pi, not approximations.
What each paper is actually testing
| Paper | Drill focus | How marks are lost |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (no technology) | answers must be exact (surd, fraction, pi), not decimals | Converts surds and fractions to decimals too early, so marks stop there and later steps cannot be checked |
| Paper 2 (technology allowed) | state the method before computing | Reads roots and intersections off the calculator without the algebraic relation, losing method marks |
| Paper 3 (HL only, no technology) | write the route and assumptions first | Answers only part (a) of the long Paper 3 question and leaves no time to model the extensions |
| Mathematical exploration (IA) | choose a question open to mathematical investigation | Writes the exploration before fixing the question, so data and method drift apart and reflection turns hollow |
What is each IB Mathematics AA HL paper really testing, and what should you drill?
Paper 1 (no technology): answers must be exact (surd, fraction, pi), not decimals; Paper 2 (technology allowed): state the method before computing; Paper 3 (HL only, no technology): write the route and assumptions first; Mathematical exploration (IA): choose a question open to mathematical investigation
Drill order: by topic, then by year, then the mark scheme
| Step | What you do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. By topic | Work through each topic, starting with the paper that allows least help (no calculator / closed book) | Exposes what is genuinely not understood |
| 2. By year | Whole papers to time, one or two a week | Trains pace, stamina and question selection |
| 3. Mark scheme | Go through the marking scheme question by question and log the scoring steps you missed | Most lost marks are written wrong, not thought wrong |
Should drilling go by topic first or by year?
By topic first, then whole papers by year, then the mark scheme. The first third of the time goes topic by topic (8-10 years of the same topic back to back), the middle switches to timed whole papers, and the last fortnight only redoes the recurring errors from your log.
A 12-week drilling timetable
| Week | Phase | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-3 | By topic: foundation | Topic by topic, starting with the easiest marks, building habits and recall |
| Weeks 4-6 | By topic: core | 8-10 years of the same topic back to back, errors classified by topic |
| Weeks 7-8 | By topic: advanced and electives | Elective and higher-order topics, now under time pressure |
| Weeks 9-10 | By year: timed papers | One full paper a week, timed, no reference materials |
| Week 11 | Mark scheme work | Question by question against the marking scheme; list the scoring steps you omitted |
| Week 12 | Plug holes and simulate | Only the recurring errors from your log, then one full exam simulation |
Subject-specific weighting for this timetable: Twelve weeks in three blocks: weeks 1-4 no-calculator papers only, two half-papers a week on paper alone, logging the step that stalled; weeks 5-7 calculator papers, algebra first and values to three significant figures with units; weeks 8-9 Paper 3 extensions, fifteen minutes per model; weeks 10-11 timed papers on alternating days; week 12 a full simulation plus an error-log rework.
Use it properly: this is not a checklist to finish. Every week must keep time for redoing errors, or from week 9 you will be repeating the same batch.
Pacing
| Paper | Time | Suggested split |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (no technology) | 2 h | about 110 min with 10 min checking |
| Paper 2 (technology allowed) | 2 h | extended-response with the GDC |
| Paper 3 (HL only, no technology) | 1 h | about 26 min per question |
| Mathematical exploration (IA) | 15 recommended hours | topic, derivation, computation, interpretation |
How should the time be split inside each IB Mathematics AA HL paper?
Paper 1 (no technology): about 110 min with 10 min checking; Paper 2 (technology allowed): extended-response with the GDC; Paper 3 (HL only, no technology): about 26 min per question; Mathematical exploration (IA): topic, derivation, computation, interpretation
The drilling mistakes that cost the most marks
| Mistake | What it looks like | What actually happens | Instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaving decimals | Writing 1.41 | AA Paper 1 wants surds, fractions or pi | Write √2, 3/28, π/6 as exact values |
| Different bases | Comparing exponents directly | Different bases cannot be equated directly | Make the base equal first, then compare exponents |
| Replacement probability | Dividing by 8 again | Without replacement the denominator drops each time | Use 7 for the second draw |
The error log and the mark scheme
Four columns: where the mark went, what the scheme wanted, next action (the fixed opening move) and formula card (one relation per question with its conditions). Only faults seen three times earn the final fortnight.
How many years should you drill?
The current syllabus was first assessed in 2019, so official papers exist from that year; five or six sessions cover the main question types. Older mathematics papers follow the previous syllabus, so use them for single skills only, never for timed papers.
How many years of past papers is enough?
The current syllabus was first assessed in 2019, so official papers exist from that year; five or six sessions cover the main question types. Older mathematics papers follow the previous syllabus, so use them for single skills only, never for timed papers.
Frequently asked questions
Is this page a mock paper or a drilling guide?
This is the IB Mathematics AA HL drilling guide: assessment structure, drill order, a 12-week timetable, pacing, common mark losses and the error-log method. For questions with answers, use the IB Mathematics AA HL mock papers linked under Related.
By topic or by year first?
By topic. Eight to ten years of the same topic back to back is what exposes repeating errors; going straight to whole papers just repeats the same batch under time pressure.
How should the error log be written?
Do not copy out questions. Per error record four things: question reference, which step failed (concept, wording, calculation), what the mark scheme requires, and the correct action next time.
Paper 3 is HL only, so should SL students drill it?
No. SL sits two papers plus the exploration, so a Paper 3 drill rehearses a paper that is never sat; that time belongs to timed papers and the exploration.
Official references
| Resource | What to use it for |
|---|---|
| IBO Mathematics AA subject brief (first assessment 2021) | Confirm the SL/HL weightings, durations and the no-technology policy |
| https://www.tutorzone.com.hk/en-ib-math-aa-past-paper-drill-guide/ | IB Maths AA drilling guide: algebra and no-calculator answering |
| https://www.tutorzone.com.hk/en-ib-math-ai-sl-mock-paper/ | IB Maths AI SL mock (every paper allows the GDC) |
Mock paper: IB Mathematics AA HL mock paper Practice: drill practice hub
Next step: find a tutor / register as a tutor
After drilling, the hard part is telling a conceptual error from a writing error. Tell us the year group, the school and your available times, and TutorZone will match you with a tutor who knows the HKEAA assessment requirements.
Demand for tutors in this subject is steady, and those who can explain the marking scheme and where marks are won are especially sought after. Register free; you pay only when a match succeeds.
