Which courses does AscentIQ cover?

IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches SL, Applications and Interpretation SL, and Applications and Interpretation HL — exercises generated for each course's syllabus and marked against the IB mark scheme. Analysis and Approaches HL isn't available yet; it's on our roadmap. We add courses one at a time rather than several superficially.

How does the marking actually work?

Your work is transcribed, then evaluated against the exercise's mark scheme one mark at a time. Each Method, Answer, and Reasoning mark is awarded or withheld with a written reason. Follow-through is applied, so an early error doesn't automatically cost you the marks that depend on it.

Can the AI get the maths wrong?

The maths isn't generated by AI. Every number in every exercise is computed deterministically before the AI is involved — the AI only writes the wording around values it's been given, and is blocked from producing numbers of its own.

Do I have to write by hand?

You don't have to, but the whiteboard is where the marking is worth most. Writing out formula, substitution, and answer lets each method mark be awarded or withheld on its own. Typing takes final answers only — quicker, but there's no working to mark, and nothing to review afterwards.

What do I need to use it?

A tablet with a stylus is the best experience — the whiteboard is built for it. A laptop or desktop works fully too. We wouldn't recommend a phone: the whiteboard needs more room than a phone screen gives it.

Seven days of full access — every chapter of your course, unlimited generated exercises, and per-mark feedback on the work you write out. No card required to start.

What happens when the trial ends?

If you'd like to continue afterwards, leave your details at ascentiq.io/continue or write to renzo@ascentiq.io, and you'll hear back by email — including about the asynchronous tutoring we're building on top of your results.

What is the asynchronous tutoring?

It's a tutoring method built on your results in the exercise mode — where your marks are lost, which topics are slipping, what to work on next — followed up at your own pace, without having to coordinate a live session. It's still in development, so there's no fixed format yet. If you'd like to hear how it will work, write to renzo@ascentiq.io.

Is a calculator allowed in IB Math AA SL?

On Paper 2 only. Paper 1 is taken without a calculator, and Paper 2 allows a graphic display calculator. Both papers are 90 minutes and worth 80 marks.

How is IB Math AA SL assessed?

Two written papers, each worth 40% of the grade, and an internal assessment — a mathematical exploration — worth the remaining 20%. Each paper has a short-response section and an extended-response section.

What is the difference between Math AA SL and Math AI SL?

AA SL is algebra-first, with exact answers, proof, radians and deeper calculus, and has a paper without a calculator. AI SL is technology-first, built around modelling and statistics, with a calculator on both papers. The choice is usually made by what a student wants to study next.

How does AscentIQ help with AA SL?

It generates a fresh exam-style exercise on every attempt, reads your handwritten working and awards each Method, Answer and Reasoning mark with a written reason — in the style of Paper 1 or Paper 2, as the question requires.

IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches SL

IB Math AA SL, topic by topic

Analysis and Approaches SL is the IB's algebra-first mathematics course: exact working, proof, and calculus that goes beyond polynomials. This page maps the course — how it is assessed and what each topic contains — and links to a guide for every topic showing how its marks are actually awarded.

The course at a glance

The structure of the course as the IB publishes it.

Written papers

Paper 1 and Paper 2

Each 90 minutes, 80 marks and 40% of the grade, with a short-response and an extended-response section. Paper 1 is taken without a calculator; Paper 2 allows technology.

Internal assessment

Mathematical exploration

A piece of independent mathematical writing, worth 20% of the grade.

Syllabus

5 topics · 51 sections

From number and algebra to calculus, each section numbered SL 1.1 to SL 5.11.

Teaching time

150 hours

As recommended by the IB: 120 across the five topics, the rest for the toolkit and the exploration.

The five topics

Each topic has its own guide: the sections it covers, how they are examined on each paper, a marked example and the mistakes that cost marks.

How AA SL differs from AI SL

Both are standard-level mathematics courses, built for different students. These are the differences that change what you practise.

AA SL is algebra-first: exact answers, symbolic working and proof are central. AI SL puts technology and modelling at the centre.
AA SL has a paper with no calculator. In AI SL, technology is available on both papers.
AA SL moves to radians from SL 3.4 and builds the trigonometry up to identities. AI SL stays with degrees.
AA SL calculus goes beyond polynomials — trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic derivatives, the chain, product and quotient rules, integration by inspection and substitution. AI SL calculus stays with polynomials and the trapezoidal rule.
AA SL statistics adds formal conditional probability and the standardisation of normal variables. AI SL covers hypothesis tests — χ² and t-tests — and Spearman's rank, which are not part of AA SL.

See the Math AI SL topic guides →

How AscentIQ covers AA SL

Every exercise is generated fresh, marked mark by mark against the IB scheme, with a reason for each M1, A1 and R1. For AA SL that comes with some course-specific behaviour.

125 exam archetypes across all five topics, each generating a new exercise on every attempt — never a fixed bank.
Paper-style practice. Each exercise is written for Paper 1 (no calculator, exact answers) or for Paper 2 (technology), so the working you practise matches the paper you will sit.
Exact means exact. Where a question asks for an exact value, a decimal in its place is not accepted as the answer.
Proof you can write on a whiteboard. Proof questions are broken into small steps, each marked as a method or answer mark, with a closing reasoning mark for the conclusion.
Long questions in both styles: twelve families, six in the style of Paper 1 and six of Paper 2, chaining several skills the way extended-response questions do.
Radians stated. Calculus questions that involve sin or cos say when the angle is in radians, so the calculator mode is part of the habit, not a trap.

Questions

Questions about IB Math AA SL

Try AA SL practice, marked like the real thing

Seven days of full access, no card required. Every exercise is generated fresh and every mark comes with a reason.

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