IBDP Mathematics AA & AI – What is the Difference?

 

International Baccalaureate (IB) is a global leader in international education – developing inquiring, knowledgeable, confident, and caring young people. IB delivers a robust continuum of student-centric learning for students aged 3-19 years.

IB Diploma Program (IBDP) is a future-ready program that enables children to excel at their careers and meaningful lives and is curated for children in the age group 16-19 years.

Established in 1968, the IBDP was the first program offered. It is an academically challenging and balanced program of education with final examinations that prepares students for success at university and life beyond. The students of IBDP take up six subjects, one each from the six subject groups – Arts subject group is elective and can be substituted with any one of the other five groups.

Further, each subject opted for is offered at two levels – Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL). Out of the six subjects chosen, three or four are to be selected at the HL and the remaining at the SL. In addition to the disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies, the DP program also comprises three mandatory core elements.

• Theory of Knowledge – which enables the students’ critical capacity to analyze, connect and explore possibilities.
• Extended Essay – fosters high-level research and writing skills
• Creativity, Activity, and Service – encourages the students to participate in a range of voluntary and community activities

IB DP Mathematics subject courses serve to accommodate a range of needs, interests and abilities of the students, and to fulfil the requirements of various university and career aspirations.

The course aims to

• Develop mathematical knowledge, concepts, and principles
• Develop logical, critical, and creative thinking
• Enhance the students’ power of abstraction and generalization

The IB DP Mathematics had a major revamp in the year 2019 and with the first assessment done in 2021. The old four courses offered – Studies, SL, HL and Further Mathematics were replaced by two routes that can be opted for at the SL or HL. They are

• Mathematics – Analysis and Approaches (AA)SL
• Mathematics – Analysis and Approaches (AA) HL
• Mathematics – Applications and Interpretation (AI) SL
• Mathematics – Applications and Interpretation (AI) HL

The AA courses are similar to the earlier versions of SL and HL, whereby the students develop a deep understanding of the mathematical concepts and solve both real and theoretical problems often without the use of technology.

The AI courses help in harnessing the abilities of the students to use the power of technology to solve real and theoretical problems.

The aims of the mathematics courses enable the students to

• Kindle the curiosity and enjoyment of mathematics
• Enhance the understanding of mathematical concepts, principles, and nature of mathematics
• Articulate mathematics clearly and appropriately in a range of contexts
• Appreciate how development in technology and mathematics influence each other
• Appreciate the contribution of mathematics to other disciplines
• Develop the ability to reflect critically on their own work and others’ work too
• Express their understanding of mathematics either independently or collaboratively

 

What is the Difference Between Mathematics AA and Mathematics AI?

1. Both the courses share the same topics, yet

The aim of the Mathematics AA is to focus on the concepts of the subject and enables the students to discover the abstract theories which form the basis of all calculations

The aim of the Mathematics AI is about the practical application of those theories and concepts in the real world – Statistics and Distribution form the basic components of this course

2. The table shows the difference in the similarity with the earlier courses and who can opt for the difference courses offered.

 

3. Both the mathematics AA and AI assessment models require you to take 3 papers which are externally assessed, the difference being that calculators are not allowed in the Paper 1 and allowed for the Paper 2 and Paper 3 for the AA course, whereas for the AI course calculators are allowed for all the three Papers

4. Depending on what streams the students want to pursue in their university-level plays an important role in opting between AA and AI at the DP level. If the student wants to pursue Economics, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, or Engineering, at the university level, then the best option at the DP level would be Mathematics AA. On the other hand, if the student wants to pursue Business, Psychology, Natural Sciences, or Social Sciences, then the option would be Mathematics AI.

5. There is a difference in the teaching hours on each component of the two courses

The durations are in hours

The table clearly shows that the AA course focusses on the components – Number and Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry, and Calculus whereas the AI course focusses on the other two Functions, and Statistics and Probability.

 

What to Choose – an AA Course or an AI Course?

This depends on a lot of parameters, and these are important to consider when the students are making a choice between the two courses. Most importantly the student’s performance and attitude in studying mathematics, his individual strengths and weaknesses in the individual components offered, and finally his plan of pursuing the type stream – either involving mathematics or not – at the university level. The students should also consult their teachers, friends, and family before making the right choice.

 

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