IB Math AA HL & SL Formula Booklet — Complete Guide
The IB Math Analysis and Approaches (AA) formula booklet is your most important resource in the exam. Whether you are sitting IB Math AA HL or IB Math AA SL, you get the same booklet — but knowing what’s inside and how to use it is what separates top scorers from the rest.
What Is the IB Math AA Formula Booklet?
The AA formula booklet is an official IB document provided in Papers 1, 2, and 3. It contains the mathematical formulae and identities that you do not need to memorise, so you can focus your energy on applying them correctly under exam pressure.
However — and this is crucial — the booklet does not contain everything. There are key formulae, definitions, and techniques that you must know by heart. Many students waste time searching for things that simply aren’t in there.
What’s Included in the AA Formula Booklet?
Topic 1 – Number & Algebra: Binomial theorem, sum of geometric sequences, laws of logarithms, complex number polar form.
Topic 2 – Functions: Transformations summary, key function forms. (Note: Most function work must be memorised — the booklet is sparse here.)
Topic 3 – Geometry & Trigonometry: Sine and cosine rules, area of triangle, unit circle values, trigonometric identities, compound angle formulae, double angle formulae, vector formulae.
Topic 4 – Statistics & Probability: Bayes’ theorem, binomial and normal distribution formulae, correlation formulae.
Topic 5 – Calculus: Derivative rules, product and quotient rule, standard integrals, integration by parts (HL only), Euler’s method, Maclaurin series (HL only), related rates setup.
What You Must Memorise (Not in the Booklet)
- Basic derivative rules for simple polynomials and constants
- Definition of limit and derivative from first principles
- Quadratic formula and discriminant
- Properties of logarithms and exponentials beyond what’s listed
- All standard circle theorems and geometric reasoning
- HL only: Proof techniques, epsilon-delta definition, L’Hôpital’s rule
How to Use the AA Formula Booklet in Exams
Read it before the exam — multiple times. Students who know every page of the booklet work faster because they know exactly where each formula is. Under time pressure, flicking through every page wastes valuable minutes.
Annotate your practice booklet. During practice sessions, tab the sections you use most. In the real exam you cannot annotate, but building that mental map is essential.
Don’t copy blindly. The booklet gives you the formula — but the exam tests whether you can apply it correctly. Learn what each symbol means and what assumptions the formula requires.
AA vs AI Formula Booklet — Key Differences
The AA booklet is heavier on pure calculus — including integration techniques, Maclaurin series, and proof — and lighter on statistics compared to the IB Math AI formula booklet. If you are deciding between courses, read our full AA vs AI comparison.
Download the IB Math AA Formula Booklet
The official formula booklet is available through your school or the IB website. We also maintain a collection of formula sheets and topic summaries that complement the official booklet with Mr Ahmad’s own teaching notes.
Get Expert Help with IB Math AA
Knowing the booklet is step one. Knowing when and how to apply every formula is where Mr Ahmad comes in. With years of experience tutoring IB Math AA HL and SL in Dubai, he knows exactly where students lose marks and how to fix it.
Explore our AA HL question bank, review past papers and mark schemes, or book a session to get started today.