IB Math Past Papers and Mark Schemes
If you ask me what the single most useful thing an IB Math student can do outside of lessons, my answer is always the same: work through past papers. Not read them. Not skim the questions. Actually sit down, set a timer, and work through them properly.
Past papers are how you learn what the IB actually wants. The syllabus tells you what topics exist. The past paper shows you how those topics get turned into exam questions — which command terms appear most often, how many marks a typical question is worth, and what “show your working” really means to an examiner. You cannot get that from a textbook or a YouTube video.
On this page I have put together guidance on how to use past papers properly for each of the four IB Math courses: AA HL, AA SL, AI HL, and AI SL.
How to Use IB Math Past Papers Effectively
Most students use past papers the wrong way. They do a question, check the answer, move on. That is not revision — that is skimming. Here is how I tell my students to use them:
- Always use a timer. IB Math exams are tight on time. If you practise without a clock, you are not practising the right skill. Paper 1 (no calculator) runs at roughly 1.5 minutes per mark. Paper 2 is similar. Get used to the pace before exam day.
- Mark your own paper first. Before you look at the mark scheme, mark what you think you got right and wrong. Then compare with the official mark scheme — the gap between your self-assessment and the actual marks tells you a lot about where your exam technique needs work.
- Read the mark scheme like a script. The mark scheme is not just an answer key. It tells you exactly what the examiner wants to see. Pay attention to method marks (M marks), answer marks (A marks), and follow-through marks (FT marks). Understanding this structure is worth at least half a grade band.
- Track your errors by topic. After each paper, note which topics cost you marks. This is your personal revision list. Work through the question banks for those specific topics between papers.
- Do Paper 3 last. For AA HL and AI HL, Paper 3 is the one most students are least prepared for. Do not attempt it until you have solid Paper 1 and 2 technique — then practise Paper 3 as a separate skill entirely.
Past Papers by Course
IB Math AA HL Past Papers
AA HL has three papers: Paper 1 (no calculator, 2 hours), Paper 2 (calculator, 2 hours), and Paper 3 (calculator, 1 hour, unfamiliar problems). The most common mark losses I see in AA HL past papers are in integration technique on Paper 1, proof questions where students use the result to prove the result, and Paper 3 where students freeze because they have never practised this format before. See the full AA HL course specifications and train with the AA HL question bank.
IB Math AA SL Past Papers
AA SL has two papers: Paper 1 (no calculator) and Paper 2 (calculator). The topics that cause the most lost marks in AA SL past papers are: integration (students choose the wrong technique under pressure), trigonometric equations (students forget the general solution), and statistics questions where the conclusion is not written in context. Use the AA SL question bank to drill these areas.
IB Math AI HL Past Papers
AI HL has three papers, all with a calculator. Paper 3 is a data investigation that presents an unfamiliar scenario — this is the paper that separates strong AI HL students from average ones. In AI HL past papers, the marks students lose most often are in hypothesis testing (vague conclusions, wrong null hypothesis) and graph theory (confusing Kruskal’s with Prim’s, or applying Dijkstra’s incorrectly). See the AI HL course specifications and practise with the AI HL question bank.
IB Math AI SL Past Papers
AI SL has two papers, both with a calculator. The syllabus is applied and practical, and the past papers reflect that — most questions are set in a real-world context. Students lose marks in AI SL past papers most often on statistics questions where they misread the GDC output and on financial mathematics where they confuse the variables. Practise with the AI SL question bank.
Download the Formula Booklet — Use It During Every Past Paper
The IB provides a formula booklet in the exam. You should use it during every past paper session too. One of the most common mistakes I see is students who memorise the wrong things — they spend time learning formulas that are in the booklet, and then do not know where to look when they need them in the exam. Download the IB Math formula sheets and practise navigating them alongside past papers.
Practise Under Exam Conditions with Mock Exams
There is a difference between doing a past paper at your desk with your notes open and doing one under proper exam conditions. If you have not sat a full exam — no notes, no phone, timed from start to finish — before your actual IB exam, you are going in underprepared. I run mock exams for my students that replicate the real IB experience. Use these alongside past papers for the best preparation.
Get Support on the Topics That Keep Costing You Marks
If the same topics keep causing problems across multiple past papers, that is a gap in understanding, not just exam technique. One-to-one tutoring is the fastest way to close a specific gap — I can work through exactly what the mark scheme wants for the question types you keep getting wrong. Contact Mr Ahmad to discuss where to start, or see the tutoring packages for options.
Frequently Asked Questions — IB Math Past Papers
How many past papers should I do before the IB exam?
As many as you can while still marking them properly. Rushing through papers without reviewing your errors carefully is mostly wasted time. Three properly reviewed papers are worth more than ten rushed ones. For most students, doing one full paper per week from January and stepping up to two per week in April is a manageable pace alongside school.
Should I do past papers or topic questions first?
Topic questions first if you have gaps, past papers once you have the foundations. Use the question banks to build topic confidence, then move to past papers to put it into exam context. Do not wait until you feel “ready” — many students never feel ready and never start papers.
How do I use the mark scheme without just copying answers?
Attempt the question fully before opening the mark scheme. Cover it with a piece of paper. Write your answer. Then uncover and compare. The goal is to understand where your marks diverge from the mark scheme’s method, not to copy the solution.