Oxford University Mathematician takes High School IB Maths Exam

University of Oxford Mathematician Dr Tom Crawford sits the IB Maths Exam taken by High School students around the world. The test is usually taken at the end of school by students aged 17-18.

The Specimen Paper and all questions contained within are property of the International Baccalaureate Organization. Material is used under a 'fair use' policy for educational purposes.

You can also follow Tom on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @tomrocksmaths.

[dhairyasanghavi]

You should try a maths AA HL paper as well! That is usually what the more maths-oriented students take. My personal favorite paper, is paper 3, which is more about mathematical thinking than the other papers

[iteerrex]

The thing is that when we take these exams, we’re very prepared for them. Then you go onto more advanced stuff, coming back after a decade of not using that “easy” stuff, can be challenging at times 😂

[sinless]

Try the AA HL one Tom. It's more difficult and more students tend to take it

[kuieukt]

please do the Analysis and Approaches HL exam! its pure-maths focuses, and slight more challenging. you could try paper 1 and paper 3.

[kdbsbfkdks]

You should try a Math AAHL Paper. AIHL is considered “easier” compared to AAHL. If you’re up for a harder challenge, try the AAHL Papers

[CannyboiZ]

Please do AA(Analysis and Approaches) HL next

[wah]

Please do a IB analysis and approaches Higher Level (HL) exam!

[theultimatecactus]

Request to possibly try out the Chinese math Gaokao? (after someone translate it of course) My mother was a math teacher in China who taught at the high school level, I think it would be interesting to see what you think about the test.

[davidplanet]

You skipped the instructions at the start, “Answer any 6 questions” haha. Q1 systematic sampling I think.

[iboju]

You should check out the Analysis and Approaches IB HL exam, its a more pure math oriented (and harder) hl math course.

[EmmsterGD]

You should try the Irish A level equivalent. It’s roughly the same difficulty from comparing papers, so you might have a fun time with it. It’s called the “Leaving Certificate, ” whereas our GCSE equivalent would be the “Junior certificate”

[elhombrevolador]

You should try the other maths subject, Mathematics Analysis and Approaches. This is honestly like playing in easy mode 😂😂😂

[sackixfilms]

I had the luck of having my exams scheduled for may 2020. First and only time IB exams were cancelled lmfao

[ksuksu]

please do AA HL paper as well, i'm taking that next year.

[ebi__naaah]

Try Math AAHL paper 3, it's very much about abstract math thinking and can be challenging

[forwardfollower]

That was really fascinating, and had no idea what you were solving but totally appreciate seeing how you reasoned through it!
Quick Question, Tom...I am a retired civil servant and knew the people who wrote Policy at the Provincial level (Canada) for their respective Ministries, certainly with Masters, MBA and PHD certifications (as us lesser academic plebes needing to ultimately understand/interpret them haha). Question: Who, & how many....writes these HIgh School examinations?
Are they High School Teachers, University Profs, Gov't Ministry employees with MA or PHD? I'm curious because, you are a very learned and high achiever, you were challenged here, do the people writing the exams have a standard curriculum in mind for 16, 17 yr olds when it definitely challenged a mind like yours. I guess what I'm wondering is...who are, and how do, the writers determine what questions are Level appropriate and what are most likely their credentials....does my question make sense? (fyi Subbed and Thumbed!)

[waterslide]

I think you should do the UKMT (The United Kingdom Mathematics Trust) exam as it is coming up and quite a challenge

[Rodhern]

1:46:00 "... formula for the mean, award A1 for correct *equation* " (emphasis mine). So basically the points are given for over-complicating the matter? My initial reaction to the question (without knowing the grading technique) would be (admittedly slightly tainted by some fondness for simplistic linear algebra) that the relevant values are how many answers are below and above the mean, ignoring the "2"-answers (that *is* the mean) and "3"-answers (that is k, and also "3" just happens to be one more than "2") the distances from "2" are [-2, -1, +2, +3, +4] with corresponding numbers [20, 24, 10, 3, 1], and guess what, [-2, -1, +2, +3, +4] * [20, 24, 10, 3, 1]' = -31.
edit: emphasis.

[javii]

As a suggestion to the future, the formula booket showcased in the video 1.1 is not the official one due to mistankes fx incorrect formula for the sum of an infinite geometry sequences and forgetting the HL binomial expansion formula. Therefore I would advice anyone include you to look for the 1.3 math formula as that is the official by IB

Besides that great video

[ItsHarrySu]

Amazing 🎉 Now try Mathematics Applications and Analysis Higher Level :D (MAA HL). Keep up the e work ❤