All Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation guides

Math AI IA Criteria Guide

Build a polished exploration that uses mathematics to make sense of a real-world context.

Use this guide to keep your exploration focused on a practical question, clear communication, and a model that is justified by the context it serves.

Assessment criteria

What each criterion measures, how many marks it carries, and what stronger evidence usually looks like.

Criterion names, marks and mark bands follow the IB subject guide. The band descriptions are our own summaries, so check your subject guide for the exact wording.

Criterion A: Presentation (4 marks)

How coherent, well organized, and concise the exploration is.

Stronger evidence
The exploration develops logically, is well organized, and is concise, with nothing unnecessary.
Early-stage evidence
The exploration shows either some logical flow or some organization, not both.

Criterion B: Mathematical Communication (4 marks)

How relevant, appropriate, and consistent the notation, terminology, and representations are.

Stronger evidence
Relevant, appropriate mathematical communication that is consistent from start to finish.
Early-stage evidence
Some relevant notation and terminology, but only partly appropriate.

Criterion C: Personal Engagement (3 marks)

How clearly the exploration shows your own thinking, choices, and ownership of the mathematics.

Stronger evidence
Outstanding personal engagement: independent thinking and creativity shape the exploration.
Early-stage evidence
Some signs of personal engagement are visible.

Criterion D: Reflection (3 marks)

How critically you review, interpret, and question your results and methods.

Stronger evidence
Critical reflection appears throughout, questioning results, methods, and their implications.
Early-stage evidence
Reflection is limited, often just restating results.

Criterion E: Use of Mathematics - SL (6 marks)

How relevant and correct the mathematics is at the level of the SL course, and how well you understand it.

Stronger evidence
Mathematics at the level of the SL course that is correct, with thorough understanding.
Early-stage evidence
Some relevant mathematics is used.

Mark bands

Want to know where your IA sits in these bands? Upload your draft and get a mark for each criterion.

Grade my IA

How to build it

Most weak drafts fail on order, not on ideas.

  1. 1

    Choose a practical question

    Select a context where modelling or statistics genuinely helps answer something useful.

  2. 2

    Make your communication readable

    Use clean tables, labels, and notation so the mathematical reasoning is easy to follow.

  3. 3

    Interpret results in context

    Explain what the numbers mean, where the model is strong, and where it oversimplifies reality.

  4. 4

    Evaluate the model honestly

    Discuss assumptions, limitations, and whether a better model would materially change the conclusion.

Before you submit

  • The exploration question is tied to a clear real-world context.
  • Notation, graphs, and calculations are consistent and easy to read.
  • Results are interpreted in words, not just left as numbers.
  • Reflection explains how well the model fits the context.

Quick wins

  • Add a short sentence after each calculation that says why it matters.
  • Use the same symbols and labels throughout tables, graphs, and formulas.
  • End each section by linking the result back to the practical question.

See How Your Math AI Exploration Scores Before You Submit

Marksy grades your Math AI draft against the rubric, then shows where your modelling, presentation, and reflection can be tightened. The result includes a mark for every criterion, evidence from your draft, and the changes to make first.

Grade My IA DraftSee Pricing
  1. 1

    Upload your IA draft as a PDF

  2. 2

    Get a mark and feedback for every IA criterion

  3. 3

    Revise and grade the new version

A mark for every criterion
A mark for every criterionSee where the draft is now, criterion by criterion.
Comments on your sentences
Comments on your sentencesEach comment points at the passage it is about.
What to fix first
What to fix firstConcrete next edits instead of "improve your analysis".