AA HL
For students who are secure and quick with algebra, did well in IGCSE Extended or an equivalent course, and are aiming at a maths-heavy degree. It is one of the most demanding courses in the Diploma.
IB Diploma maths is two separate courses, Analysis and Approaches (AA) and Applications and Interpretation (AI), each offered at Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL). That makes four options, and this guide explains how they differ, how they are examined, and what the revised course starting in August 2027 changes.
What is ClassArc?
ClassArc is live one-to-one online maths tutoring for school-age children. One teacher and one child, for 55 minutes. The same teacher every week. Classes run inside our own classroom software, not a video call: a shared worksheet you both write on, a shared whiteboard, and answers that sync live.
The short answer
Every IB Diploma student takes one maths course. The choice is between Analysis and Approaches (AA), which is algebraic and proof-led, and Applications and Interpretation (AI), which is built around modelling, statistics and technology. Either can be taken at Standard Level or Higher Level.
The Diploma itself runs for two years, usually Grades 11–12 (Years 12–13 in British-system schools). Students take six subjects, normally three at HL and three at SL, plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and CAS. Each subject is graded 1 to 7, and the core adds up to 3 points, so the maximum score is 45.
In Dubai the IB is a smaller group than the British or Indian curricula: KHDA's 2024–25 figures put about 7% of private-school students in IB schools. Some British-curriculum schools also run the Diploma in the sixth form, so a student can move straight from IGCSE into DP maths.
AA vs AI
Both courses cover the same five topic areas: number and algebra, functions, geometry and trigonometry, statistics and probability, and calculus. The difference is how each area is treated and examined.
| Analysis and Approaches (AA) | Applications and Interpretation (AI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Emphasis | Algebra, functions, calculus and proof | Modelling, statistics and real data |
| Typical command words | “Show that”, “prove”, exact answers | “Model”, “interpret”, “estimate” |
| Calculator | Paper 1 is non-calculator; a graphic display calculator (GDC) on the other papers | A GDC is used on every paper |
| Extra HL content | Deeper calculus, complex numbers, proof by induction, further vectors | Matrices, graph theory, further statistics, differential equations |
| Tends to suit | Students who enjoy algebra and abstract reasoning | Students who like applied problems, data and technology |
A statistics question in AI usually means fitting a model to data on the GDC; a calculus question in AA is more likely to ask for a derivation or a proof.
HL vs SL
The IB recommends 150 teaching hours for SL and 240 for HL. HL is not SL with harder questions; it adds whole topics. A rough guide to who each option tends to suit:
For students who are secure and quick with algebra, did well in IGCSE Extended or an equivalent course, and are aiming at a maths-heavy degree. It is one of the most demanding courses in the Diploma.
For students who handle algebra comfortably and want calculus in their toolkit, but whose degree plans do not call for the depth of HL.
For students heading towards subjects that lean on statistics and modelling. AI HL is not a softer substitute for AA HL: it is a different kind of mathematics, examined at the same level.
For students who want mathematics tied closely to data and real situations, and whose next step needs less maths overall.
Universities publish their own subject requirements, and they vary by course and country. Before your child chooses, read the entry requirements for each degree on their shortlist. Dropping from HL to SL mid-course is usually possible; moving up is hard, and each school sets its own deadline for changes.
Papers
This is the structure of the current course, which is examined for the last time in November 2028. Every student also completes the internal assessment.
| Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Paper 3 | Internal assessment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SL (AA or AI) | 1 h 30, 80 marks, 40% | 1 h 30, 80 marks, 40% | — | 20% |
| HL (AA or AI) | 2 h, 110 marks, 30% | 2 h, 110 marks, 30% | 1 h, 55 marks, 20% | 20% |
A formula booklet is provided in every exam, so practise with the official one to learn what is in it and what is not. Many schools specify a particular GDC model, so ask before buying one. Most UAE IB schools sit the May session.
The IA
The internal assessment, called the exploration, is a piece of written mathematics on a topic the student chooses. It carries the same 20% weighting at SL and HL, is marked by the school's teacher against five criteria out of 20, and is then moderated by the IB.
Most students write it during Grade 12 (Year 13), to internal deadlines the school sets. Our IB maths IA guide covers the criteria, topic ideas, and exactly where outside help has to stop.
Grades
The final grade combines the exam papers and the IA. The IB sets grade boundaries after every session, so the percentage needed for a 7 changes from year to year and between courses.
University applications usually rest on predicted grades issued by the school during Grade 12. Those predictions lean heavily on Grade 11 tests and early Grade 12 work, including the IA, which is why the first year of the Diploma matters more than many families expect.
What is changing
The IB is revising both maths courses. According to the IB's curriculum update, the new courses are first taught from August 2027 and first examined in May 2029; the current courses are examined for the last time in November 2028.
Students who begin the Diploma in August 2026 stay on the current course, with exams in May 2028. Students who begin in August 2027 or later take the revised course, which includes anyone in Grade 10 / Year 11 during 2026–27.
Most of the mathematics carries over, so current revision material stays useful, but the assessment details may differ. Ask the school which subject guide your child is being taught from.
At home
With ClassArc
A tutor who is comfortable with AI SL is not automatically the right person for AA HL, so we ask which course and level your child is on before the first lesson. ClassArc teaches all four Diploma options, and MYP maths before them, one to one with the same teacher every class.
Before each class the teacher checks where the school has reached, so sessions run alongside the DP course rather than beside it. IB classes sit in the senior band, from AED 60 a 55-minute class on UAE pricing, and the first class is free with no card required.
Diploma maths options, all taught: AA SL, AA HL, AI SL and AI HL
Keep reading
Criteria A–E, topic ideas, a structure that works, and what a tutor may and may not do.
Read the IA guideOne-to-one classes for AA and AI, at SL and HL, timed for UAE evenings.
See IB tutoring in DubaiWeighing the IB against A-Levels after IGCSE? See how A-Level maths is structured.
Compare with A-LevelClass blocks in AED, with nothing auto-renewing and unused classes refunded.
See UAE pricingFAQ
First class
55 minutes. The real classroom. No card. We confirm details on email and WhatsApp within a day.
Last updated · May 2026
When you book a demo or sign up for classes, we collect your name, your child's name, email, WhatsApp number, time zone, and the grade you're inquiring about. That's it. We don't ask for or store any payment details on this website. We don't use trackers, cookies for advertising, or third-party analytics that profile you.
Only to schedule and run your classes, send you class reminders, share homework and progress, and answer your questions. We'll reach out by email or WhatsApp, depending on what you tell us works better for you.
Your teacher, and the small team supporting them at ClassArc. We never sell, rent, or share your information with anyone outside ClassArc. We use Web3Forms to receive form submissions, and standard email and WhatsApp for messaging, nothing else.
We treat any information about your child with extra care. We only collect what we need to teach them well, such as their grade and what they're working on. We never use a child's photo, name, or work in any marketing without the parent's explicit written permission.
You can ask us to show you what we have on file, correct anything inaccurate, or delete your data entirely, at any time. Just email hello@theclassarc.com and we'll handle it within a few days.
Email hello@theclassarc.com. A real person will reply.
Last updated · May 2026
ClassArc is a one-on-one online tutoring service. We provide live, scheduled classes between a teacher and a student, along with homework, feedback, and study support.
Each class is 55 minutes. You can reschedule or cancel a class up to 5 minutes before it starts. If you miss a class without notice, we usually credit it back to your balance and reschedule based on what works for the teacher and student.
The first demo class is free, no card required. After that, plans are billed in advance for the number of classes you choose (8, 24, or ~48). We'll send you a payment link directly once you've picked a plan.
If you want to stop classes at any point, we refund whatever class balance is left on your plan. No questions asked, no friction. Refunds are processed within 7 business days.
We expect students and parents to treat teachers with respect, and teachers to do the same. We reserve the right to end the relationship if classes become unsafe, abusive, or disruptive, with a full refund of any unused balance.
If we update these terms, we'll email you before the changes take effect, so you have time to review them.
For anything, email hello@theclassarc.com.