The Definitive Guide to Choosing the Best IB Mathematics IA Topics

Imagine you were fascinated by the shape of nuclear reactor chimneys, called Natural Draft Cooling Towers. What an odd shape, you think (a hyperboloid, if you’re wondering). But how would you find out why they are so shaped? As it turns out, mathematics is a beautiful, fascinating language you can use to describe something like that. And when you explore such a personally fascinating subject within certain regulations of the IB, you will be writing your mathematics internal assessment.

As you can deduce, the IB math internal assessment is all about exploring mathematically a subject of personal interest. How well you do that and present your process determines how many marks out of the total 20 you will receive. However, most students live in mortal fear or both the IB math exam and the internal assessment.

If you are one such student, fear not. This detailed guide will teach you how you need to approach the math assessment by choosing the right topics, as well as how to make a top-grade essay. You can also get further IB guides in full detail here on our blog.

The team at Help for Assessments is also ready to give more than just passive “how to” assistance. Let us take the IB internal assessment nightmare away from you and write the essay for you. Our highly skilled and experienced team assures you of top-notch work, original and flawless in research and quality. All these at the best rates, so don’t hesitate to give us your order. We will even give you 25% off your first order to get you started.

Do you still want to push on? This article will give you all you need to choose suitable topics for your maths IA, explore what the test is about, and finish with some fresh sample idea topics for the math IA.

What the IB Maths Internal Assessment Topics All About

The mathematics internal assessment is about exploring the math behind a topic of interest, then presenting the whole thing in the form of a short thorough report. Ideally, the topic should be completely original and serve to prove that you have a firm grasp of mathematical concepts, principals, and knowledge.

According to the IA mathematics rubric, the IBO is looking for the following in a good essay:

Thus, the maths IA is about displaying your ability to apply abstract concepts and knowledge in math to a real-world situation and communicating clearly to your audience. In this case, the audience is your instructor/professor, and writing a good IA essay starts from picking the right topic.

What Makes a Good Math IA Topic

A good topic for the IB mathematics internal assessment is one that allows you to fulfill all the above requirements. It will help you explore an area of interest deeply and exhaustively, while at the same time providing an avenue for you to put your acquired mathematical skills into good use.

If you are to be successful in these goals, your essay should have certain important qualities. These are the same qualities your topic should have:

With the goal in mind, it's time to look into the process that precedes choosing a perfect math IA topic.

How to Choose a Mathematics IA Topic

Most math gurus insist that math is not just an abstract subject. It has real and effective links to the real world, and that is what the whole point of the internal assessment is.

To choose the topic, start with the real-life experiences to help you pinpoint an area of math you want to explore.

The following steps will help you:

Or the other hand, perhaps this topic would be better suited to the Physics IA? It’s up to you!

30+ Math IA Topics for SL and HL Levels

We’ve been writing IB Math IA assignments for over 5 years. From a professional academic writing assistance point of view, the number one challenge that many IB learners have is topic selection.

On the surface, Math IA is about investigating concepts within a topic of interest and presenting your findings in a 2,200-word report.

In practice, coming up with an original topic, which you can investigate to prove that you have a strong grip of mathematical concepts and principles can be somewhat challenging.

In this section, we put together a list of 20+ IB Math IA topic for SL and HL to help you understand what good topic looks like based on the selection criteria that we’ve shared in this guide.

1. How accurate are mathematical predictions for events with a low likelihood but huge impact?
2. Considering the risks involved in making decisions based on incomplete or conflicting information might make us more cautious.
3. How do normal numbers fare when compared to random number generators?
4. Create a virtual version of the disaster at Chernobyl and its subsequent effects on Japan.
5. Do the numbers that make up a Pythagorean triple follow any kind of regularity?
6. Does a high degree of association exist between BMI and GDP per capita?
7. What kinds of character combinations are best for online safety in light of brute force attacks?
8. To what extent does Bayesian probability work in a real-life setting and is it possible to add complexity to it?
9. How do those involved in pyramid schemes or other forms of fast-paced fraud use mathematics to amass huge fortunes so quickly?
10. Determine the climber's fall severity by measuring the distance from the final point of connection.
11. Is it feasible to forecast the outcome of athletic events using a Poisson model and some familiarity with Excel?
12. How long would it take someone to try to guess someone else’s password? What's the deal with adding symbols and digits to a password?
13. How can we identify individual tones using sine waves of different frequencies?
14. Is there a way to utilize arithmetic to predict how contagious diseases like measles will move across a population?
15. Do large transfer window expenditures result in a higher victory percentage a sports season?
16. With what method of voting can the most people be certain that their preferred candidate will win the election?
17. A study of the geometric sequence's connection to the camera's aperture
18. How well do you think integration would work to determine the gini coefficient for a sample of nations, allowing you to make reliable comparisons of the economic inequality between them?
19. Find out if there's a correlation between music and fractions, or see if this series converges.
20. If a fatal flu virus were to sweep the globe, how long do you think it would take humanity to perish?
21. Examine the ratios of frequencies between notes to see why some do not sound good together while others do.
22. What kinds of numbers have the most bearing on a basketball team's success?
23. A look at how uncertainty about the future might make people more risk-averse and how asymmetric information plays a role in this phenomenon.
24. The ideal amount of force and launch angle for a javelin or shot put world record throw.
25. The gravitational attraction of other things in space causes the orbits of planets and comets to be elliptical. Look into the field of space exploration!
26. Study the numbers behind the processes of heredity and natural selection.
27. How can we utilize computers to learn more about sequences?
28. Is it possible to employ computational methods in addition to pure mathematics to find an answer?
29. Applying the mechanics of fast-moving spacecraft to the problem of interstellar travel
30. Applying quantum mechanics, we may examine the universe's innate probabilistic character.
31. If it takes the tortoise twice as long to cover the same distance as a runner, then there's no way the runner can catch up to it no matter how fast he runs.
32. Using tools from probability and game theory, researchers investigate the most effective bluffing techniques for poker.
33. Does the time it takes a kid to arrive to school depend on how far they live from the school?
34. Check out the Guardian Stats to see if the top teams in the league are also the ones that commit the most fouls.

Tips to Help You Write the Best Math IA Assignment

The following tips can help you write a more comprehensive IB Math IA assignment:

1. Choose a Topic You’re Interested In

Since you will be working on your Math IA for a few months, it would be preferable if you choose a topic that genuinely interests you, rather than one that is simply required.

2. Use a Simple Language

Ensure that language is exact, clear, and succinct. Write your IA in a way that anybody of your age can read and understand.

Choosing a complicated topic may result in a disorganized and difficult-to-understand IA, so try to avoid doing so. Also, avoid writing lengthy accounts of your own experiences. This is the requirement for "Communication" on the math IA.

3. Use Appropriate Terms

Use appropriate mathematical notation and symbols throughout your IA report.

To properly format all mathematical symbols, use MathType or a comparable program for mathematical expressions. Doing so will enhance clarity and will get you easy points for "Mathematical Presentation"

4. Reflect

IB also requires you to reflect on your findings in the report as part of your IA. Comment (thoughtfully), but avoid paraphrasing the results.

Describe some of the insights you've acquired from the IA mathematical conclusion. The greater the depth of your contemplation, the more points you will receive for the "Reflection" criterion.

Do You Need Help With Your IB Math Internal Assessment?

The mathematics internal assessment requires an astute mind to complete, and choosing the topic is the least of your worries. Many students are scared stiff on its account, but you don’t have to be. Help for Assessment is here to help you pass the internal assessment in maths, and not just because of this guide.

The team here is made up of top IB experts who will do the internal assessment for you upon request. All you have to do is leave us your order here, and we guarantee you top grades and 100% original, impeccably researched, and fully proofed work. Of course, confidentiality is guaranteed, no matter where you come from.