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How to choose a good math IA (HL/SL) topic

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Thursday 19th of December 2024 06:02:07 PM

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Getting it right from the start is critical in IB as it helps avoid wasting time on numerous revisions that drain you. With that in mind, it is vital to pick a focused topic that is not considered overly broad or too narrow. Picking a broad topic will have you break a sweat proving your point, while a narrow topic limits you on several fronts, including using recommended math concepts and creating a logical conclusion. This forms the basis of our post as we discuss getting Math IA good topics.

What are your interests?

Picking a topic related to your interest is essential for a good math IA. First, your personal engagement will not sound generic, nor will it be a piece written using AI. Instead, it will resonate with the examiner since you can articulate your points, show genuine interest and indicate your area of proof. Here are a few tips for scoring all the points in a personal engagement;

  • Share your story: Do not worry about being personal. Reflect on your experiences and how they relate to your proof: Indicate your understanding of proof and how you have come a long way through gaining insight. This ensures your personal engagement has a human touch and the reader can relate with it.
  • Share your motivation: What is the inspiration behind your topic and proofs? Can we tie it down to curiosity or the resolve to solve a problem? This shows your genuine interest and enthusiasm for the topic.
  • Share your experiences relevant to the topic and proofs: Your personal experiences can include your struggles in real world events and your breakthrough moments related to the topic. Such details ensure your personal engagement is memorable and engaging to the reader.
  • Be unique: Inspire creativity in your math exploration by choosing fresh perspectives. You can discuss real-world issues and explain how math concepts can help solve existing challenges.

Determine if you can explore the math IA topic?

Remember, every IB assignment requires in-depth research. Therefore, it is wise to consider a topic that is explorable on several fronts. This is what we refer to as scope. You can redefine your scope using different variables, population, timeframe, or other factors. This will guide your research and ensure your paper is rich in research. Ensure your math ia question has sufficient depth and will not limit your exploration.

Apart from whether a math IA question is explorable, there is always the quest to determine whether a topic is common and if tackling it can adversely impact one’s grade. This is all about originality. An IB student can showcase novelty by demonstrating unique insights, methods, or perspectives over the already existing knowledge. Of course, examiners have seen so many topics over the years. However, personal engagement and how one solves complex maths determine if the examiners will stay interested. Therefore, choosing a common topic used over the years is not a bad idea. However, ensure that you add value to it. Seek your teacher’s guidance on math concepts such as golden ratio, statistics, probability, and trigonometry, where we have sine/cosine rules.

Check the feasibility of your maths IA topic

Feasibility involves the practicality and availability of your math IA idea. An IB student can assess the feasibility of their topic by simply determining the resources they have at hand, such as data, skills needed to complete the paper (HL or SL),  and available time. One of the essential tips is to go for under-studied maths, which are topics that present unresolved problems. Such papers will interest your examiner and easily earn you a top grade. Under-studied maths IA ideas are easy to spot by reviewing existing literature and identifying areas requiring further investigation.

Key Takeaway

You can determine your Math IA by sticking to research questions within your area of interest, checking if a proposed research question is easy to explore, and determining the feasibility of your Ib Math IA topic. You can also check for under-studied Math ia topics and start your journey of writing an excellent paper. Alternatively, you can check our easy Math IA topics list or ask us for suggestions on Math IA topics. 

Do not forget we can write a custom math IB IA paper for you while you track the progress. Start by creating an order.