● enable students to develop the qualities of patience and persistence, and to re ect on the signi cance

of their work

● provide opportunities for students to show, with con dence, how they have developed
mathematically.

Management of the exploration

Work on the exploration should be incorporated into the course so that students are given the opportunity
to learn the skills needed. Time in class can therefore be used for general discussion of areas of study, as well
as familiarizing students with the criteria. Further details on the development of the exploration are
included in the teacher support material.

Internal assessment criteria—SL and HL

The exploration is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB using assessment
criteria that relate to the objectives for mathematics.

Each exploration is assessed against the following ve criteria. The nal mark for each exploration is the sum
of the scores for each criterion. The maximum possible nal mark is 20.

Students will not receive a grade for their mathematics course if they have not submitted an
exploration.

Criterion A Presentation

Criterion B Mathematical communication

Criterion C Personal engagement

Criterion D Re ection

Criterion E Use of mathematics

Criterion A: Presentation

Achievement level Descriptor 

 0 The exploration does not reach the standard described by the descriptors below.

1 The exploration has some coherence or some organization.

2 The exploration has some coherence and shows some organization.

3 The exploration is coherent and well organized.

4 The exploration is coherent, well organized, and concise.

The “presentation” criterion assesses the organization and coherence of the exploration.

A coherent exploration is logically developed, easy to follow and meets its aim. This refers to the overall
structure or framework, including introduction, body, conclusion and how well the different parts link to
each other.

A well-organized exploration includes an introduction, describes the aim of the exploration and has a
conclusion. Relevant graphs, tables and diagrams should accompany the work in the appropriate place and
not be attached as appendices to the document. Appendices should be used to include information on
large data sets, additional graphs, diagrams and tables.

A concise exploration does not show irrelevant or unnecessary repetitive calculations, graphs or
descriptions.

The use of technology is not required but encouraged where appropriate. However, the use of analytic
approaches rather than technological ones does not necessarily mean lack of conciseness, and should not
be penalized. This does not mean that repetitive calculations are condoned.

Criterion B: Mathematical communication

Achievement Descriptor
level

0 The exploration does not reach the standard described by the descriptors below.

1 The exploration contains some relevant mathematical communication which is partially

appropriate. 
 2 The exploration contains some relevant appropriate mathematical communication.

3 The mathematical communication is relevant, appropriate and is mostly consistent.

4 The mathematical communication is relevant, appropriate and consistent throughout.

The “mathematical communication” criterion assesses to what extent the student has:

● used appropriate mathematical language (notation, symbols, terminology). Calculator and

computer notation is acceptable only if it is software generated. Otherwise it is expected that students
use appropriate mathematical notation in their work

● de ned key terms and variables, where required

● used multiple forms of mathematical representation, such as formulae, diagrams, tables, charts,
graphs and models, where appropriate

● used a deductive method and set out proofs logically where appropriate

Examples of level 1 can include graphs not being labelled, consistent use of computer notation with no
other forms of correct mathematical communication.

Level 4 can be achieved by using only one form of mathematical representation as long as this is
appropriate to the topic being explored. For level 4, any minor errors that do not impair clear
communication should not be penalizsed.

Criterion C: Personal engagement

Achievement level Descriptor

0 The exploration does not reach the standard described by the descriptors below.

1 There is evidence of some personal engagement.

2 There is evidence of signi cant personal engagement.

3 There is evidence of outstanding personal engagement.


The “personal engagement” criterion assesses the extent to which the student engages with the topic by
exploring the mathematics and making it their own. It is not a measure of effort.

Personal engagement may be recognized in different ways. These include thinking independently or
creatively, presenting mathematical ideas in their own way, exploring the topic from different perspectives,
making and testing predictions. Further (but not exhaustive) examples of personal engagement at different
levels are given in the teacher support material (TSM).

There must be evidence of personal engagement demonstrated in the student’s work. It is not sufficient
that a teacher comments that a student was highly engaged.

Textbook style explorations or reproduction of readily available mathematics without the candidate’s own
perspective are unlikely to achieve the higher levels.

Signi cant: The student demonstrates authentic personal engagement in the exploration on a few
occasions and it is evident that these drive the exploration forward and help the reader to better
understand the writer’s intentions.

Outstanding: The student demonstrates authentic personal engagement in the exploration in numerous
instances and they are of a high quality. It is evident that these drive the exploration forward in a creative
way. It leaves the impression that the student has developed, through their approach, a complete
understanding of the context of the exploration topic and the reader better understands the writer’s
intentions.

Criterion D: Re ection

Achievement level Descriptor

0 The exploration does not reach the standard described by the descriptors below.

1 There is evidence of limited re ection.

2 There is evidence of meaningful re ection.

3 There is substantial evidence of critical re ection.

The “re ection” criterion assesses how the student reviews, analyses and evaluates the exploration.
Although re ection may be seen in the conclusion to the exploration, it may also be found throughout the

exploration.
Simply describing results represents limited re ection. Further consideration is required to achieve the
higher levels.

Some ways of showing meaningful re ection are: linking to the aims of the exploration, commenting on
what they have learned, considering some limitation or comparing different mathematical approaches.

Critical re ection is re ection that is crucial, deciding or deeply insightful. It will often develop the
exploration by addressing the mathematical results and their impact on the student’s understanding of the
topic. Some ways of showing critical re ection are: considering what next, discussing implications of results,
discussing strengths and weaknesses of approaches, and considering different perspectives.

Substantial evidence means that the critical re ection is present throughout the exploration. If it appears
at the end of the exploration it must be of high quality and demonstrate how it developed the exploration
in order to achieve a level 3.

Further (but not exhaustive) examples of re ection at different levels are given in the teacher support
material (TSM).

Criterion E: Use of mathematics—SL

Achievement Descriptor
level

0 The exploration does not reach the standard described by the descriptors below.

1 Some relevant mathematics is used.

2 Some relevant mathematics is used. Limited understanding is demonstrated.

3 Relevant mathematics commensurate with the level of the course is used. Limited
understanding is demonstrated.

4 Relevant mathematics commensurate with the level of the course is used. The mathematics
explored is partially correct. Some knowledge and understanding are demonstrated.

5 Relevant mathematics commensurate with the level of the course is used. The mathematics
explored is mostly correct. Good knowledge and understanding are demonstrated.


 6 Relevant mathematics commensurate with the level of the course is used. The mathematics
explored is correct. Thorough knowledge and understanding are demonstrated.

The “Use of mathematics” SL criterion assesses to what extent students use mathematics that is relevant to
the exploration.

Relevant refers to mathematics that supports the development of the exploration towards the completion
of its aim. Overly complicated mathematics where simple mathematics would suffice is not relevant.

Students are expected to produce work that is commensurate with the level of the course, which means it
should not be completely based on mathematics listed in the prior learning. The mathematics explored
should either be part of the syllabus, or at a similar level.

A key word in the descriptor is demonstrated. The command term demonstrate means “to make clear by
reasoning or evidence, illustrating with examples or practical application”. Obtaining the correct answer is
not sufficient to demonstrate understanding (even some understanding) in order to achieve level 2 or
higher.

For knowledge and understanding to be thorough it must be demonstrated throughout.

The mathematics can be regarded as correct even if there are occasional minor errors as long as they do not
detract from the ow of the mathematics or lead to an unreasonable outcome.

Students are encouraged to use technology to obtain results where appropriate, but understanding must
be demonstrated in order for the student to achieve higher than level 1, for example merely substituting
values into a formula does not necessarily demonstrate understanding of the results.

The mathematics only needs to be what is required to support the development of the exploration. This
could be a few small elements of mathematics or even a single topic (or sub-topic) from the syllabus. It is
better to do a few things well than a lot of things not so well. If the mathematics used is relevant to the topic
being explored, commensurate with the level of the course and understood by the student, then it can
achieve a high level in this criterion.

Criterion E: Use of mathematics—HL

Achievement Descriptor
level

0 The exploration does not reach the standard described by the descriptors below.


 1 Some relevant mathematics is used. Limited understanding is demonstrated.

2 Some relevant mathematics is used. The mathematics explored is partially correct. Some
knowledge and understanding is demonstrated.

3 Relevant mathematics commensurate with the level of the course is used. The mathematics
explored is correct. Some knowledge and understanding are demonstrated.

4 Relevant mathematics commensurate with the level of the course is used. The mathematics
explored is correct. Good knowledge and understanding are demonstrated.

5 Relevant mathematics commensurate with the level of the course is used. The mathematics
explored is correct and demonstrates sophistication or rigour. Thorough knowledge and
understanding are demonstrated.

6 Relevant mathematics commensurate with the level of the course is used. The mathematics
explored is precise and demonstrates sophistication and rigour. Thorough knowledge and
understanding are demonstrated.

The “Use of mathematics” HL criterion assesses to what extent students use relevant mathematics in the
exploration.

Students are expected to produce work that is commensurate with the level of the course, which means it
should not be completely based on mathematics listed in the prior learning. The mathematics explored
should either be part of the syllabus, at a similar level or slightly beyond. However, mathematics of a level
slightly beyond the syllabus is not required to achieve the highest levels.

A key word in the descriptor is demonstrated. The command term demonstrate means to make clear by
reasoning or evidence, illustrating with examples or practical application. Obtaining the correct answer is
not sufficient to demonstrate understanding (even some understanding) in order to achieve level 2 or
higher.

For knowledge and understanding to be thorough it must be demonstrated throughout. Lines of reasoning
must be shown to justify steps in the mathematical development of the exploration.

Relevant refers to mathematics that supports the development of the exploration towards the completion
of its aim. Overly complicated mathematics where simple mathematics would suffice is not relevant.


The mathematics can be regarded as correct even if there are occasional minor errors as long as they do not
detract from the ow of the mathematics or lead to an unreasonable outcome. Precise mathematics is
error-free and uses an appropriate level of accuracy at all times.

Sophistication: To be considered as sophisticated the mathematics used should be commensurate with the
HL syllabus or, if contained in the SL syllabus, the mathematics has been used in a complex way that is
beyond what could reasonably be expected of an SL student. Sophistication in mathematics may include
understanding and using challenging mathematical concepts, looking at a problem from different
perspectives and seeing underlying structures to link different areas of mathematics.

Rigour involves clarity of logic and language when making mathematical arguments and calculations.
Mathematical claims relevant to the development of the exploration must be justi ed or proven.

Students are encouraged to use technology to obtain results where appropriate, but understanding must
be demonstrated in order for the student to achieve level 1 or higher, for example merely substituting
values into a formula does not necessarily demonstrate understanding of the results.

The mathematics only needs to be what is required to support the development of the exploration. This
could be a few small elements of mathematics or even a single topic (or sub-topic) from the syllabus. It is
better to do a few things well than a lot of things not so well. If the mathematics used is relevant to the topic
being explored, commensurate with the level of the course and understood by the student, then it can
achieve a high level in this criterion.

Last update: 10/08/2020

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