[ambbs]

I was just wondering how hard it is to get a Level 7 in HL Maths, because all of the unis I really want to go to require this. I'm still debating between IB and A Levels, and at the moment I'm leaning towards IB, although I don't want to do IB if I'm going to really struggle getting a L7 in HL Maths, when it seem like it would be easier to do Maths and FM at A Level and get 2 A*s.

My maths teacher has assured me that I can cope with HL Maths and without wanting to sound immodest, I'm 99% sure I've got an A* at GCSE...but I realise that this still doesn't mean I'm necessarily going to do well at IB on such a hard course (because let's be honest, GCSE Maths = piece of piss compared to A Levels/IB) and I'm really worried that I won't be able to get a L7 no matter how hard I work, so I'd appreciate any thoughts about how difficult it is, and whether A Levels would be better!

[Jonty007]

Much easier to do well in Maths at A levels. Everything is staggered over 2 years and the questions are much more straight forward. Apart from 20% Coursework in IB, everything rests on the final 2 years worth of exams and the questions are harder in the sense that a single question may need 3-4 different topics such as logs/functions/calc etc. Its a risk. you need to be really good at understanding the math to do well in IB.

[ambbs]

Yeah I've been told it's much easier at A Level, but I'm still attracted towards the IB as a whole because I want to carry on studying a range of subjects. I just want to know how hard it actually is to get a Level 7 and whether it's a realistic prospect! Thanks though :-)

[Elizabeth29]

Math HL is very hard. Very few people get a 7 in it. It takes both skill and a lot of work and it can be overwhelming sometimes. You only have a chance at a 7 if you love maths, you work for several hours a day on maths and you have natural talent. I am currently in HL maths.

Hope this helps.

[ambbs]

Thank you :-) I think I'm going to do the IB and just work like crazy! I do love maths and would love to get a 6 or 7, so that will hopefully give me the motivation to work incredibly hard and do well!

Can I ask, did you/do you take HL Maths then?

[MAMDS1993]

I got a 7 in maths, just got my results today!

First of all, don't panic, Math HL wasn't meant to be for geniuses or math freaks! Its perfectly doable with a lot of hardwork! For 2 weeks before my exams I did past papers and went over markschemes to familiarize myself with things that I couldn't do. But before going into the markschemes try as hard as you can to solve the problem yourself..and then if possible get the questionbank because it will allow you to look through questions that are of similar type and then see if you can master the concept needed to solve that type of question.

Secondly math HL is hard, so you need to know that you need to put in quite abit of time into it every single day. Just do an hour of math every day you can choose to work topic by topic and every day you learn something in class make sure you do questions on what you've learnt because it will help you know where you are having trouble and ask your teacher.

Finally, yes Math HL does require some talent and skill so if you find that you cannot handle it just drop it there's no shame or embarrassment in that, its the hardest IB course after physics HL I believe. For your portfolios spend a lot of time on them perfecting them ask your teacher for help wherever he can help you. If you are stuck ask for hints on here or on IB survival, people are more than willing to give you hints. However don't expect them to give you direct answers either.

Lastly just wanna wish you good luck! And definitely do IB its something you'll never regret going into uni because you will be so used to doing such a lot of coursework that you won't find uni too difficult!! GOODLUCK and you'll be awesome, don't panic!

[MAMDS1993]

Sorry missed the line where you talked about your unis, your list may well change within the 2 years as well, so thats something to consider. Your potential career might be affected as well so don't dwell too much on uni you want to go to at this point, just think of your course and if you won't like math HL its likely you won't enjoy a math based uni course so thats something to consider too!

[boromir9111]

(Original post by MAMDS1993)
I got a 7 in maths, just got my results today!

'grats

[danny111]

(Original post by Elizabeth29)
Math HL is very hard. Very few people get a 7 in it. It takes both skill and a lot of work and it can be overwhelming sometimes. You only have a chance at a 7 if you love maths, you work for several hours a day on maths and you have natural talent.

Hope this helps.

Actually HL maths has a higher % of 7's than other HL subjects - people are only fear-mongering. They are shocked because those taking it tend to be the best at maths and everyone is surprised how many of them dont get a 7.

@ OP - do enough past papers (and this you dont have to do in Year 12. Concentrate on coursework for other subjects then. Starting revision at xmas y13 is enough, really). But understand them. Don't just remember how the solutions look like. That will not be enough.

[MAMDS1993]

Yeah danny is actually right, math is marked most objectively which is why it becomes easier to know how to gain your points. I was bitterly disappointed with chemistry, I scored a 6, I think it was probably because my answers lacked the right words or the manner in which our lab reports were moderated was harsh. Group 4 IAs are very harshly moderated compared to group 5 and group 3.

[Heeck]

(Original post by danny111)
Actually HL maths has a higher % of 7's than other HL subjects - people are only fear-mongering. They are shocked because those taking it tend to be the best at maths and everyone is surprised how many of them dont get a 7.

@ OP - do enough past papers (and this you dont have to do in Year 12. Concentrate on coursework for other subjects then. Starting revision at xmas y13 is enough, really). But understand them. Don't just remember how the solutions look like. That will not be enough.

Would like to know where you found this information, the only other higher level subjects I could imagine that have fewer 7s are English, Physics, Chemistry and perhaps History?

[danny111]

(Original post by MAMDS1993)
Yeah danny is actually right, math is marked most objectively which is why it becomes easier to know how to gain your points. I was bitterly disappointed with chemistry, I scored a 6, I think it was probably because my answers lacked the right words or the manner in which our lab reports were moderated was harsh. Group 4 IAs are very harshly moderated compared to group 5 and group 3.

Don't forget follow through marks either. Mess up 1 part of the question, no problem.

[MAMDS1993]

Biology has one of the lowest percentage of 7s as well. It is somewhat considered an easier HL. For may 2011 these were the stats

Math HL- 7% scored 7
chem HL- 8% scored 7
Biology HL- 5% scored 7
Physics HL- 11% scored 7
English HL- 2% scored 7

I think bio n english r definitely more difficult..chem phy is debatable.

[danny111]

(Original post by Heeck)
Would like to know where you found this information, the only other higher level subjects I could imagine that have fewer 7s are English, Physics, Chemistry and perhaps History?

I don't want to sound rude, but this information is accessible within 15 seconds of opening google, and if you can't be bothered to find it yourself then I won't help you.

Business: 4.66 mean 4% get 7 19% get a 6
Economics: 5.12 mean 15% get 7 27% get a 6
Geography: 5.07 mean 12% get a 7 25% get a 6
History: 4.29 mean 2% get a 7 10% get a 6
Philosophy: 4.86 mean 4% get a 7 21% get a 6
Psychology: 4.50 mean 4% get a 7 17% get a 6

Maths HL: 4.37 mean 7% get a 7 15% get a 6
Maths Studies: 4.66 mean 7% get a 7 21% get a 6

I could compare to the sciences as well, but just comparing maths HL to Group 3 tells you 1 thing - there are a ton of people doing maths HL that really should not be doing it. It has a high number getting 7s but its mean is rather low. Tells you that some people would be a lot better off not doing it at all.

ps Physics is actually the Group 4 course with the HIGHEST grades - 11% at HL get a 7, 8% at SL get a 7, chem is 8 and 6 bio is only 5 and 4.

pps yes History is actually one of the toughest subjects there is in terms of grades. the only subject that I found at a quick glance that was worse was ITGS HL with 0% 7s and 4% 6s.

[ambbs]

(Original post by MAMDS1993)
I got a 7 in maths, just got my results today!

Wow, well done!! :-) Maths is the only subject in my school, apart from Chemistry, where no one's ever got a 7, so I think that was part of the reason I was so worried about doing it...but your advice has been so helpful and convinced me that it's definitely worth a try if I'm prepared to work hard! Going to just make sure I really understand everything as I go along, rather than just accepting why an answer is correct, and do some maths every day if possible, even if it's just for ten minutes or so and hopefully this will be enough :-)

Thanks so much to everyone for taking the time to help me, really appreciate it! Hopefully in two years time I'll be able to offer people the same advice you just gave me :-)

[MAMDS1993]

(Original post by ambbs)
Wow, well done!! :-) Maths is the only subject in my school, apart from Chemistry, where no one's ever got a 7, so I think that was part of the reason I was so worried about doing it...but your advice has been so helpful and convinced me that it's definitely worth a try if I'm prepared to work hard! Going to just make sure I really understand everything as I go along, rather than just accepting why an answer is correct, and do some maths every day if possible, even if it's just for ten minutes or so and hopefully this will be enough :-)

Thanks so much to everyone for taking the time to help me, really appreciate it! Hopefully in two years time I'll be able to offer people the same advice you just gave me :-)

You know you are in not a very different situation from myself! I considered taking math SL but I just decided to give math HL a try, and in my school no one had not even scored a 6 in math HL since it began doing IB back in 2006! But don't let people's results bother you, at the end of the day its all down to you and how much effort you put in. Last yr the highest in our school was a 5 and a mark away from a 4! So you can and definitely do it if it hasn't been done before.