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May 2009 IB Mathematics HL Examination Thread - How to secure a 7 in Maths HL?

Okay, this is a simple question; I just want to share some ideas pertaining to Maths HL revision for the next few months. Basically I am going to use Cambridge and IBID book for my core and use IBID for Stat option. I am a little worried as I haven't covered as well as learned that much from H&H book, which is crap when compared to other books, to be honest. After thorough revision of basic concepts and sample questions, from early March I think I should also refer to past papers 2004 onwards. Any constructive advice would be appreciated.

Reply 1

jc_bach

7

Good idea, more practice makes you lot more prepared for the real exam (esp for paper 1). Yeh practice questions without using calculator.

Reply 2

Aliquantus

For the core, I am going over my IBID-book again. For Series & DE, I will use IBID and Calculus by Adams. Then of course I will do loads of old exams.

jc_bach

Good idea, more practice makes you lot more prepared for the real exam (esp for paper 1). Yeh practice questions without using calculator.

Certainly, but do make sure that you know how to use your calculator. It can save many points. I'll use it as much as possible during the exams (sketching graphs etc).

Reply 3

Jong Il Kim

OP

Aliquantus

For the core, I am going over my IBID-book again. For Series & DE, I will use IBID and Calculus by Adams. Then of course I will do loads of old exams.
Certainly, but do make sure that you know how to use your calculator. It can save many points. I'll use it as much as possible during the exams (sketching graphs etc).

great. By the way, when are you going to revise the past paper then? from early or mid-march?

Reply 4

jc_bach

7

Aliquantus

For the core, I am going over my IBID-book again. For Series & DE, I will use IBID and Calculus by Adams. Then of course I will do loads of old exams.

Certainly, but do make sure that you know how to use your calculator. It can save many points. I'll use it as much as possible during the exams (sketching graphs etc).

Well you do know that there is a paper 1 that you cannot use ur calculator. Thats more important than practicing using calculator (you just need to know the technique once)

Reply 5

rocketxsciencebabe

Is that IBID textbook good? The one I'm using is published by Oxford, and I personally find it quite crappy. Do you have any other suggestions for math HL textbooks?

Reply 6

Aliquantus

Jong Il Kim

great. By the way, when are you going to revise the past paper then? from early or mid-march?

I haven't really decided. My plan is to have revised all of the maths by week 12 or something like that. But that includes five weeks option revision, which might turn out to be a bit.. excessive. So probably around week ten or so. I have however been doing past papers continouosly (for fun :biggrin:

) for my entire IB years.

First I thought about doing past papers through out the revision period, but now I think I will revise and then do past papers.

rocketxsciencebabe

Is that IBID textbook good? The one I'm using is published by Oxford, and I personally find it quite crappy. Do you have any other suggestions for math HL textbooks?

Yeah, I find it very good and would definitely recommend it!

jc_bach

Well you do know that there is a paper 1 that you cannot use ur calculator. Thats more important than practicing using calculator (you just need to know the technique once)

I am aware of that. From my experience (ie classmates), people don't usually use their calculators as much as they could have. For instance checking if you have differentiated something correctly. That has saved me a few times at least..

Reply 7

Jong Il Kim

OP

Aliquantus

I haven't really decided. My plan is to have revised all of the maths by week 12 or something like that. But that includes five weeks option revision, which might turn out to be a bit.. excessive. So probably around week ten or so. I have however been doing past papers continouosly (for fun :biggrin:

) for my entire IB years.

haha thanks for your comment :smile:

enjoyed reading it :p:

by the way what do you mean by week 10 and 12? I just don't get it.

Reply 8

Aliquantus

Jong Il Kim

haha thanks for your comment :smile:

enjoyed reading it :p:

by the way what do you mean by week 10 and 12? I just don't get it.

My plan is to have revised the whole maths syllabus by week 12, but I think I will be done by week 10. :smile:

Edit: I just realised that maybe you aren't used to measuring the time in weeks.. That's what we do here, anyway. Week 10 is early March and week 12 is mid-March.

Reply 9

Forester

The H&H book is not crap. If you can do all the questions in there without any effort, then you are guaranteed a 7.

I was just looking at the vectors chapter the other day in the IBID red book and it was missing a crucial formula that the H&H book has. The IBID book also covers more stuff than needed.

Reply 10

sahajumang

I have most things by the H&H book, i dont have any other book, though.
I think the trick is to do papers, as the questions in the books tend to be easier than the ones in the papers because using books tend to be part of learning process.

I pretty confused about the time to give in to Math HL, but I think one strategy would be to perfect your portfolios.

Reply 11

Rainfaery

12

We've just finished the core syllabus at my school, and are about to start our option, which we'll finish by mid-February. So, at that point, we're going to start doing past papers in class, and revising specific topics. I'm really hoping to get a 7, so I'll let you know how my revision goes. :p:

Reply 12

running from demons

9

How would people suggest practising to get a top mark in paper 2? I'm fine with paper 1 and the option topic, but I've just done a trial exam on paper 2 and it was crap :frown:

I'm planning on doing loads of timed practise papers, but is there anything else people can suggest? I feel that the textbook (H and H) isn't really hard enough to prepare for paper 2, so can anybody suggest another IB book that has more advanced, longer questions? Would the IBID one be suitable?

Reply 13

Jong Il Kim

OP

Yup, I found H&H crap as well. Although they offer you a strong foundation, they are not that advanced enough for you to solve harder questions in the real papers. So I would say you should try IBID and Cambridge ones if you want to secure a 7.