All four courses, taught as four different subjects.

Analysis and Approaches and Applications and Interpretation are not one subject at two speeds. They reward different skills and examine differently. We teach all four — and we will tell you if your child is in the wrong one.

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Which course

AA or AI — and what to do if your child is in the wrong one.

Course	What it is	Who it suits
AA SL	Core calculus, functions, trigonometry, statistics. Algebraic fluency assumed.	Comfortable with abstract manipulation; heading for a numerate degree.
AA HL	The hardest IB Maths course. Advanced calculus, proof, complex numbers, series.	Engineering, physics, maths, computer science, economics.
AI SL	Statistics, modelling, real-world application. Heavy GDC use.	Social sciences, business, arts, design.
AI HL	Advanced statistics, calculus in context, mathematical modelling.	Data science, economics, life sciences.

AA rewards algebraic technique and proof. AI rewards modelling, interpretation and confident use of the calculator. A student strong at manipulation and weak at written interpretation will find AI harder than its reputation suggests — and the reverse is just as true.

The Exploration

It is 20% of the grade, and most students leave marks on it.

Unlike an exam, it can be worked on for months. The commonest failure is not weak mathematics — it is choosing a topic with nowhere to go, or writing up an investigation without the personal engagement and reflection the criteria explicitly reward.

We start Exploration coaching early enough to change the topic if it is not going to work. Included, not charged as an extra.

What we cover

Foundation repair first — most HL problems are IGCSE algebra problems in disguise
Full syllabus for whichever of the four courses your child sits
GDC technique, which AI students in particular are rarely taught properly
Method-mark presentation: laying out working so a wrong answer still scores
Paper 1 and Paper 2 strategy, and Paper 3 for HL
Full Exploration coaching, topic choice to reflection

Questions

What parents ask.

What is the difference between AA and AI?

Analysis and Approaches emphasises algebra, calculus and proof; Applications and Interpretation emphasises statistics, modelling and real-world interpretation with heavier calculator use. Neither is the easy one — they are hard in different ways.

My child is doing AA HL and drowning. Is it too late?

Usually not, but the honest answer depends on where in the course they are and what the foundation looks like. AA HL problems very often turn out to be unresolved IGCSE algebra. That is fixable, and faster than most families fear.

Do you help with the Mathematical Exploration?

Yes, included. We coach topic selection, the level of mathematical depth the criteria expect, personal engagement, and the reflection section. We would rather see a draft at three months than a finished piece at three weeks.

Bring us the last paper your child sat.

We’ll show you exactly where the marks went.

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