| This article is part of a series on the International Baccalaureate |
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The Group 5 (or Mathematics and computer science) subjects of the IB Diploma Programme consist of four different mathematics courses and two computer science courses.[1] To earn an IB Diploma, a candidate must pass one of the following four mathematics courses: Mathematical Studies SL (Standard Level), Mathematics SL, Mathematics HL (Higher Level), or Further Mathematics SL.[2] The Group 5 electives are Further Mathematics SL (if taken in addition to Mathematics HL), Computer science SL, and Computer science HL. Although Computer Science is in Group 5, this is only an administrative convenience - a Computer Science course does not fulfill the Group 5 requirement for an IB Diploma.[3]
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The Mathematical Studies SL course "is designed to build confidence and encourage an appreciation of mathematics in students" who do not expect mathematics to be a major component of their university studies.[4] Its curriculum consists of the following topics:[5]
Students are provided a minimum of 130 hours of instruction on these topics.[6]
The internal assessment for this course comprises 20% of the final mark and consists of a project that is "an individual piece of work involving the collection of information or the generation of measurement."[7] The project is intended to make up 20 hours of the overall classroom time for the course.[8]
The details for the external assessment exams, both of which evaluate a student's knowledge of the entire curriculum, are outlined in the table[9] below.
| Exam | Time limit | # and type of questions | % of final mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (GDC required) | 1 hour, 30 minutes | 15 short response questions | 40% |
| Paper 2 (GDC required) | 1 hour, 30 minutes | 5 extended response questions | 40% |
Mathematics SL is primarily intended for students who "expect to need a sound mathematical background as they prepare for future studies in subjects such as chemistry, economics, psychology and business administration,"[10] and its curriculum is a proper subset of the Mathematics HL curriculum. Topics from the following areas form the common "Core curriculum" for both courses:[11][12]
In Mathematics SL, students are provided a minimum of 140 instructional hours on the topics from the Core.[13]
Mathematics HL is primarily intended for students "with a good background in mathematics who are competent in a range of analytical and technical skills,"[14] and who anticipate that mathematics will be "a major component of their university studies, either as a subject in its own right or within courses such as physics, engineering and technology."[15] Therefore HL students study the Core topics in greater depth for a minimum of 190 instructional hours and study at least one of the following optional topics ("Options"),[16] for a minimum of 40 additional instructional hours:[17]
In both courses, there is an internal assessment composed of two portfolio projects, each of which is worth 10% of the student's final mark (thus together they form 20% of the final mark). The portfolio projects are intended to comprise a combined total of 10 hours of the overall classroom time for both courses.[18][19] A description of the two types of required portfolio projects follows below:
The table[20][21] below outlines the external assessment requirements for both courses:
| Course | Exam | Time limit | Description | # and type of questions | % of final mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics SL | Paper 1 (no calculator) | 1 hour, 30 minutes | Section A | ~7 short response questions | |
| Section B | ~3 extended response questions | 40% | |||
| Paper 2 (GDC required) | 1 hour, 30 minutes | Section A | ~7 short response questions | ||
| Section B | ~3 extended response questions | 40% | |||
| Mathematics HL | Paper 1 (no calculator) | 2 hours | Section A | ~10 short response questions | |
| Section B | ~5 extended response questions | 30% | |||
| Paper 2 (GDC required) | 2 hours | Section A | ~10 short response questions | ||
| Section B | ~5 extended response questions | 30% | |||
| Paper 3 (GDC required) | 1 hour | ~5 extended response questions | 20% |
In both courses, the Paper 1 and Paper 2 exams test students only on their knowledge of topics from the Core.[22][23] In Mathematics HL, the Paper 3 exam tests students specifically on their knowledge of the material from the Option selected by the school.[24] As of the May 2008 examinations, schools are required to register students for a specific Option in advance and the school is now provided only the examination paper for the registered Option.[25] In order for a student to be awarded full marks for an answer on any of the Mathematics SL or HL exams, accurate work must be shown.[26][27]
The Further Mathematics SL course is designed for students with a high degree of competence and interest in mathematics, and who "intend to study mathematics at university, either as a subject in its own right or as a major component of a related subject."[28] Students who take this course most often also take Mathematics HL[29] and knowledge of all material from the Core curriculum of Mathematics HL is necessary and presumed, as well as knowledge of at least one of the four Options offered in Mathematics HL.[30] The curriculum for Further Mathematics SL includes all of the topics from all four of these Options,[31] for which 120 hours of instruction are allotted,[32] and additional topics from geometry,[33] for which 30 hours of instruction are allotted.[34] There are no optional topics in Further Mathematics SL.[35]
There is no internal assessment for this course. A summary of the required external assessment exams, both of which evaluate the student's knowledge of the entire curriculum, is provided in the table[36] below.
| Exam | Time limit | # and type of questions | % of final mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (GDC required) | 1 hour | 4–6 short response questions | 35% |
| Paper 2 (GDC required) | 2 hours | 4–6 extended response questions | 65% |
Further Mathematics SL will become a Higher Level course for 2014 exams onwards. [37]
Computer Science SL and HL students are required to study a common core of 3 topics, for a total of 125 teaching hours.[38]
Computer Science HL students are also required to study 4 additional topics, for a total of 80 teaching hours.[39]
The external assessment component of the course is summarised in the table[40] below:
| Course | Exam | Time limit | Description | # and type of questions | % of final mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science SL | Paper 1 | 1 hour, 30 minutes | Section A | Several compulsory short answer questions | |
| Section B | 4 compulsory structured questions | 32.5% | |||
| Paper 2 | 1 hour, 30 minutes | Section A | 2 compulsory extended-response questions
including the construction of an algorithm |
||
| Section B | 1 compulsory structured
question based on the case study |
32.5% | |||
| Computer Science HL | Paper 1 | 2 hours 15 mins | Section A | Several compulsory short answer questions | |
| Section B | 6 compulsory structured questions | 32.5% | |||
| Paper 2 | 2 hours 15 mins | Section A | 3 compulsory extended-response questions
including the construction of an algorithm |
||
| Section B | 1 compulsory structured question based on the case study | 32.5% |
An internal assessment component, consisting of a program dossier which is designed to address a single problem counts for 35% of the final grade in both courses. In Computer Science SL, the Dossier should have 25 teaching hours dedicated to it, while in Computer Science HL, this should be 35 teaching hours[41].
Students are permitted and expected to use a graphic display calculator (GDC) on some or all of their IB mathematics exams, depending on which course the student takes. Noting again that calculators are not permitted on the Paper 1 exam for both Mathematics SL and HL,[42] the IB offers the following guidance with regards to required GDC functionality on mathematics exams:
"A GDC with the following minimum functionalities is required on all other papers:
Examiners will set questions assuming that all candidates have a GDC with the minimum functionalities listed here. Candidates using only four-function or scientific calculators, or a less able GDC will be at a disadvantage."[43]
- draw graphs with any viewing window
- solve equations numerically
- add and multiply and find inverse matrices
- find a numerical derivative at a point
- find a numerical definite integral
- find p values (not required for mathematics SL).
All other types of calculators (such as those found on phones, watches, or PDAs, or those equipped with a Computer Algebra System (CAS)) are prohibited on all IB exams.[44] To be approved for use on IB exams, a GDC must have its memory cleared and all user-written/downloaded programs and applications must be removed (except for a limited number of specifically approved applications).[45] The list of approved applications primarily consists of native language support for users who are not English speakers, along with a small number of additional applications.[46]
Recommended models include the TI-83 Plus/TI-84 Plus families and 11 different non-CAS Casio GDCs,[47] as well as the non-CAS TI-Nspire either with TI-84 faceplate[48] or with the Nspire faceplate configured as described below.
While the TI-Nspire with Nspire faceplate was initially prohibited,[49] it was later authorized, provided the (non-CAS) GDC is equipped with version 1.3 of the operating software, has the "Press-to-Test" mode enabled (with "limit geometry functions" enabled), and has the green LED flashing. (A notice that reflected this change was posted on the IB Online Curriculum Center on 15 Sep 2008.)