Coming up with a list of IB Math IA topics in a short time isn’t easy. You’ll more than likely spend hours brainstorming and researching to verify your selection.
Fortunately, there’s an easier way, which is to look at pre-written topics.
In this respect, we’ve put together a list of 20+ IB Math IA ideas from which you can choose a topic to focus your research. Whether you’re in your last minute rush or you still have time, this list will enable you to get through the topic selection phase faster.
Key Takeaways
- The Math Internal Assessment assignment is worth 20% marks of the final grade for HL and SL.
- Given the significant contribution these scores make to the final grade, you should work on an interesting topic that you can easily explore within the scope of the assessment criteria.
- You can work on any topic you like, as long as you can explore the issue within the recommended 2,000 words, exclusive of diagrams, graphs, appendices and bibliography.
- The paper can be 12 to 20 pages long because of graphs, tables, and diagram.
25+ of the Best IB Internal Assessment Topics in Mathematics
The number one challenge for many IB learners when it comes to Math internal assessment is to choose the right topic.
If you look at it at face value, Math is just another one of the IB-approved subjects that require you investigate a topic and present your findings in a written report. In reality, coming up with a good idea, which you can use to prove that you have a strong grip of mathematical concepts and principles, isn’t as easy.
So we’ve put together a list of 25+ topic ideas to make the ideation process easy for you.
- Explore the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita.
- Do a comparative analysis of regular numbers and random number generators to unveil patterns and anomalies.
- Use the case study on measles transmission dynamics to leverage arithmetic for predictive modeling of contagious diseases.
- Use the sine waves as key indicators to unravel the utility of different frequencies in identifying individual tones.
- Mitigating decision-making risks: Do a comprehensive examination of cautionary approaches in the face of incomplete or conflicting information.
- Do an excel-based forecasting of athletic event outcomes by exploring the Poisson model’s viability.
- Pythagorean triples: Investigate the regularities within the constituent numbers.
- Decrypting password guessing dynamics: Do a time-based analysis with emphasis on symbolic and numeric additions.
- Bayesian probability in real-world applications: Evaluate its efficacy and enhancing complexity
- You can investigating the relationship between music and fractions.
- Electoral confidence through voting mechanisms: Determine the most assuring method for preferred candidate victory.
- Utilize distance measurements from the final point of connection to quantify climber fall severity.
- Unravel the geometric sequence’s influence on camera aperture in a comprehensive study.
- The mathematics of rapid wealth accumulation: Do a case study on pyramid schemes and fast-paced fraud strategies.
- You can focus on a mathematical approach to resisting brute force attacks and enhance online safety.
- Financial investments in sports: Analyze the impact of large transfer window expenditures on seasonal victory percentages.
- You can focus on the accuracy of mathematical predictions in low-probability, high-impact scenarios.
- Is virtual simulation of Chernobyl disaster and its ripple effects on Japan an innovative mathematical approach?
- You can project the global impact duration in the event of a fatal flu virus outbreak.
- Do a comprehensive evaluation of mathematical models for predicting low-probability, high-impact events.
- You can focus on unraveling the numerical facets critical to a basketball team’s triumph.
- You can transpose the principles of swift spacecraft into the realm of interstellar voyage challenges
- Integrate computational methodologies with pure mathematics to explore problem-solving avenues
- Determine the optimal force magnitude and launch angle for record-breaking javelin or shot put throws
- Scrutinize the elliptical orbits of planets and comets induced by gravitational attractions in space.
- Dissect the frequency ratios between musical notes to discern harmonic consonance and dissonance.
- Probe the probabilistic fabric of the universe through the lens of quantum mechanics.
- Focus on employing a fusion of probability theory and game theory to scrutinize optimal bluffing strategies in poker.
- You can work on an Internal Assessment that focuses on harnessing computational tools to delve into the intricacies of sequence analysis.
- Scrutinize the numerical underpinnings of hereditary processes and the principles of natural selection.
- Investigate the correlation between travel time for schoolchildren and their proximity to educational institutions.
- Assess the correlation between top-ranking sports teams and their foul-committing tendencies through Guardian Stats.
- Explore the mathematical certainty that a runner cannot surpass a tortoise if the latter takes twice as long to cover the same distance.
- Unravel the nexus between uncertainty about the future, risk aversion, and the role of asymmetric information in shaping decision-making tendencies.
Tips to Write a Math IA That Stands Out
The following are some pointers that can help you choose the right topic to focus your Internal Assessment assignment in Math:
1. Choose an Engaging Topic
Select a topic that genuinely interests you, as you’ll be dedicating several weeks to your internal assessment. It’s usually better to choose personal interest over necessity.
2. Maintain Clarity in Language
Ensure your language is precise, clear, and concise. Aim for a writing style that is accessible to readers of your age group. That means you should avoid complex topics that may lead to disorganization and difficulty in understanding.
Avoid lengthy personal accounts, as they do not align with the ‘Communication’ criterion for Math IA.
3. Use Appropriate Mathematical Terms
Consistently use suitable mathematical notation and symbols in your IA report.
Use tools like MathType for accurate formatting of mathematical expressions. This practice not only enhances clarity but also contributes to scoring points under the ‘Mathematical Presentation’ criterion.
4. Reflect Thoughtfully
Incorporate reflection into your report, as per IB requirements.
Thoughtfully comment on your findings without merely paraphrasing results. Also, describe the insights gained from your mathematical conclusion, aiming for depth in contemplation to maximize points under the ‘Reflection’ criterion.”