IBgrl28x Posted July 11, 2008 Report Share Posted July 11, 2008 (edited) Hey everyone! Next year I am taking IB Math HL and I'm not really sure what to expect ... I heard its quite the challenege, and people that have gotten high 90's in honors classes are now getting 70's. What makes this class so hard?? This really scared me because I like math - when I'm good at it! This year I took Intermediate Algebra and trigonometry honors, which was an honors course for trig algebra II and some precalc. I received an overall average of 99 this year, but what will happen to me next year? Any input is greatly appreciated =) Edited July 11, 2008 by IBgrl28x Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blubberle Posted July 11, 2008 Report Share Posted July 11, 2008 Hey everyone! Next year I am taking IB Math HL and I'm not really sure what to expect ... I heard its quite the challenege, and people that have gotten high 90's in honors classes are now ing 70's. What makes this class so hard?? This really scared me because I like math - when I'm good at it! gettThis year I took Intermediate Algebra and trigonometry honors, which was an honors course for trig algebra II and some precalc. I received an overall average of 99 this year, but what will happen to me next year? Any input is greatly appreciated =)hello,I took maths higher level and to be fair, it is not as hard as said. Still, we were 6 at the beginning of the year, 1 dropped immediatly to studies, and i was the only one who passed the internal first-year exam. however, except from one, we all carry on with it. Managing Maths higher level is not impossible but needs a lot of time, as well as physics hl. I struggled at the beginning because of my lack of english and i wasn't used to work-which changed a lot now^^.If you like maths, take it as a hl, but don't expect to get good marks from the very beginning, and it will get harder towards the end. nevertheless, I took it, and i don't regret it at all, it's so interesting, we do things others do when studying maths the first year in university.If you were really good at maths previously you'll manage it, if you didn't just learn passed papers by heard but really understood your stuff. Learning stuff by heart doesn't help at the ib-except voc. for languages;)there are so few girls doing maths higher (i'm the only one from my year), do it but keep on with the stuff all the time!greetingsblubberle Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatgirl Posted July 12, 2008 Report Share Posted July 12, 2008 From what I gather it's a very hard class with a lot of content... so be careful what you wish for! Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shotaway Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 Judging by your grades and positive attitude to Maths, I think you probably need to take it as it comes and not freak yourself out about it before you've started. It will take lots of time and effort, but that goes for everything else. So take a deep breath and get your hands on some good textbooks. Also, if you find a lot of trouble with it and want to drop down (this is a big, big IF, you don't even have to think about that now), Maths SL is about half of the HL syllabus. Just don't stress and do your best. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deissi Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 Also, if you find a lot of trouble with it and want to drop down (this is a big, big IF, you don't even have to think about that now), Maths SL is about half of the HL syllabus.To be more precise, Math SL is almost the same as HL content-wise, but none of the topics go nearly as deep, so it's a lot easier. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blubberle Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 (edited) To be more precise, Math SL is almost the same as HL content-wise, but none of the topics go nearly as deep, so it's a lot easier.No way! what about complex numbers? induction? just to say two.. HL students have to do all SL have to do, but a lot deeper + a lot more! just have a look at the syllabus. that's why you have 4 h HL and only 2 h SL in the second year. Math HL is a lot more than SLto be precise;)your teacher probably said.. and the HLs have to do this in more detail and that.. but he won't tell you all the this he does with them-what for? EXAM IN 10! MONTHS Edited July 14, 2008 by Blubberle Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zefar Posted July 16, 2008 Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 There are alot of things in HL that SL doesn't cover. If you are really into math, you should go for it. It is not THAT hard if you put your effort into it. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abu Posted July 16, 2008 Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 To be fair, after having done the exams, it's not that bad provided you can stay dedicated to it. Despite all the hullabaloo about the harder exams this year, the exams actually test how well you respond to pressure. Dedication to the subject is most important, doing tons of past papers and submitting a decent IA. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerox Posted July 16, 2008 Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 The content in math HL is goes both deeper and beyond the SL syllabus, however, that is not where i see the major problem with math HL.Most of the content that is in math HL can be learnt by most people but in math HL you need to know it all very very well. You should be able to read the question and then see from that how to find the answer, solving problems is not the hard part but solving them fast.I spend a lot of time on math solving problems even though i already know how to solve them, you have to come accustomed on the way that they want you to solve it.In the end your grade will be assessed on how well you take the test, and you should train on answering the "IB" questions.When taking the first test in math HL everyone in my class basically failed, and still our teacher was satisfied with us. But you seem to like math so i think you do well with the content, but watch out so that you don't slack I know some really smart people who did bad just because they thought they knewthe stuff but just weren't fast enough on the test. So devote time on math HL, it is probebly one of the most time consuming subjects in the IB. (if not the #1 time consuming) Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mania90 Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 The only problem which comes to my mind with Maths HL is the lack of time when doing papers. there's a lot of tasks and many ppl i know scored pretty bad during their final exam because they didn't have an opportunity to try to do some problems simply cause they run out of time.If you like maths and you won\'t have to analyse same type of problem anytime you see it but you will remember more or less how to do it, you're gonna pass wellFrom my observations: maths hl problems are based on schemes > you learn the scheme > you have greater chance to pass wellLearning schemes+ being fast+ loving/liking maths = more or less 6 unless you get really stressed Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjestel Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 Hey everyone! Next year I am taking IB Math HL and I'm not really sure what to expect ... I heard its quite the challenege, and people that have gotten high 90's in honors classes are now getting 70's. What makes this class so hard?? This really scared me because I like math - when I'm good at it! This year I took Intermediate Algebra and trigonometry honors, which was an honors course for trig algebra II and some precalc. I received an overall average of 99 this year, but what will happen to me next year? Any input is greatly appreciated =)HeyThe class is somewhat challenging, but if you do the prep, you will be fine. Remember that the standards arent the same for honours and IB classes. You arent necessarily expected to get every question, but you should aim to do the ones you attempt correctly. So focus on getting the question you do right, not the percentage. I had high 90s for math in precal, i get 70s now, and I've been predicted a 6-7. You'll be fine if you do the perparation. Good luck!jjestel Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwib Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 I'm not sure why Maths is so hard. In my class, people came in from their IGCSE 7/A* grades and instantly dropped to 3s and 3.5's. It must be a challenge. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
laneolaneo1 Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 It's hard simply because there are so few teaching hours, and so, so much ground to cover.You don't just do many topics, you do many topics in great detail.And then there's coursework, options... Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan91 Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 Math HL takes a lot of time to be good at it and even when you have finished a chapter it is not the end of it,it will keep reappearing and the thing is each topic has small nuances which easily slip your mind unless you are really consistent with the math other than that it is manageable.If math is your passion you should take HL but if your grades matter more take SL. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icarus Posted August 19, 2008 Report Share Posted August 19, 2008 I'm currently taking Maths Higher LEvel and i am really enjoying the subject but at the same time i'm finding it quite challenging.You cover a lot of material very quickly so unless you keep going back it is easy to forget how to do some of the more intricate parts of certain topics.I would only take it if you really enjoy maths or are looking to take a university course that requires it. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
babakren Posted August 19, 2008 Report Share Posted August 19, 2008 I'm taking HL at the moment and i think everyone who likes math are capable of doing well in this course. All you will need to have is commitment and your willingness to spend hours and hours of studying every week. The key to this course and i believe it is also the same for the other courses is to practice and practice. good luck =] Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
moneyfaery Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 If you like Math, you'll be fine. Just be prepared to work - no slacking off at all or you'll fall behind, and since the course moves very quickly, it will be a pain to catch up. Your raw score will obviously fall by quite a bit, but with a little work, the elusive 7 isn't so far away after conversions. Good luck! Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanhorn92 Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 ok, so at my school we are considering adding math HL next year, if they do would you recommend me taking Math HL or Physics HL? Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abu Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 Don't take Maths unless you're generally good at it. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajessie1992 Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 ok, so at my school we are considering adding math HL next year, if they do would you recommend me taking Math HL or Physics HL?Ib math is okay its just requires alot of time and patience and the will to learn and you need to be SUPER good at math in the first place. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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