IB Maths IA Planner & Timeline
Follow the 7 stages of a strong IA, and generate a personal timeline from your submission date.
Generate your timeline
The 7 stages of a strong IA
1
Choose your topic & write your aim
The foundation of your entire IA. A vague topic leads to a vague exploration.
- Browse the topic idea bank for inspiration
- Identify genuine personal interest - what do you actually care about?
- Pressure-test the idea against the criteria before committing
- Write a precise aim: "To [model/investigate/compare] X using Y in order to Z"
- Confirm the maths involved is appropriate for your level
Your aim is not the same as your title. The aim should describe what you will actually do mathematically.
2
Research and data collection
Gather everything you need before you start writing. Going back for data mid-draft is painful.
- Identify any data sources (real measurements, databases, published datasets)
- Collect or obtain your primary data - keep a log of how you collected it
- Research relevant mathematical theory - understand what you'll use before you use it
- Note your sources for the bibliography
- Check: do you have enough data to draw meaningful conclusions?
Self-collected data almost always scores better for personal engagement than copied datasets.
3
Write your introduction & rationale
Set the scene. Tell the examiner what you're exploring and why.
- State your aim clearly at the start
- Explain your personal connection to the topic
- Briefly outline the structure: what will you do, in what order
- Define any key terms or notation you'll use throughout
Examiners read hundreds of IAs. A compelling, personal introduction makes yours memorable.
4
Mathematical exploration (main body)
The heart of your IA. This is where you do the actual maths.
- Work through the maths step by step - show all working
- Use correct notation throughout (define everything before using it)
- Include clearly labelled diagrams, graphs, and tables
- Don't just present results - explain what each result means
- HL: ensure your mathematics is sufficiently sophisticated
- Reflect as you go - don't save all reflection for the end
Aim for depth over breadth. One well-explored idea scores better than three ideas treated superficially.
5
Conclusion & reflection
Tie everything together and demonstrate critical awareness of your work.
- Answer your research question/aim directly
- Summarise the key mathematical results
- Reflect on the limitations of your model or approach
- Suggest meaningful extensions or improvements
- Comment on what surprised you or what you'd do differently
Reflection is worth 3 marks. "My model was limited because..." is far better than "My model was good."
6
First draft & teacher feedback
Your teacher can give feedback once. Make the most of it.
- Submit a complete draft - teachers can't give useful feedback on half an IA
- Specifically ask about: mathematical sophistication, reflection depth, notation accuracy
- Self-assess against the checklist before handing to your teacher
Read the feedback carefully. Ask for clarification if unsure.
7
Revise & finalise
Polish everything. Small errors in notation or referencing can cost marks.
- Address all teacher feedback systematically
- Check every graph and table is labelled and referenced in the text
- Verify all notation is consistent and correct
- Proofread for clarity and flow
- Confirm page count (aim for 12–20 pages, not including bibliography)
- Complete the pre-submission checklist
Read your IA aloud. If a sentence doesn't make sense spoken, rewrite it.