Course Offerings - Mathematics
Mathematics Program Chart
IB MYP Mathematics
IB DP Group 5 - Mathematics
WAB HS Mathematics
The mathematics program is designed to continue on from skills developed in the Middle School, as well as to develop students’ understanding of mathematical skills and concepts within the disciplines of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, probability, vectors, matrices and calculus. The prevalence of mathematics in our lives provides a clear and sufficient rationale for making the study of this subject compulsory within both IBMYP and Grades 11 and 12. All courses aim to deepen a student’s understanding of mathematics as a discipline and to promote confidence in the use of mathematical language.
At High School level, all students are expected to own and become proficient at using a graphing calculator in their mathematics courses. The use of a graphing calculator is required for all IB Diploma mathematics examinations and WAB students will be required to purchase a Texas Instrument TI-84 Plus calculator.
Grades 9 and 10 IB MYP Mathematics
Mathematics (IB MYP) will cover the following strands: number and algebra, geometry and trigonometry, statistics and probability. Underpinning mathematical learning is the need for students to experience and enjoy the opportunity to solve a variety of problems. They will be encouraged to evaluate and reflect on the reasonableness of their findings. The program will empower students with a solid base of mathematical knowledge and related skills that will enable them to adapt to technological and economic development. Students will be required to use a graphing calculator.
Content
The IB allows schools to differentiate MYP mathematics at two levels: Standard Mathematics and Extended Mathematics. Standard mathematics aims to give students a sound knowledge of basic mathematical concepts. Extended mathematics consists of the standard mathematics framework supplemented by additional concepts and skills. In Grade 10, further differentiation is introduced in the form of the Mathematical Studies course enabling us to offer mathematics at three levels. Students studying Mathematical Studies in Grade 10 will complete modified assessments designed to meet their specific needs. Their levels of achievement will be adjusted at the end of Grade 10 to ensure they are comparable to the Standard Mathematics course. This is necessary for Mathematical Studies students to be eligible to receive the MYP Certificate at the end of Grade 10.
Assessment
At key stages in each unit, students will be assessed using the four IB MYP criteria of ‘Knowing and Understanding’, ‘Investigating Patterns’, ‘Communicating’, and ‘Applying Mathematics in real-life contexts’.
Grades 11 and 12
WAB High School Mathematics
WAB High School Mathematics is a course for those students who find that the IBDP courses do not meet their requirements.
The aim of this course is to enable students to develop and practice practical mathematics skills that they would require in everyday life. The goal is to develop the key mathematical skills required for personal decision-making and to foster an appreciation of the power and usefulness of mathematics in the students’ everyday lives.
Content
The mathematical content will come from the Number, Geometry and Measurement, Probability and Statistics and Discrete Mathematics strands. The course will be divided into thematic units of work designed by the teacher (e.g. Health, Investments, Networking, Tourism, Sports). The students will also be given the opportunity of designing their own unit of work based on their own interests which will be made in consultation with their teacher.
Assessment
At the completion of each unit of work, students will be assessed for their knowledge, understanding, and application of the concepts learned. This assessment can be set in a variety of ways such as written assignments, unit tests, oral or visual presentations. The final level of achievement will be based on all the summative assessment tasks given to the students during the year.
IB DP Applications & Interpretation, Standard (SL) & Higher Level (HL)
Mathematics: applications and interpretation will develop mathematical thinking, often in the context of a practical problem and using technology to justify conjectures.
This course recognizes the increasing role that mathematics and technology play in a diverse range of fields in a data-rich world. As such, it emphasizes the meaning of mathematics in context by focusing on topics that are often used as applications or in mathematical modelling. To give this understanding a firm base, this course also includes topics that are traditionally part of a pre-university mathematics course such as calculus and statistics.
The course makes extensive use of technology to allow students to explore and construct mathematical models.
Content
Applications and Interpretation include content from the strands of number and algebra, functions, geometry and trigonometry, statistics, probability, and calculus.
Students who choose Mathematics: applications and interpretation at SL or HL should enjoy seeing mathematics used in real-world contexts and to solve real-world problems. Students who wish to take Mathematics: applications and interpretation at the higher level will have good algebraic skills and experience in solving real-world problems. They will be students who get pleasure and satisfaction when exploring challenging problems and who are comfortable undertaking this exploration using technology. The standard level course is a subset of the higher level.
Assessment
The Standard level course is assessed by both examinations (80%) and an exploratory investigation (20%). The 2 external examination papers are sat in May of your second year of study. Graphical calculators are required for all papers.
The Higher level course is assessed by both examinations (80%) and an exploratory investigation (20%).
The 3 external examination papers are sat in May of your second year of study. Graphical calculators are required for all papers.
IB DP Analysis & Approaches, Standard (SL) & Higher Level (HL)
Mathematics: analysis and approaches has a strong emphasis on the ability to construct, communicate, and justify correct mathematical arguments.
This course includes topics that are both traditionally part of a pre-university mathematics course (for example, functions, trigonometry, calculus) as well as topics that are amenable to investigation, conjecture, and proof, for instance, the study of sequences and series at both SL and HL and proof by induction at HL.
The course allows the use of technology, such as fluency in relevant mathematical software and hand-held technology.
Content
Analysis and approaches includes content from the strands of number and algebra, functions, geometry and trigonometry, statistics, probability and calculus.
Students who choose Mathematics: analysis and approaches at SL or HL should be comfortable
in the manipulation of algebraic expressions and enjoy the recognition of patterns and understand the mathematical generalization of these patterns. Students who wish to take Mathematics: analysis and approaches at higher level will have strong algebraic skills and the ability to understand simple proof. They will be students who enjoy spending time with problems and get pleasure and satisfaction from solving challenging problems. The standard level course is a subset of the higher level.
Assessment
The Standard level course is assessed by both examinations (80%) and an exploratory investigation (20%). The 2 external examination papers are sat in May of your second year of study. Graphical calculators are required but not used for both examinations.
The Higher level course is assessed by both examinations (80%) and an exploratory investigation (20%). The 3 external examination papers are sat in May of your second year of study. Graphical calculators are required but not used for all of the examinations.