Analysis and Approaches Standard Level

The Analysis and Approaches Standard Level (AASL) course is aimed at those students who enjoy Mathematics, especially algebra, and wish to develop an understanding of the foundations of the subject. It is a rewarding course, that gives students an insight into some of the most important aspects of mathematical theory.

Is AASL right for me?

Students who choose to do the AASL course:

need to have good algebraic skills and the ability to understand simple proof;
will enjoy solving mathematical problems;
may be considering studying a subjects that require the abstract thinking skills developed subject at university, such as Medicine or Economics.

There are some topics in mathematics that AASL students will need to have encountered before, but the main ones include:

solving quadratic equations (by factorising, quadratic formula and completing the square);
manipulating and simplifying indices;
solving simultaneous equations, both with two linear equations and where one equation is non-linear;
manipulating surds, such as simplifying and rationalising the denominator;
probability, including working with tree diagrams;
statistical calculations, such as finding the mean, mode and median of sets of data;
trigonometry, including right-angled trigonometry and the sine and cosine rules;
volumes and surface areas of comon shapes, such as prisms, pyramids, cylinders, cones and spheres.

These topics will be taught explicity in the course (unlike in AAHL where they are only quickly reviewed), but being secure in them before the course will aid students in being successful in learning the new content.

What are the entry requirements for AASL?

Whilst we take every case on an individual level, there are some general guidelines on prior qualifications for entry to the AASL course. These are based on the fact that on average, those students who do not attain these grades do not do as well in the AASL course.

GCSE - suggested minimum grade is 6, though we will consider those with a grade 5 if they show dedication to learning.

MYP Standard Level - suggested minimum grade is 5.

MYP Extended Level - suggested minimum grade is 4.

For external candidates we also require completion of a short test for use to see the level of your algebra skills in order to suggest the best course.

For internal candidates, your mathematics teacher will talk with you individually about your choices during S5.

How does AASL compare to A-Level Mathematics?

There is no direct comparison between IB DP Mathematics courses and A-Level mathematics. In general, AASL is considered a little bit more challenging than AS-Level Mathematics, but not as challenging as A-Level Mathematics.

What Maths do we learn?

Over the course of two years, students will study a variety of mathematical ideas which are broadly grouped by the IB into 5 topics:

Number and Algebra
Functions
Geometry and Trigonometry
Statistics and Probability
Calculus

At Europa we split this into 10 units across the two years. Whist the more difficult topics do come towards the end of the course, it is worth noting that there is challenging content from the start of the course.

The ten units are:

Functions
Number and Algebra
Differentiation 1
Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Trigonometric Functions
Statistics and Probability
Geometry
Differentiation 2
Integration
Probability Distributions

Below you will find a copy of the overview of the two year AASL course. Please note that the timeframe is given as an approximation, and we might not stick exactly to those topics in those weeks. There are many things that can affect this, and the teacher will use their professional judgement to adjust the curriculum as necessary based on the class.

How is the course taught?

The AASL course is taught to develop both a conceptual and procedural understanding of the content. That is, students will be given explanations of how mathematical ideas work, where they come from and what their purpose is. But they will also be shown clear examples of how to solve problems, and given the opportunity to solve both similar and unfamiliar problems using this new knowledge.

This is in line with the research in how to teach mathematics, bearing in mind the ideas of cognitive load theory and also the expertise reversal effect.

Students will be set regular homework to complete which will cover all aspects of the course. This should take students approximately an hour to complete.

Students are expected to make use of their study periods to consolidate the work in class by making use of the textbook exercises and other materials provided by the teacher. It is an expectation that students are spending 1-2 hours a week on top of class and homework to work on developing their mathematical skills in topics they have identified as needing work.

How is the course assessed?

The AASL course is assessed through a mixture of internal and external assessments. There are 2 exam papers which are sat in May of the second year of the IB, and an internal assessment.

There will also be various school assessments throughout the course, such as Winter Examinations, End of S6 Examninations and Mock Examinations, along with class tests at the end of most units. These do not count towards the final IB grade, but are used to help students and teachers identify areas that still need development. These inform the grades on reports throughout the course, and will help the teacher make a realistic prediction when the time comes in S7.

The AASL Formula Booklet

You can find a clean copy of the AASL Formula Booklet here.

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