Mathematics Higher Level (HL) is a two-year course offered by the International Baccalaureate (IB) and is one of the Group 5 (Mathematics and Computer Science) courses for the IB Diploma Programme. The Standard Level (SL) mathematics courses are Mathematical Studies SL, Mathematics SL, and Further Mathematics SL. Learn more about mathematics in a DP workshop for teachers. Mathematics subject brief. Subject briefs are short two-page documents providing an outline of the course. Read the standard level (SL) and/or higher level (HL) subject brief below. International Baccalaureate (IB) Mathematics Higher Level (Math HL) students must thoroughly study algebra, calculus, functions and equations, circular functions and trigonometry, matrices, vectors, statistics, and probability. Subjectively, I believe AI HL is harder than A level math mainly because there's some further math topics such as matrices or coupled differential equations that might be hard to apply knowledge for real life situations. Also, it's harder because the course is so queer. Why Choose IB Math AA HL? It's essential to know that IB Mathematics Analysis and Approaches HL is not just any high school Math course; it's a rigorous intellectual workout for your brain. It combines pure and applied Mathematics, giving you a well-rounded, versatile skill set. But IB HL maths is probably as difficult as A-level FM, because the questions themselves and the skills needed to answer them are more difficult. A-level is modular so you don't need to combine abilities from multiple areas of the syllabus-you won't have to mix matrices and differentiation, for example. Past Papers Full worked solutions to all past paper questions, taught by experienced IB instructors. Course Structure and Content The Higher Level AA course is divided into five broad topics: Number & Algebra, Functions, Geometry & Trigonometry, Statistics & Probability, and Calculus. I think the difficulty of the course comes from the sheer amount of content and the questions that come in the exams. I don't find any of the concepts particularly difficult or confusing, however, I really struggle with difficult exam style questions where their application comes into place. IB Math HL is full of extensive coursework and difficult exams, but this guide is going to help you break down the exams into manageable information, which will help you succeed! For more info about IB, check out CollegeVine's ultimate guide to IB for more information. Overview of the IB Math HL Exam Difficulty While SL IB classes are already considered to be difficult classes in their own right, HL cases are notorious for being university-level content, which is why most IB students feel more than ready to tackle collegiate-level courses. 2RCb8x.