What is the difference between HL, SL, Studies? Which to take?

[godofib]

I did SL math and got a 7. The exam is not too difficult as long as you have reviewed all the major topics. Also, during the school year, do all your homework so that you get a lot of practice. Then, before the exam I would recommend doing all the questions in the study guide for math which would ensure that you have not missed any topics and also refresh your memory on the topics you may have done during the start of the course. The questions on the SL exam are not questions that make you "think" but rather questions that are more about knowledge and your understanding of the topic.

If you are going into the sciences, I would say go for SL math or else you might struggle in university.

[KyleAdams]

At my school we don't really have a choice over SL or Studies. For instance, I am on the course to do SL math, so if I want to do an IB Math course, I will have to do that. They don't let us take lower than we can. That said, I don't think SL is difficult. I am a math person, but even those that aren't don't seem to be having trouble. And if you are doing science you should definitely go for the highest math course possible.

[SkywardBound]

For someone not very strong in math but needs the SL subject, how much of a challenge will the math SL course be?

[Cognac]

Well... depends on how much work you want to put in.

Any grade in any subject is possible if you devote yourself to it. If you are weak in math and you are ready to devote a few hours each weak to learn, you'll be cool

For a B in GCSE higher math it seems just the right level - I think.

[b121310451]

Hello everyone!

I am from Hong Kong, and I am planning to study business and management / economics in university.

Should I take Math Studies or Math SL?

My math is just ok, not really good.

thx for the advice, but i've ask my teacher, he said if i want to do business and management, i should take math studies. if i want to do economics in university, i should take math SL.

so if i want to do business and management, should i take studies or math SL

Edited November 3, 2009 by b121310451
Translated into full sentences.

[Sandwich]

For economics I expect they'll require SL Maths - your best bet would probably be to look at the requirements for the courses at the universities you want to apply to. Universities publish their course requirements on their websites

[Peachez]

Hello.

Of course, for economics or business management, HL Math is better, but it is not always the case. You need to look into specific universities that you would like to apply. Some accept Math SL and you might not even have to take a specif coulse in college/uni. Math Studies is too imple for youe future, if I were you I would go to SL Math.

[chrypton]

Look into the specific requirements for the course you want to take. There is a big jump from Studies to Maths SL, and taking Maths SL unnecessarily would be a bit of work, especially if your math is not sound. But yeah, as people said above me, usually you at least need SL for economics courses.

[deissi]

Basically your problem with studies is that you have only done very basic algebraic equations and no calculus at all. You need to be comfortable with rearranging and deriving equations for Economics, and after the introductory courses you will be needing a lot of calculus. I do, however, know of people who successfully completed a minor in economics with a background in Math Studies. If business and economics (particularly finance) are what you want to do in the future, Math SL is the obvious choice for you.

If you're interested in what kind of stuff you'll be dealing with, here's a formula for valuating call options (this is not a buy/sell reccommendation...):

[Feist]

I don't know if it is like this for everyone but for Math Studies in my school the course is Data Management and for SL it's Calculus and Vectors. I already took Data and my teacher happened to assign an IB Portfolio as the cumulative assessment, both the course and the portfolio were considerably easy. Now, in IB SL seminars we are doing a lot of work that I already did in Data. So I would recommend that you stick with SL because it will open more opportunities for you, and maybe you can find a way to take Data on the side so you will have a high math mark to submit in case you need it. Look up some university majors you're interested in and see what kind of math they need, and if you think the higher marks you'll gain will benefit you more than some of the doors you're closing, you might as well go for it.

[Mahuta ♥]

Seems like you dont need math SL, simply, go for MATH studies and garuntee a 7. Many people did that, and it payed off well.

[Sparkling]

Thanks to all of you for the help! I finally decided to do Studies and get better grades instead of doing SL. So far it's working out really good

[sriraman.iyer]

yeah most universities in America want Math 2 SL for engineering, but then you have to take some supplement math depending on which major you take. Math HL or Further HL covers a lot of the stuff needed in uni level, but some people say they still have to take extra courses in college.

If you find maths challenging, then deffinalty take maths studies. It the easiest and least demanding. But make sure that you do keep the university course that you want to take in mind, and then take the lowest level of maths that you need for that course.

For me, my university course has no maths prerequisate, so i took maths studies even though im actually really good at maths and could have handled HL just find. But i thought whats the point. May as well take the easy option and do really really well in this subject and be a bit bored, than be challenged and possibly not do as well. Also i dont know about what type of stuff you maths courses entail, but for me maths studies is just a rehash of all yr nine and ten stuff, so im doing really well. wich is awsome.

So yes, you will get you IB diploma if you pick the lowest possible option... but make sure it is enough to get the course you want to do.

-soph x

Hi everyone, I will be starting the Diploma next year, and I am trying to decide between Maths SL and Maths Studies. I agree with the above; my university courses also have no maths prerequisite, and although my coordinator says I would be 'fine' with HL, I thought what's the point. So it will be basically a study period for me, which is great when you are pressured with the demands of the IBDP. However, the problem is, Studies will be a self-taught class, as there is no-one else doing it, and my coordinator is advising against Studies, saying I would be very bored. As an extra note, I enjoy some aspects of maths, like stats and probability, but I strongly dislike calculus, and besides I don't need it for uni. Also, has anyone taken Studies as an anticipated subject, i.e. taking the exam at the end of IB1?

I would appreciate any advice.

I am Prof Iyer teaching IB and CIE for the past 11 yrs out of my 19 yrs of experience. I am based at India . Most of the programests in US/UK for engineering prefer HL . Even HL 5 wll do to those univs who are ok with SL. Hence it's best bet to opt for HL with 2 emerging scenarios

a. If you get 6 or 7 - get the best univs

b. If you get 5 - then get those univs who are ready to offer engg for MATH SL

I am also curious to know your other HL SUBJECTS whicch makes sense to opt for engineering discpline

Best wishes

Prof.Iyer

Head of dept- math-IB/CIE

Mumbai. India

[PeachesOMG93]

Hey!

Im faced with the same problem!

I am currently in math SL and hating it!

Im planning to shift! mostly!

[__inthemaking]

I think it's safer to take math SL when you aren't completely sure yet, you don't want to limit your options.

[Abdominal Procrastinator]

Hello everyone,

I am currently in Grade 10 and I'm taking Math 11 SL. In the event I do get into IB Diploma then what are the options because my parents want me to do Maths HL, but I'm not sure if that's possible. And if I take 12 SL when i'm in Grade 11, then what do I do in my Grade 12 year?

FYI, I'm getting 93% in Math SL right now. And I'm also only 14

[Sandwich]

It depends on your school, really. Most schools do offer HL Maths so that shouldn't be a problem. As for how your school distributes the diploma over the years, again it's very institution dependent. It may be that you take half the subjects in the first year and then half in the second year (many schools in N. America seem to do this) and therefore split the diploma up, in which case presumably you'd take another subject in the same timeslot. Really though, rather than asking here, you're best off asking the school's IB coordinator or one of your teachers, because anything people on here say will be a guess based on their own school's running of the IB, and this really does vary quite a lot.

Was there any other reason (besides timetabling) you were worried about HL Maths?

If you're doing well in SL like that, you should hopefully be fine for doing HL

[Abdominal Procrastinator]

@Sandwich: How does it depend on your school? And we don't use the semester system (if that's what you meant). Thanks for your opinion though. Then if I would take Math 12 SL in my grade 11 year, then what happens in my Grade 12 year? (Don't you have to do a math course in both years?)

Bob

[Sandwich]

@Sandwich: How does it depend on your school? And we don't use the semester system (if that's what you meant). Thanks for your opinion though. Then if I would take Math 12 SL in my grade 11 year, then what happens in my Grade 12 year? (Don't you have to do a math course in both years?)

Bob

I assume that Grade 12 is equivalent to the final year of school. If you're sitting the IB diploma you need at least 3 SL and 3 HL subjects, plus all the extras, but there's nothing in the IB which stipulates that you continue with a course over both years... although that's the only way it's done in a lot of schools (which is what I meant by dependency on school -- for instance at my school subjects had teaching time such that you couldn't take anything a year early even if you wanted to, every single subject had to go across IB1 and IB2). Your school may have its own internal requirement that you continue with Maths for every year of your education, but there's nothing universal about the IB which answers your question because within the diploma guidelines it isn't an issue. This is where you have to ask the people at your own institution and find out what they want you to do, because whatever rules are confusing you are going to be internal ones, or perhaps part of the national curriculum, rather than IB rules.

[SharkSpider]

It really depends on what you want to go in to.

Economists, Marketing specialists, and accountants can get away with math studies, because their work is either non-intensive with math, or based on more qualitative research. High-level economics will require you to learn vector calculus, but you only need it so that you can use the formulas.

On the other hand, if you want to go somewhere like Actuarial Science, Risk Managment, High-level Finance, or Investment Banking, a strong background in mathematics (math HL) would be a good idea, since going in to a mathematically intense program is not a good idea if you can't handle HL in high school.

That being said, math SL is probably your best option if you're going in to Business or Econ without a plan in mind, especially if you see yourself doing any type of analysis work. On the other hand, the management side of business, or the policy side of economics won't require any math greater than the basics.