Every IB examination session offers valuable insight — not just into student performance, but into how the IB continues to refine its assessment style. As an IB Math tutor in Singapore, the November 2025 session once again provided clear lessons that will shape how we prepare students for IB Math exams in 2026.

In this article, I want to share:

• How our IB Math students performed in November 2025

• Observations about the November cohort compared to May

• An honest review of the IB Math exam difficulty

• Common mistakes we observed

• What we are changing in our IB Math tuition approach for 2026

• Practical advice for students sitting IB Math next year

How Our IB Math Students Performed in November 2025

Overall, November 2025 was a very strong session for our IB Math students across both HL and SL, and across AA and AI pathways.

One consistent pattern we observe every year is that November session students tend to perform very well, particularly those from local Singapore schools such as:

• ACS (Independent)

• SJI 

• SOTA

• Other schools with strong academic foundations

These students typically come from more structured academic backgrounds, and this shows clearly in their results. In November 2025, we saw a high concentration of grade 7s, especially in:

• IB Math AA HL

• IB Math AI HL

By contrast, the November session also includes students from more expat-heavy schools, where academic backgrounds can be more varied. This contrast reinforces an important point:
👉 Strong foundations and consistent work matter far more than last-minute effort.

A Personal Highlight from November 2025

On a personal note, November 2025 was especially meaningful for me as a tutor.

I had two students who achieved a perfect IB score of 45, which is an extraordinary achievement by any standard. While IB success is always a joint effort between student and teacher, these results reaffirm the importance of:

• Early exam awareness

• Strong fundamentals

• Clear mathematical thinking

• Long-term consistency

Results like these are never about shortcuts — they are built steadily over time.

IB Math November 2025 Exam Difficulty – Our Honest Take

The November 2025 IB Math papers were not easy, but they were fair and well-structured. The difficulty did not come from unfamiliar topics, but from how familiar ideas were tested.

IB Math AA HL – November vs May Papers

For IB Math AA HL, my honest view is this:

• November papers felt slightly more accessible than some recent May papers

• However, grade boundaries were also slightly higher, which effectively evened things out

In other words, while the questions may appear more straightforward at first glance, students still needed:

• Strong reasoning

• Clear explanations

• Accurate execution under time pressure

This balance ensures that top grades are still earned — not given.

IB Math AI HL – Trends We Noticed

For IB Math AI HL, November 2025 reinforced ongoing trends:

• Heavy emphasis on interpretation and explanation

• Strong reliance on GDC use, but with conceptual understanding required

• Real-world questions that tested reasoning more than computation

Students who relied blindly on the calculator often lost marks in justification and conclusions.

Common Mistakes Students Made in IB Math 2025 Exams

Across both HL and SL levels, several recurring mistakes were evident:

1. Poor Explanation Despite Correct Methods

Many students had the right approach but failed to communicate it clearly.

2. Over-Reliance on the Calculator

Especially in AI, correct numerical answers were undermined by weak interpretation.

3. Weak Integration of Topics

IB Math increasingly tests connections between concepts, not isolated skills.

4. Lack of Exam Structure

Messy working and missing conclusions made it difficult for examiners to award full method marks.

These are exam technique issues, not ability issues — and they are entirely fixable.

What We Are Changing in Our IB Math Tuition for 2026

Based on our November 2025 analysis, we are refining our IB Math tuition approach in Singapore for 2026.

Key changes include:

• Earlier exposure to IB-style questions, even in Year 1

• Stronger emphasis on written explanations and mathematical clarity

• More timed exam practice to build stamina

• Clearer Paper 2 and Paper 3 strategies

• Sharper distinction in teaching approach for AA vs AI pathways

Our goal remains simple:

👉 Train students to think the way IB examiners expect them to think.

Advice for Students Sitting IB Math Exams in 2026

If you are taking IB Math in 2026, here is my honest advice:

• Start exam-style practice earlier than you feel comfortable

• Focus on how you explain, not just what you calculate

• Do not delay difficult topics — IB questions rarely stay “simple”

• HL students must prioritise structure and clarity

• AI students must understand the meaning behind calculator outputs

IB Math rewards clarity, consistency, and discipline more than raw speed.

Final Thoughts from an IB Math Tutor After the 2025 Exams

The November 2025 session once again confirmed something I strongly believe:

👉 IB Math success is built over time — through consistency, clear thinking, and guided practice.

Whether a student comes from a local school or an international background, the pattern is always the same: those who prepare early and understand the IB mindset perform better.

As we move into 2026, our focus remains unchanged —
strong foundations, exam-aware teaching, and honest, personalised guidance for every IB Math student.