IB Past Paper Analysis — FAQ
Common questions about how we built this and how to use it.
What does "marks-weighted" mean?
Instead of counting how often a topic appears, we count how many exam marks it actually carries. When a question covers two topics (say, Functions + Differentiation), its marks are split evenly so neither topic is double-counted. This gives a true picture of what the IB really tests.
Where do the grade boundaries come from?
Official IB Grade Boundary documents from the Programme Resource Centre. We track every May and November session from 2021 onwards. Some 2023–2024 values are estimated where IBO data was not yet released — verify with your IB coordinator for exact figures if needed.
How accurate are your May 2026 predictions?
Predictions are based on five years of marks data, the post-November 2024 stylistic shift, and our own results from teaching every IB Math sitting since 2021. They aren't crystal-ball accurate — IB does sometimes break pattern — but they reliably tell you which topics deserve the most revision time.
What's a Photon predicted paper?
A full 2-paper or 3-paper set written by Photon Academy in IB exam style, with full markscheme. They mirror the format, difficulty curve, and Section B structure of recent sittings — useful as timed mock exams in the final 4–6 weeks before May 2026.
What's free and what's paid?
Do I need to be a Photon Academy student?
No. Sets 1–2 and the free
cheatsheet library are open to anyone. Photon Academy enrolled students get every paid resource included in their tuition fees.
