If your child sits IB DP maths in May 2027, there are about seven months left. That is enough time to make a real difference – but only with a plan. Students who drift through October and November usually find themselves cramming in April, when every other subject is doing the same.
This plan is written for students on the current AA and AI courses (first assessed in 2021). Everyone sitting exams in 2027 follows these courses – the new syllabus does not apply until the May 2029 exams (see our new syllabus guide).
First, know your papers
- AA SL: Paper 1 – 90 min, no calculator, 80 marks, 40%. Paper 2 – 90 min, GDC, 80 marks, 40%. IA – 20%.
- AA HL: Paper 1 – 120 min, no calculator, 110 marks, 30%. Paper 2 – 120 min, GDC, 110 marks, 30%. Paper 3 – 60 min, GDC, 55 marks, 20%. IA – 20%.
- AI SL: Paper 1 – 90 min, GDC, 80 marks, 40%. Paper 2 – 90 min, GDC, 80 marks, 40%. IA – 20%.
- AI HL: Paper 1 – 120 min, GDC, 110 marks, 30%. Paper 2 – 120 min, GDC, 110 marks, 30%. Paper 3 – 60 min, GDC, 55 marks, 20%. IA – 20%.
Source: current IB AA and AI subject guides and briefs. GDC = graphic display calculator.
Two things follow from this. For AA students, calculator-free algebra on Paper 1 is worth 30–40% of the grade, so it needs its own practice. For HL students, Paper 3 – two long, unfamiliar problem-solving questions – is worth 20% and needs specific preparation, not just more Paper 2 practice.
The IB had not published the May 2027 exam timetable on the pages we checked in October 2026. Your school will share exact dates; the plan below works back from "early May".
October–November 2026: close the IA and the syllabus
- IA first. The internal assessment is worth 20%, and it is the only part fully under your child's control before the exam. Most schools set a final IA deadline in the DP2 autumn or winter. Make sure the draft has clear aims, correct maths and genuine reflection. See our IA guide and managing the IA and exams together.
- Finish the syllabus. If any topics are untaught or shaky – often calculus, probability distributions or vectors – list them now. A tutor can cover gaps faster than a student revising alone.
- Start an error log. One page per topic: every mistake from homework and tests, why it happened, and the correct method. This becomes the most valuable revision document by March.
December 2026: mocks as a diagnosis
Many schools hold mock exams over the winter. Treat them as a diagnosis, not a verdict:
- Sit every mock under real conditions, including the calculator-free paper for AA.
- Afterwards, sort every lost mark into one of three groups: didn't know the content, knew it but made an error, or ran out of time. Each needs a different fix.
- Compare the result with the predicted grade your school is likely to send. See what is a good predicted grade.
January–February 2027: topic-by-topic past papers
- Work through past-paper questions by topic, starting with the weakest from the mock analysis.
- Mark every question with the official markscheme, not just the final answer. IB markschemes give method marks, and students often lose marks they could have kept. See how IB markschemes work.
- AA students: do at least two calculator-free sessions a week – algebra, trigonometric identities, differentiation and integration by hand.
- AI students: practise GDC skills deliberately – regression, distributions, solving equations, and finding intersections – until they are automatic.
- How many past papers? Our past papers guide gives a realistic number.
March 2027: full papers under timed conditions
- Move from topic questions to full papers, timed exactly: 90 minutes at SL, 120 at HL.
- Alternate Paper 1 and Paper 2 so both formats stay fresh.
- HL students: start Paper 3 practice now. Its questions build from simple cases to a general result. Practise reading the whole question first, doing the early parts carefully, and using "hence" to carry results forward. See how to prepare for Papers 1, 2 and 3.
- Keep using the formula booklet, so finding things in it is quick on the day. See how the formula booklet is meant to be used.
April 2027: polish, don't panic
- Return to the error log. Re-attempt every question in it without looking at the solution.
- Do one or two full papers a week, not more – quality of review matters more than quantity.
- Revise command terms so answers match what is asked. See IB command terms.
- Check the calculator: fresh batteries, exam mode set up as your school requires, and no unfamiliar settings.
May 2027: exam weeks
- The night before: light review of the error log and the formula booklet only.
- In the exam: read the command term, show method for every part, and move on from a stuck question – come back later.
- Between papers: one short review of the next paper's format, then rest.
How much time each week?
As a rough starting point we suggest 3–4 hours a week of independent maths revision in October–January, rising to 5–6 hours in February–April, on top of school lessons. HL students and anyone below their target grade will need more. Read how long it takes to improve IB maths grades and improving your grade in 3 months for a realistic picture.
Common mistakes in the final months
- Doing only the topics they already like.
- Checking final answers but not method marks.
- Leaving Paper 3 practice until April.
- AA students relying on the GDC so much that Paper 1 algebra gets slow.
- Ignoring the IA until the deadline forces it.
Our post on the biggest mistakes in IB DP maths covers more.
In Gurgaon: exam-season support at home or online
Maths Bodhi tutors help DP students across Gurgaon prepare for May exams at home – including Golf Course Road, the DLF phases, Sohna Road and Sectors 43, 54, 56 and 57 – and online for families elsewhere. Typical support in exam season includes mock analysis, timed paper practice with feedback against the markscheme, and focused Paper 3 sessions for HL.
- See our IB DP maths revision and Class 12 IB DP exam preparation pages, and the course pages for AA HL, AA SL, AI HL and AI SL.
- Find a tutor near you: IB maths home tutor in Gurugram, Golf Course Road, Sector 54, Sector 56.
- Meet Ajay Vatsyayan or book a demo class.
Paper structure verified against the current IB AA and AI guides by the Maths Bodhi team (October 2026). Study plan reviewed by Ajay Vatsyayan.
Frequently asked questions
- Which IB maths syllabus applies to the May 2027 exams?
- The current AA and AI courses, first assessed in 2021. The new courses are first taught from August 2027 and first examined in May 2029, so they do not affect May 2027 candidates.
- When should IB maths revision for May 2027 start?
- Ideally in October or November 2026, with the IA finished first. That leaves winter for mocks, January and February for topic-by-topic past papers, and March and April for full timed papers.
- How should HL students prepare for IB maths Paper 3?
- Paper 3 is 60 minutes, 55 marks and 20% of the HL grade, with two long problem-solving questions. Start practising from March: read the whole question first, work carefully through the early parts and use earlier results to build to the general result.
- Can you use a calculator in IB maths AA Paper 1?
- No. AA Paper 1 is calculator-free. AA Papers 2 and 3, and every AI paper, require a graphic display calculator.
- How many hours a week should IB maths revision take?
- As a starting point, about 3–4 hours a week of independent revision in October–January and 5–6 hours in February–April, on top of school lessons. HL students and those below their target grade usually need more.