Why Structure Determines the Quality of Your IA
Even the strongest math content can lose marks if your IA is disorganized.
Examiners aren’t just grading your calculations — they’re evaluating how clearly you communicate mathematical reasoning.
A well-structured IA makes your logic easy to follow, your analysis smooth to read, and your conclusions convincing.
With RevisionDojo’s IA/EE Guide, IA Templates, and Exemplars, you can organize your exploration into a polished, professional report that stands out to examiners.
Quick-Start Checklist
Before structuring your IA:
- Review the IA organization examples in RevisionDojo’s Exemplars.
- Use the IA Template to outline key sections.
- Define your headings before you begin writing.
- Keep transitions clear and logical.
- Review each section for flow and focus.
Step 1: Know the Required Sections
IB doesn’t require rigid formatting, but every strong Math IA includes these five essential sections:
- Introduction – Establish topic, aim, and context.
- Mathematical Development – Present and justify your methods.
- Application/Analysis – Apply models, perform calculations, and discuss results.
- Evaluation/Reflection – Critically assess your model and reasoning.
- Conclusion – Summarize findings and personal insights.
RevisionDojo’s IA/EE Guide provides section-by-section breakdowns with sample phrases and expectations for each.
Step 2: Begin With a Clear Introduction
Start by framing your topic and rationale concisely.
Define your research question, mention key math areas, and outline the structure of your IA.
This sets the tone for clarity and coherence — and helps examiners follow your thinking from the start.
RevisionDojo’s Introduction Builder walks you through this in under 15 minutes.
Step 3: Use Logical Headings and Subheadings
Headings help examiners navigate your IA easily.
They should reflect the flow of your reasoning — not just sections of text.
Example layout:
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Data Collection and Preparation
- 3. Modeling Process
- 4. Model Testing and Refinement
- 5. Reflection and Evaluation
- 6. Conclusion
RevisionDojo’s IA Template provides preformatted headings that meet IB readability standards.
Step 4: Maintain a Smooth Mathematical Flow
Within your body paragraphs, follow a clear sequence:
- Introduce the problem or data.
- Explain the math technique used.
- Show step-by-step calculations.
- Interpret what the results mean.
RevisionDojo’s Structured Writing Prompts help you write transitions like:
“To verify this relationship, I applied a linear regression using the data shown below.”
This keeps your analysis coherent and professional.
Step 5: Keep Math and Explanation Together
Never separate equations from their meanings.
Each formula should be immediately followed by a short explanation or interpretation.
Example:
“By differentiating the function f(x) = x³ – 6x² + 9x, I found f’(x) = 3x² – 12x + 9, indicating a stationary point at x = 2.”
RevisionDojo’s Math Formatting Assistant ensures proper spacing, labeling, and equation integration throughout your IA.
Step 6: Integrate Graphs and Figures Where They Belong
Place graphs right after the paragraph that introduces them — not several pages away.
Each graph should include:
- A clear caption.
- Proper labels.
- Reference in the text (e.g., “As seen in Figure 2”).
RevisionDojo’s Graphing Tools automatically embed figures in IB-compliant formats.
Step 7: Write Transitions Between Sections
Smooth transitions help your IA feel like one continuous argument rather than disjointed chunks.
Examples:
“Having established the parameters of my model, I now test its validity using regression analysis.”
“While the results were consistent for smaller data sets, larger samples revealed deviations worth evaluating.”
RevisionDojo’s Flow Enhancer suggests connecting phrases to maintain logical continuity.
Step 8: Keep Formatting Consistent
Inconsistent fonts, heading sizes, and equation spacing make your IA look unpolished.
Stick to a single font (e.g., Arial or Calibri, 11pt) and maintain consistent spacing.
RevisionDojo’s Auto-Format Tool ensures everything looks aligned and professional — no last-minute style stress.
Step 9: End With a Strong, Reflective Conclusion
Your conclusion should tie everything together:
- Restate your aim and main findings.
- Summarize how your model worked and what it revealed.
- Mention what you learned about mathematics.
Example:
“This exploration showed how calculus can effectively model velocity, and it deepened my understanding of how mathematical assumptions influence real-world predictions.”
RevisionDojo’s Conclusion Builder helps you summarize insightfully without repeating earlier content.
Step 10: Review for Coherence and Flow
Read your IA aloud or have a peer review it.
Ask:
- Does it flow logically?
- Are transitions smooth?
- Can someone unfamiliar with my topic follow easily?
RevisionDojo’s Clarity Checklist helps finalize your IA’s readability and logical structure before submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is there a specific structure required by the IB?
No strict format, but logical organization is essential. RevisionDojo’s IA Template meets all rubric expectations.
2. How long should each section be?
There’s no fixed ratio, but aim for roughly 20% introduction, 60% analysis, and 20% reflection and conclusion.
3. Should I use bullet points or paragraphs?
Use full paragraphs — bullets can simplify ideas but aren’t suitable for formal IA submission.
Final Thoughts
A clear structure turns your Math IA from a set of calculations into a polished, convincing argument.
Organization shows examiners that you understand your mathematics deeply — and can communicate it effectively.
With RevisionDojo’s IA/EE Guide, Templates, and Exemplars, you’ll craft an IA that’s both mathematically strong and beautifully organized.
Call to Action
Build your IA with clarity and confidence.
Use RevisionDojo’s IA Templates and IA/EE Guide to organize your exploration step-by-step for maximum impact and readability.
