Report an issue
Mathematics Analysis and Approaches (AA) IA Exemplar: Surface Area… | RevisionDojo
Loading document preview...
View file
Back
IB Mathematics Analysis and Approaches (AA) HL Internal Assessment Example
Scores
Rubric
Similar Examples
10
Chat
Modeling and Calculating the Surface Area of a Plastic Container
HL
Loading scores...
A
B
C
D
E
5
Official IB Result
12/20
Verified
Criteria A: Presentation
3/4
0
2
4
Criteria Strands
View Full Rubric
A.1
Coherence and logical development
Good
A.2
Organization and structure
Good
A.3
Conciseness and relevance
Moderate
Criteria Feedback
Clear narrative with logical progression through motivation, derivation, data, modelling, and conclusion
Well‐defined structure with table of contents, numbered subsections and consistent headings
Mostly concise content with focus on core mathematical objectives
Minor lapses in logical flow (abrupt figures, copy–paste terminology error) interrupt reader engagement
Some tables misaligned and equations spill into text, detracting from presentation polish
Excessive environmental commentary and bibliography inconsistencies add unnecessary length
Comments
1.1
·
Weakness
Page 2
• Click to view
The table of contents lacks page references, which hinders navigation. Consider adding consistent page numbers for each section.
1.2
·
Suggestion
Page 3
• Click to view
Citing Dawkins without a full reference makes sourcing unclear. Include a properly formatted bibliography entry here.
1.3
·
Suggestion
Page 3
• Click to view
The environmental commentary, while interesting, digresses from the mathematical aim. Consider condensing to focus on your calculation objectives.
1.4
·
Suggestion
Page 7
• Click to view
Figure 6’s segmentation boundaries are not explicitly annotated in the image. Add labels for sections A–H directly on the diagram for clarity.
1.5
·
Weakness
Page 8
• Click to view
Referring to the container as a “ceramic pot” in Section B seems to be a copy–paste error. Correct terminology to maintain coherence.
1.6
·
Weakness
Page 14
• Click to view
The calculation for Section F on page 14 is truncated and unreadable. Ensure full equations are displayed and proofs are complete.
1.7
·
Suggestion
Page 15
• Click to view
Bibliography entries show inconsistent formatting. Adopt a single citation style (e.g., APA) for uniform presentation.
Criteria B: Mathematical Communication
3/4
0
2
4
Criteria Strands
View Full Rubric
B.1
Mathematical language and notation
Good
B.2
Multiple representations
Good
B.3
Logical structure and clarity
Good
Criteria Feedback
Mostly consistent and correct use of integral notation, dy/dx, Σ and π symbols
Effective combination of equations, graphs, tables, and verbal explanations
Clear step‐by‐step logical structure that a competent reader can follow
Occasional notation errors (extra ‘dx’, missing exponent in distance formula) and missing units
Axis labels and scales are sometimes omitted, reducing clarity
Non‐standard symbols (χ, ν) and minor algebraic sloppiness in places
Comments
2.1
·
Suggestion
Page 4
• Click to view
Figures 2 and 3 lack axis labels and scales, which reduces clarity of the approximations. Label axes to improve multiple representation effectiveness.
2.2
·
Weakness
Page 5
• Click to view
The expression
Δ
s
=
(
x
1
−
x
0
)
2
+
(
y
1
−
y
0
)
omits the square on the y-difference term. It should read
(
x
1
−
x
0
)
2
+
(
y
1
−
y
0
)
2
.
2.3
·
Strength
Page 7
• Click to view
The Lagrange interpolation formula is presented correctly and labels are clear, showing effective use of mathematical notation.
2.4
·
Weakness
Page 8
• Click to view
In Section A, the domain is miswritten as
0
≤
y
≤
2.2
instead of
0
≤
x
≤
2.2
, which may confuse readers.
2.5
·
Suggestion
Page 9
• Click to view
Table 3 uses symbols χ and ν which are unexplained and nonstandard here. Use x and y headings or clarify these symbols.
2.6
·
Weakness
Page 11
• Click to view
In the surface area calculation (page 11), the derivative notation
d
x
d
y
is followed by ‘dx’, which is incorrect. Remove the extra ‘dx’.
2.7
·
Suggestion
Page 13
• Click to view
Several intermediate sums lack units (e.g., 54.07), which may confuse the cumulative result. Include cm² in each result.
Criteria C: Personal Engagement
2/3
0
2
3
Criteria Strands
View Full Rubric
C.1
Independent thinking
Good
C.2
Personal approach
Good
C.3
Creativity and initiative
Good
Criteria Feedback
Independent choice of a household container and manual coordinate collection shows genuine initiative
Personal motivation (environmental label waste) is clearly linked to the investigation
Use of Geogebra for scaling demonstrates technical initiative
Techniques employed (Lagrange interpolation, image scaling) are standard rather than highly innovative
Personal angle, while clear, does not push into exceptional territory
No exploration of alternative unconventional methodologies
Comments
3.1
·
Strength
Page 3
• Click to view
The introduction effectively connects personal motivation to environmental context, showing clear engagement with the problem.
3.2
·
Strength
Page 6
• Click to view
Using Geogebra to scale and plot points demonstrates initiative and significantly reduces manual error.
Criteria D: Reflection
1/3
0
2
3
Criteria Strands
View Full Rubric
D.1
Depth of reflection
Good
D.2
Critical analysis
Good
D.3
Evaluation of outcomes
Poor
Criteria Feedback
Meaningful identification of modelling errors and suggestion of general improvements
Some recognition of rounding and fit limitations
Limited depth in analysis of numerical results (no plausibility check)
Evaluation of outcomes is cursory, lacking quantitative error margins or future implications
Reflection is intermittent rather than sustained or critically insightful
Comments
4.1
·
Question
Page 6
• Click to view
Excluding the base and top from the surface calculation needs justification. How will this affect the total area you report?
4.2
·
Suggestion
Page 14
• Click to view
The weaknesses section acknowledges human error but lacks quantitative impact analysis. Consider estimating the error margin in cm².
4.3
·
Suggestion
Page 15
• Click to view
The conclusion restates results but could reflect on precision by comparing with direct measurement of the container’s label.
Criteria E: Use of Mathematics
3/6
0
3
6
Criteria Strands
View Full Rubric
E.1
Relevance of mathematics
Good
E.2
Level appropriateness
Good
E.3
Understanding and accuracy
Moderate
Criteria Feedback
Relevant integral calculus, arc‐length derivation, polynomial interpolation and numerical integration effectively address the aim
Techniques are commensurate with SL level and applied in context with correct domains
Derivation of the surface‐area formula and step-by-step integral computations are methodical
Several algebraic and notation errors (missing squares, extra ‘dx’) detract from accuracy
Reliance on online calculators for polynomial fits reduces evidence of manual understanding
Assumptions about polynomial profiles lack validation through residual or error analysis
Comments
5.1
·
Strength
Page 4
• Click to view
The derivation of the surface area integral formula is precise and correctly uses
∫
a
b
2
π
y
1
+
(
d
x
d
y
)
2
d
x
.
5.2
·
Weakness
Page 5
• Click to view
The substitution into the surface area formula incorrectly writes
1
+
(
f
′
(
x
))
without squaring. The integrand should include
1
+
(
f
′
(
x
)
)
2
.
5.3
·
Strength
Page 5
• Click to view
The step-by-step algebraic manipulation to the limit process is thorough and shows strong understanding of arc-length integration.
5.4
·
Suggestion
Page 7
• Click to view
Assuming all container sections follow polynomial profiles should be justified. Consider validating the choice with residual analysis or fit error.
5.5
·
Suggestion
Page 9
• Click to view
Relying on an online calculator for polynomial fits without showing any manual verification reduces the demonstration of understanding.
5.6
·
Strength
Page 12
• Click to view
The calculus integral steps to compute each section’s area are methodical and show effective use of relevant mathematics.