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MATHEMATICS-APPLICATIONS-AND-INTERPRETATION · IB Diploma Programme

MATHEMATICS-APPLICATIONS-AND-INTERPRETATION/31

Paper 3

Mathematics Applications and Interpretation · June 2025 · Variant 1

Relative difficulty

Standard · 3.4/5

Analysis source: International Baccalaureate Organization

Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.

Relative difficulty

3.4 / 5

Total marks

160

Duration

180 min

Most tested topic

Geometry and trigonometry

Cohort performance

Session statistics from official examination reports

Total marks

160

Duration

180 min

Session difficulty

3.4 / 5

Key examiner messages

Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise

1

A standard yet conceptually rigorous examination featuring high-mark allocations in Geometry & Trigonometry and Number & Algebra, rewarding candidates with strong GDC operational speed and solid mathematical modeling basics.

2

Compare difficulty across recent years. Compare topic weight by year to spot recurring and returning areas.

Question difficulty map

How candidates performed on each question in this series

No data available in official reports

Assessment objectives

Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary

Technology (GDC)8
Algebraic Manipulation7
Graphical Interpretation5
Mathematical3
Geometric / Spatial2

Skill weighting

Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.

Technology (GDC)Technology (GDC)Algebraic ManipulationAlgebraicManipulationGraphical InterpretationGraphicalInterpretationMathematicalMathematicalGeometric / SpatialGeometric /Spatial
SkillWeightShare
  • Technology (GDC)

    Weight: 8100%
  • Algebraic Manipulation

    Weight: 788%
  • Graphical Interpretation

    Weight: 563%
  • Mathematical

    Weight: 338%
  • Geometric / Spatial

    Weight: 225%

Method marks watchlist

Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost

Method marks

Not showing sufficient GDC working or sketch representations for 'show that' or 'hence' questions, where the method mark is dependent on evidence of technology use.

Recurring mistakes across years

Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject

No data available in official reports

Question choice intelligence

Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)

No data available in official reports

Level exemplars

What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like

No data available in official reports

Grade & admission context

How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards

Report type

IB subject report — grade distributions, IA weighting, and HL/SL distinctions

Level 7

Excellent — top band for competitive university offers

Level 6

Very good — strong HL performance

Level 5

Good — solid pass at higher level

Level 4

Satisfactory — minimum for many university credits

Level 3

Mediocre

Level 2

Poor

Level 1

Very poor

Deep insights

What top candidates did

Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series

No data available in official reports

Command word playbook

How to match each command word to the expected response style

FindFrequency: 11

Match the expected response style for “Find” questions.

downFrequency: 8

Match the expected response style for “down” questions.

CalculateFrequency: 7

Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.

thatFrequency: 6

Match the expected response style for “that” questions.

DetermineFrequency: 5

Match the expected response style for “Determine” questions.

ExplainFrequency: 3

Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.

StateFrequency: 2

Match the expected response style for “State” questions.

JustifyFrequency: 2

Support your choice with specific evidence from data or the scenario given.

Time traps

Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks

Paper 1 (Q1-Q7)20m / 10 marks

Min per mark: 2

Paper 1 (Q8-Q13)46m / 41 marks

Min per mark: 1.1

Paper 2 Q1 (Statist17m / 15 marks

Min per mark: 1.1

Paper 2 Q2 (Finance)17m / 15 marks

Min per mark: 1.1

Paper 2 Q3 (Sequenc19m / 17 marks

Min per mark: 1.1

Paper 2 Q4 (3D Geom16m / 14 marks

Min per mark: 1.1

Syllabus traceability

Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session

Geometry and trigonometry

48 marks this session

Number and algebra

47 marks this session

Statistics and probability

31 marks this session

MCQ trap analytics

Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary

No data available in official reports

Topic heatmap across years

Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject

Mark intensity

LowHigh
Topic
2023
2024
2025
Σ

Statistics and probability

51
73
31
155

Calculus

36
42
78

Number and algebra

21
47
68

Geometry and trigonometry

48
48

Functions

35
35

Paper comparison

Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session

Paper 1:

80 marks90 min

Paper 2:

80 marks90 min

Marks you can still earn

Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit

  • Not showing sufficient GDC working or sketch representations for 'show that' or 'hence' questions, where the method mark is dependent on evidence of technology use.

Practise what examiners flagged

Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app

Self-diagnostic checklist

Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise

  • 1Message

    A standard yet conceptually rigorous examination featuring high-mark allocations in Geometry & Trigonometry and Number & Algebra, rewarding candidates with strong GDC operational speed and solid mathematical modeling basics.

  • 2Message

    Compare difficulty across recent years. Compare topic weight by year to spot recurring and returning areas.

  • 3Method

    Not showing sufficient GDC working or sketch representations for 'show that' or 'hence' questions, where the method mark is dependent on evidence of technology

Teacher briefing pack

One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review

June 2025 2025

Mathematics Applications and Interpretation

A standard yet conceptually rigorous examination featuring high-mark allocations in Geometry & Trigonometry and Number & Algebra, rewarding candidates with strong GDC operational speed and solid mathematical modeling basics.

  • A standard yet conceptually rigorous examination featuring high-mark allocations in Geometry & Trigonometry and Number & Algebra, rewarding candidates with strong GDC operational speed and solid mathematical modeling basics.

  • Compare difficulty across recent years. Compare topic weight by year to spot recurring and returning areas.

Total marks
160
Duration
180 min
Session difficulty
3.4 / 5

Session analysis

A standard yet conceptually rigorous examination featuring high-mark allocations in Geometry & Trigonometry and Number & Algebra, rewarding candidates with strong GDC operational speed and solid mathematical modeling basics.

Updated Jun 14, 2026

Paper breakdown

Paper 1:

80 marks90 min

Paper 2:

80 marks90 min

Top chapters

Geometry and trigonometry48 marks
Number and algebra47 marks
Statistics and probability31 marks

Exam structure insights

Marks by chapter

See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.

Geometry and trigonometry48 marks
Number and algebra47 marks
Statistics and probability31 marks
Calculus20 marks
Functions14 marks

Mark accessibility

Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.

78% within easy or medium reach

65
60
35
Easy: 65 marksMedium: 60 marksHard: 35 marks

Command word frequency

Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.

Find11 times
down8 times
Calculate7 times
that6 times
Determine5 times
Explain3 times
State2 times
Justify2 times

Question type mix

Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.

160Marks
  • Paper 1)

    80·13·50%

  • Paper 2)

    80·5·50%

Study ROI

Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.

DifficultyRecurrence %Sequences and seriesFinancial mathemat…Bivariate statisti…Voronoi DiagramsCalculus (Optimiza…

Difficulty trend

Compare difficulty across recent years.

3.820083.820093.220102.82011420123.420133.52014420154.220163.220173.220184.220193.220203.22021420224.220233.820243.42025

Time vs marks

Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.

MarksMinutesMarks / min

Paper 1 (Q1-Q7)

0.50 m/min
10
20

Paper 1 (Q8-Q13)

0.89 m/min
41
46

Paper 2 Q1 (Statist

0.88 m/min
15
17

Paper 2 Q2 (Finance)

0.88 m/min
15
17

Paper 2 Q3 (Sequenc

0.89 m/min
17
19

Paper 2 Q4 (3D Geom

0.88 m/min
14
16

Paper 2 Q5 (Voronoi)

0.90 m/min
19
21

Total marks

131

Total time

156 min

Avg pace

0.84

Cumulative marks ladder

The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.

040801201607 estimated6 estimated5 estimated4 estimated3 estimated2 estimated1 estimated611162128343946505762718095110127141160

Next-year prediction

Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.

Normal Distribution and Hypothesis Testing

90%

90%

Calculus (Optimization & Motion)

85%

85%

Trigonometry (Sine/Cosine rules in 2D/3D)

80%

80%

Exam tips

Paper format

Duration
1h 15min
Total marks
55

Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.

MATHEMATICS-APPLICATIONS-AND-INTERPRETATION/31 — IB Diploma Programme Mathematics Applications and Interpretation (June 2025) | Revui