The mathematical studies project enables students to demonstrate their mathematical skills and knowledge through personal research and investigation of a topic of their choosing. The project should be self-explanatory and understandable to non-mathematicians. Students are assessed on introducing their topic, collecting and analyzing data, using appropriate mathematical processes, interpreting results, structurally communicating their findings, and using proper notation. Suggested project ideas relate mathematical concepts to other fields like biology, economics, and physics. The goal is for students to pursue topics they find interesting while developing research, problem-solving, and communication abilities.

1. Mathematical Studies Project
A good project should be able to be followed by a non-
mathematician and be self explanatory all the way through.

2. Math Studies Assessment

3. Purpose of the Project
It enables students to demonstrate the application of their
skills and knowledge and to pursue personal interest,
without time limitation and other constraints often
associated with written exams.
It is a piece of written work based on personal research
involving collection, analysis and evaluation of data.
Develop students’ abilities to ask their own questions about
mathematics.
Encourage students to initiate and sustain a piece of work.

4. Enable students to acquire confidence in developing
strategies for dealing with new problems.
Enable students to experience mathematics as an
integrated discipline
See connections and applications of math to other areas of
interest.
Allow students with varying abilities, interests and
experiences to achieve a sense of personal satisfaction in
studying mathematics

5. Requirements
The project is a piece of work based on personal
research, analysis and evaluation of data.
Each project must contain:
• A title
• A statement of the task
• Measurements, information or data
• Analysis of the information, measurements or
data
• Evaluation of the analysis
• Bibliography and footnotes, as necessary

6. Length
The project should be no longer than 2000
words, excluding diagrams, graphs, charts
and tables. However it is the quality of the
work which is most important.

7. Criterion
Criterion A (0-3) Introduction
Criterion B (0-3) Information/Measurement
Criterion C (0-5) Mathematical Processes
Criterion D (0-3) Interpretation of results
Criterion E (0-1) Validity
Criterion F (0-3) Structure and Communication
Criterion G (0-2) Notation and Terminology

8. Introduction
• Your introduction should include:
• A Title page with Title of your project; your
name; teacher’s name; IB candidate
number
• A clear but brief description of your project
• Description of the steps you will take
• (make sure it includes what you are
going to do and how you will do it – the
intro can be written after the rest of the
project)

9. Information/Measurement
• Collect sufficient data to be able to draw
conclusions from it
• Organise your data in a logical fashion
• Verify the accuracy of your data (this is
difficult if you do a survey of your peers –
how do you ensure random sampling)
• Confirm that data is relevant
• Provide a copy of raw data/questionnaire
as appendix

10. Mathematical Processes
• Choose techniques that are appropriate
• Verify/check your results to confirm there
are no errors in your calculations
• Use both simple and sophisticated
processes
• Explain the relevance of your processes

11. Interpretation of Results
• Provide explanations of what your
calculations show
• Give enough detail in your interpretation
so that a reader would agree with your
conclusion

12. Validity
• Valid means does the project do what it
set out to do?
• Are your conclusions accurate – maybe
quote similar research
• Perhaps comment on how you could
improve your project

13. Communication
• Suggested order:
Title page
Introduction
Organised data
Mathematical processes
Interpretation of results
Discussion of validity
Appendices (if required)
Bibliography
• Include footnotes as necessary and cite your sources
• Have someone else read your project for flow/readability,
someone who is not familiar with this course

14. Project ideas
Choose something in which you are interested; for which you will be able to gather data; that there
are mathematical processes simple and sophisticated which are relevant.
Suggestions:
• Are yellow M & M’s less common than other colours?
• Does location affect the local rate of suicides?
• Does that amount of water plants get affect their rate of growth?
• What is the relationship between GNP and AIDS infection rates?
• How quickly does water drain from a bucket?
• How long does it take for a cup of coffee to cool to room temperature?
• What is the pattern in the rise and fall of tides?
• What is the stopping distance of a particular car?
• Analysis of stock market fluctuations
• A comparison between calorie intake and gender
• Does eating breakfast have any effect on high school grades?
• Infant mortality and GDP
• Investigation of reaction times
• Comparison between lung capacity, age weight and body fat
• Calculating the time of sunrise and sunset
• Gender based discrimination
• Sports and grades
• Bat speed compared with body weight
• Air travel – distance compared with price
• Cost efficiency of vehicles
• Sine waves in pitch frequencies
• Mobile phone charges in different countries