<p>I realize this isn’t the best of questions, but how does the difficulty of the IB Math HL exam compare with that of the math work the typical Harvard math concentrator does? I know Harvard math will be more insanely difficult, but does anyone have any experience with the two?</p>
<p>Great.</p>
<p>Are you doing any extracurricular activities related to math?</p>
<p>Here is a link to the Harvard Math Department pamphlet that describes different Calculus courses.<br>
I’m assuming that IB Math is similar to AP-Calc BC. For most prospective math majors, the entry point is probably Math 23. Students who have progressed beyond AP-Calc BC may opt for Math 25. Students who have already learned how to write proofs in different settings are the ones who sign up for Math 55. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.math.harvard.edu/undergrad/Pamphlets/freshmenguide.html[/url]”>http://www.math.harvard.edu/undergrad/Pamphlets/freshmenguide.html</a></p>
<p>I believe that IB Math HL is more than just Calc BC. I’m taking the first year of HL math, and I took the AP Calc BC exam this week. Next year, during HL II, we’re learning something… just not sure what it is.</p>
<p>So basically, BC Calc = first year of IB Math HL.</p>
<p>What you need to do in this case is to compare the IB Math HL to the curriculum for Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra. The important distinction, though, is whether a student can write proofs or not.</p>
<p>I have no idea what one learns in the second year of Math HL, but I don’t think that it’s Multivar or Linear Algebra.</p>
<p>From what I can tell, the second year of Math HL seems to be proof-based discrete math, or possibly AP stats–the course description is really all over the place.</p>
<p>Well I have the syllabus, and it includes all of the AP Calc BC content, all of the AP Stats content, plus “advanced algebra, functions & equations, circular functions & trigonometry, matrices, and vectors.”</p>
<p>The typical exam has you prove several theorems, for instance De Moivre’s, and it uses a lot of mathematical induction. It is definitely more difficult than any AP math class, as only a small percent receive a 7 out of 7. And to get a 7, you need to correctly complete about 75% of the exam.</p>
<p>tokenadult: I have made several real-life applications of statistics to businesses and the like, but nothing “pure math”-related.</p>
<p>And thanks for everyone’s help, by the way. And that webpage, marite, is very helpful!</p>
<p>i took bc calc soph year, got a 5. i took ib HL paper 2 on friday, and it made me want to cry. ib hl includes much more material (stats, linear algebra, a few more integration techniques), but their free response questions are also just harder. they really make you think on your feet.</p>
<p>Yeah, paper 2 thoroughly raped me this week. Paper 1 was manageable.</p>
<p>My friends in AP Calc BC know more about calc than I do, I think, but I think I have a better grasp on a broader base of math than they do. The only multivar calc we did (I don’t really know what multivariable calc actually consists of, so forgive me if I’m wrong) was that thing where you do implicit differentiation with the x’s and the y’s… lol… I think that’s what it’s called.</p>
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<p>Heh, definitely pulled a lot of s*** out of thin air for that proof of De Moivre’s… I wrote some pretty crazy stuff :)</p>
<p>The mathematical induction question was surprisingly do-able, though. I didn’t think math paper 2 was as bad as physics paper 2… that was just humiliating.</p>
<p>Only one more paper and we’re FOREVER done with HL math!! What option are you guys doing? We’re doing discrete mathematics and it’s pretty crazy… what the heck is up with all that “mod” stuff? lol as you can probably tell, I’m thoroughly (un)prepared.</p>
<p>I am doing the Stats option (we all took AP Calc BC last year and AP Statistics this year). We started reviewing IB math a couple weeks before the exam.</p>
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<p>I attended Harvard - and I went to an IB school AND took IB Math HL AND got a 7. With that context, here’s my advice:</p>
<p>1) Harvard math is conceptually challenging - IB will get you ready to start multivariable calculus, but won’t ensure that you are a conceptual thinker. You either are or you’re not. Most math concentrators are –> or they do applied math.
2) There are several different tracks Xa (pre-calc), 1, 21, 23, 25, 55 (most advanced) that you can start with. X is for people who have never done calculus. 1 ~ equivalent to AP/IB calculus, though slightly more challenging. 21 = multivariable, where most science/math-inclined people go who have scored well on their AP and IB’s in math. 23 is more conceptual with emphasis on linear algebra and proofs, less useful for engineers, physics people, etc. 25 you have to be math olympiad level or just very hard core to take. 55 you have to be ready for graduate-level math.
3) In addition, all harvard students take an exam during their orientation week to direct them into which level of math they should take based on their performance. These are recommendations, so you can still take whatever you like.</p>
<p>Hope that helps. Personally, I started with 21, took a whole year of it which include multivariable and differential equations. I was a chem major, so it was required for honors. I tried starting with 23, but didn’t like the prof, and it was more proof oriented, and slightly advanced. After 21, you can do 55 or higher.</p>
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<p>I do not believe you can do 55 after 21 (unless you took 21 as a high schooler). 55 is a freshman class. If you did 21 and want to learn how to do proof, you take Math 101.</p>