Jason’s Thoughts on Maths Paper 1 (HL)

Wow, what a paper. I tried to differentiate the exam afterwards to find where I went wrong, but all I found was a decreasing trend in my confidence.

To be honest, I was very disappointed with Maths Paper 1. Like many of my peers, I felt that the paper was overly wordy and focused heavily on a small number of topics rather than providing a balanced spread across the course. It didn't feel like an exam where I could showcase the full range of my mathematical abilities.

The algebra question gave me a good start and helped build some confidence. Financial Maths was manageable, and I appreciated that the SEC provided clues to guide students towards the correct answers. Calculus, one of my favourite topics, was another highlight for me. While I was hoping to see first principles appear, the differentiation questions and product rule made up for it.

Complex numbers made an appearance, although my mindset was already complex enough after opening the paper. Logs and indices featured in several questions, but I felt there could have been more variety in how they were incorporated. Proof by induction also appeared, which was welcome, especially considering how often my maths teacher reminded us that it can be one of the most rewarding questions on the paper. The linked sequences and series material was enjoyable too.

Section B was dominated by functions, with three separate questions appearing. Looking back, I am fairly certain I made a mistake on one of them, but that's all part of the LC experience. My least favourite question was the one involving Ella's swimming and the shuttle runs. The wording completely threw me off and felt more like a tongue twister than a maths problem. Judging by conversations afterwards, I wasn't the only one who struggled with it.

Overall, Paper 1 was a challenging and, in my opinion, disappointing exam. Hopefully Ireland gets some sunny weather, and I will hopefully enjoy receiving that Paper 2 exam on Monday. Relieved that an entire week has now passed and I don’t need to touch anything on the topic of calculus, or financial maths