May 2026 · Final weeks

IB Math AI SL Paper 1 Predicted Questions 2026

The topics most likely to appear in May 2026 Paper 1 — backed by frequency analysis across all May sessions. GDC required throughout.

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Math AI SL Paper 1 Crash Course

Stop hoping the right topics come up. Know exactly what to practise — and how.

This crash course covers the Paper 1 topics with the highest past-paper frequency — SOHCAHTOA, 3D geometry, rounding, exponentials, stats — with step-by-step methods and timed practice sets for the GDC-active paper.

  • High-frequency topic walkthroughs: trig, geometry, rounding, stats, exponentials.
  • Paper 1 method drills with GDC required — the exact skills tested on exam day.
  • Predicted question types practised with full working and common-error callouts.
  • A daily revision plan so you know which topics to hit in the final two weeks.
See what's inside + join nowPaper 2 predictions

Most likely Paper 1 focus areas

Based on frequency analysis across all May 2021–2025 past paper sessions

  • 1Right-angle trigonometry (SOHCAHTOA) — appeared in every May session across 5 years
  • 2Volume and surface area of 3D solids (cones, spheres, cylinders, composite) — all 5 years
  • 3Distance between two points in 2D/3D — all 5 years, often as a starter
  • 4Rounding to significant figures and percentage error — all 5 years, Paper 1 only
  • 5Exponential and logarithmic equations — 4 out of 5 years, Paper 1 exclusively
  • 6Domain and range of functions — 4 out of 5 recent years
  • 7Chi-squared test for independence — 3 years running, Paper 1 only
  • 8Spearman rank correlation — 3 years, heavy weighting

How to use these predictions effectively

  • 1Prioritize the LOCK topics first — they have appeared in every single May session.
  • 2For Paper 1, practise all methods without a GDC: no shortcuts, just written working.
  • 3Drill one topic fully (notes → example → 3 timed questions) before moving to the next.
  • 4After each practice set, review errors immediately — do not leave gaps unaddressed.

Ready to walk in confident on Math AI SL Paper 1?

The crash course gives you the right topics, step-by-step methods, and timed practice reps — everything you need to score well on Math AI SL Paper 1.

Join the Math AI SL Paper 1 crash course