IB Math, Higher Level 1 Course
Information
Inderkum High School
Sarkis Kel-Artinian – Room G212
SKel-Artinian@Natomas.k12.ca.us
WELCOME TO MATHEMATICS HIGHER LEVEL 1
This is one year of a two-year course that prepares students for the IB Mathematics Higher Level Exam. Students will use a
number of resources over the course of the two years. This course meets during 1st period.
Course Content
The goal of this course is for students to develop deep understandings of the mathematics and to improve their mathematical
reasoning, communication, justification, and problem solving. IB states that learning should happen through experimentation,
questioning, and discovery.
During the course of the 2015-2016 school year we will study the topics listed below. The IB Core and Option syllabi are available
on Ms. Kel-Artinian’s Higher Level Math page and it is expected that you access these.
Students can use the IB formula booklet in their work. Hard copies will be provided on exams. Students should print out copies to
have on hand.
Year 1
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Complex Numbers (topic 1)
Mathematical Induction (topic 1)
Sequences & Series (topic 1)
Review topics 2 & 3
Vectors (topic 4)
Probability & Statistics (topic 5)
Differential Calculus (topic 6)
Internal Assessment – Exploration
o Rough Draft due Jan 10
o Final Draft due Feb. 1
Year 2 Students
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Review and preparation for IB exams, including a complete practice exam that will be the final for the course. Seniors
who are testing in IB HL Math this spring will have an extra section during 7th period 3rd quarter to review and prepare
for the exam.
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External Assessment
o HL Paper 1 Tuesday May 10, 2016 pm; 2 hour no-calculator exam
o HL Paper 2 Wednesday May 11, 2016 am; 2 hour exam with a calculator
o HL Paper 3 Thursday May 19, 2016 am; 1 hour exam on Calculus
Expectations
Class time is for mathematics. Students should be ready to work at the start of class: assignments completed, work and supplies
out, discussing math with neighbors. Everyone is expected to participate in whole class and small group discussions – this makes a
HUGE difference in understanding. Students should be OK with struggling a bit and being wrong sometimes – reflection will turn
these moments into learning experiences. Electronic devices other than calculators should be off and away. Calculators are to be
used for mathematics only. Tardies and plagiarism will be addressed according to the ISB Student Handbook and IB practices.
It cannot be emphasized enough that homework must be completed in this course: ALL DONE, ON TIME! Read that
previous sentence 5 more times! Mr. Kel-Artinian has taught advanced Math long enough to know that students never reach their
full potential, their expectations or the expectations of their parents or teacher without fully engaging in the learning process
including sharing and working in class and doing homework in a timely manner with full attention (that means minus social media
and other distractions).
Get help if needed: form a study group, come in to meet with me or to study with others, work with a friend, family member, or
tutor if needed.
Grading
Grades will be determined through in-class assessments both quizzes and tests in which there will be a time constraint (55%), outof-class assessments (15%), IB Internal Assessment (second semester for HL 1 students) (20%) and mathematical inquiry (10%).
(Semesters with no IA: in class (65%), out-of-class (20%), inquiry (15%)). Grades will be determined by percentages: A (90% to
100%), B (80% to 90%), C (70% to 80%), D (60% to 70%) and F (below 60%).
Many assessments will contain IB test problems and will be graded according to the IB markscheme. The Internal Assessment
will be graded according to the IB assessment criteria (to be handed out)
In addition, students will be assessed on the following behavior learning target:
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I use a tracking system for tracking my assignments.
Classwork/Homework
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Classwork provides time for students to explore ideas with their peers and teacher through group work, class discussions,
lectures, and private reflection. Students are expected to participate fully in these activities and success in the course
cannot be expected without this.
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Homework provides time for practice and reflection. Homework assignments will be given in class and posted on the
teacher’s website. Again success in the course should not be expected without full completion of homework. Homework
completion will be checked on a random basis.
All classwork and homework is expected to be organized and complete. Each entry should be labeled with the date and a
descriptive title. All work is shown. Errors are not erased. Work is done in pencil and corrections are made in pen. The most
successful HL Math students use their notebooks as a place for reflection, marking problems they have questions about to return to
later or to bring to class or teacher, and correcting and summarizing work.
Late Work
Because mathematical ideas will build throughout a unit it is important for work to be completed in a timely manner. Out of respect
for the teacher’s time it is expected that work be turned in on time. Projects and graded assignments will not be accepted late
unless a student contacts the teacher outside of class time or through email by noon the day BEFORE the assignment is due. The
student might (but don’t plan on it) be granted an extension depending on the circumstances. Many students have learned the
lesson the hard way: getting behind in HL Math makes the class five TEN TWENTY times more difficult.
Make-up Work
If a student misses an assessment and the absence is excused arrangements should be made for the make-up to be taken within one
week of the student’s return to school. For unexcused absences students cannot make up work. It is helpful if the student emails
the teacher to make arrangements. Out of respect for other students and the teacher students should stay home if they are ill.
Other reasons for absences should be minimized (particularly on assessment days).
Storing of Work
Because you will be taking an important test at the end of your Math HL studies you should have a place to store all work from the
course. This collection will be valuable as you prepare for exams.
Teacher Connection for Students and Parents
The best way to contact me is through email: SKel-Artinian@natomas.k12.ca.us You can check my website for
information and the homework link. I am part time so will not be on campus before school. The best times to meet with me this
year will be after school on A days (if I don’t have a meeting) and during the first ½ of AT. Please check in ahead of time so that I
am in the room if you plan to come in.
Daily Supplies
It is expected that students will have the following supplies in class:
pencil, binder with a math section or a spiral notebook and pocket folder, colored pencils, notebook paper, grid paper (4 or 5
squares to the inch – accessible through teacher website), ruler, pen (for correcting work)
The TI-84+ graphing calculator is required for all math courses at ISB for grade 7 and above. (A TI-83 or TI-84 is acceptable to
use.) If students have other calculators they need to check with Mr. Kel-Artinian as IB has calculator requirements and restrictions
for their exams (and thus exams in this course).
Parents/Guardians: Students are asked to share this course syllabus with you.