How to Prepare for the IB MYP Maths eAssessment

March 2026 - 10 min read

The IB MYP maths eAssessment is an on-screen examination taken in the final year of the Middle Years Programme (typically Year 5 / Grade 10). Unlike traditional paper exams, everything happens on a computer - from reading questions to typing answers, dragging elements, and using built-in tools. This guide covers what to expect, how to prepare, and strategies for performing your best.

What Is the eAssessment?

The eAssessment is a 2-hour on-screen exam that tests mathematical knowledge across the entire MYP curriculum. It is divided into three parts, each increasing in complexity:

• Part A: Knowing and Understanding - Short, direct questions testing recall of facts, formulae, and procedures. These are typically worth 1-3 marks each and cover basic calculations, definitions, and standard methods.
• Part B: Investigating Patterns - Multi-step questions where you identify patterns, make conjectures, and justify your reasoning. These require you to work through structured investigations and explain your findings.
• Part C: Applying Mathematics in Real-Life Contexts - Extended problems set in real-world scenarios. You need to select appropriate mathematical tools, solve multi-step problems, and evaluate the reasonableness of your answers.

Question Types You Will Encounter

The eAssessment uses several interactive question formats that differ from traditional pen-and-paper exams:

• Multiple choice - Select one or more correct answers from a list
• Numeric entry - Type a number, fraction, or expression into a text field
• Drag and drop - Move elements (numbers, labels, shapes) to correct positions
• Short response - Write a brief explanation or show working in a text box
• Extended response - Longer written answers requiring justification and mathematical reasoning
• Graphing - Plot points, draw lines, or sketch functions on an interactive coordinate grid

Topics to Focus On

The eAssessment covers the full MYP maths curriculum, but certain topics appear more frequently and carry more weight. Here is a breakdown of the key areas:

Number and Algebra

These form the foundation of Part A. Make sure you are confident with fractions, decimals, and percentages (including conversions between them), operations with indices and standard form, prime factorisation, HCF and LCM, and working with surds. For algebra, focus on expanding and factorising expressions, solving linear and quadratic equations, working with simultaneous equations, and manipulating inequalities.

Functions

Understanding functions is critical for Parts B and C. You should be able to identify linear, quadratic, and exponential functions from their equations and graphs, find the gradient and intercepts of straight lines, sketch parabolas and identify key features (vertex, axis of symmetry, roots), and work with composite and inverse functions. Domain and range questions appear frequently.

Geometry and Trigonometry

Geometry questions often appear in real-world contexts in Part C. Key topics include Pythagoras' theorem and its applications, trigonometric ratios (SOH CAH TOA) for right-angled triangles, the sine and cosine rules for non-right triangles, circle theorems, area and volume calculations for standard shapes and solids, and coordinate geometry including midpoints and distances.

Statistics and Probability

Data handling questions test your ability to interpret and analyse information. Be comfortable calculating mean, median, mode, and range, interpreting box plots, histograms, and cumulative frequency diagrams, calculating probabilities using tree diagrams and Venn diagrams, and understanding correlation and lines of best fit. Standard deviation is tested at the extended level.

Preparation Strategies

1. Practise on Screen

The biggest difference between the eAssessment and a traditional exam is the medium. Practising on paper will not prepare you for the experience of typing answers, using digital tools, and managing time on screen. Use online practice platforms that replicate the exam format. Project 56's maths trainers generate questions in the same interactive style, helping you build comfort with on-screen problem solving.

2. Use the Formula Booklet

You are provided with a formula booklet during the exam. Do not waste time memorising every formula - instead, know which formulae are in the booklet and practise using them efficiently. The key is knowing when to apply each formula, not reciting it from memory. However, you should memorise fundamental relationships (like Pythagoras' theorem and basic trig ratios) since looking them up costs time.

3. Work Through Past Papers

Past eAssessment papers give you the best sense of question style and difficulty. When working through them, time yourself strictly (2 hours total), practise allocating roughly 30 minutes to Part A, 40 minutes to Part B, and 50 minutes to Part C. Review your mistakes carefully - understanding why you got something wrong is more valuable than doing another paper.

4. Focus on Weak Topics

Identify your weakest areas early and prioritise them. Use adaptive practice tools that track your performance across topics. If you consistently score below 70% on a topic, dedicate extra time to it before moving on. Project 56's mastery system identifies these gaps automatically and adjusts question difficulty to help you improve.

5. Practise Showing Working

Even in multiple-choice questions, developing a habit of showing working helps you catch errors. For extended-response questions, clear working is essential for earning method marks. Structure your responses logically: state what you know, show each step, and circle or highlight your final answer.

On Exam Day

• Read every question carefully - On-screen questions sometimes have scrollable content or multiple parts below the fold. Make sure you have read the entire question before answering.
• Use the built-in calculator wisely - A calculator is available throughout the exam. Use it for complex arithmetic but do not rely on it for simple operations - mental maths is faster.
• Flag and return - If you are stuck on a question, flag it and move on. Come back to it after completing the rest of the section. Do not spend 10 minutes on a 2-mark question.
• Check units and rounding - Many marks are lost to incorrect units or premature rounding. Keep full precision in intermediate steps and only round your final answer as specified.
• Use all your time - If you finish early, go back and check flagged questions. Re-read Part C questions to make sure you answered what was actually asked.

Extended vs Standard Level

If you are taking extended mathematics, you will face additional topics including logarithms, rational functions, advanced trigonometry (including radians and identities), vectors in two and three dimensions, and formal set notation. The extended paper has more challenging versions of standard topics and additional questions that go deeper into abstract reasoning. The preparation strategies are the same, but you need to allocate more time to the extended-only topics.

Related Guides

• Understanding IB MYP Assessment Criteria
• 5 Active Recall Techniques That Actually Work
• How Spaced Repetition Helps You Remember Everything