Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL

Expert's Insight: McGill grants credit for Calculus 1 & 2 with a 5, dropping you straight into MATH 222 (Calculus 3). However, this course opens immediately with Infinite Series—a topic many IB grads find abstract and punishing. The Trap: IB Math AA HL touches on Taylor polynomials, but MATH 222 demands you master convergence tests (Ratio, Root, Integral) and error estimation immediately. The jump from 'applying a formula' to 'proving convergence' is massive. Key Risk: You are also expected to know integration techniques (Trig Substitution, Integration by Parts) cold. Since you skipped Calculus 2 (MATH 141), if your IB teacher rushed these topics, you will fail the first midterm. Pro Tip: Spend the summer drilling: • Convergence Tests: Ratio, Root, Alternating Series (know the conditions!). • Integration: Trig Substitution & Partial Fractions. • Taylor Series: Specifically error bounds (Lagrange). If you can't solve these cold, you will be self-teaching 3 weeks of math in the first 5 days.

Expert's Insight: Here is the hard truth: DeGroote explicitly forbids using IB Math to skip their core business calculus. You will likely get generic elective credits (units), but you cannot use them to bypass MATH 1MM3. Don't bank on a shortcut—plan to take calculus in Year 1.

Expert's Insight: WARNING: The DeGroote School of Business does NOT accept IB Math credits for Commerce students. Even with a 7, you must take the mandatory university-level calculus (Math 1M03). Do not bank on skipping this.

Expert's Insight: McMaster Engineering rarely accepts IB Math for core calculus requirements (MATH 1ZA3). You *might* get a 3-unit "free elective" credit, but expect to retake calculus in Year 1.

Expert's Insight: For General Science, a 5+ usually nets you 3 units of unspecified credit. However, if you want to major in Math or Physics, you may be forced to forfeit this credit and take the standard first-year sequence.

Expert's Insight: REAL CREDIT — BUT CHECK YOUR CALCULUS STREAM The Good News: For Arts & Science (Life Sci, General Science), Queen's awards MATH 121 (6.0 units) for IB Math AA HL (Score 5+). This is a full-year calculus credit that clears the requirement for most science majors. What MATH 121 Actually Is: It is "Applied Calculus" (Derivatives, Integrals, Modeling). It focuses on solving problems for science, not writing proofs for mathematicians. Who Should PAUSE (or STOP) Before Taking It: Smith Engineering: STOP. Smith Engineering explicitly grants NO CREDIT for IB Mathematics HL. You cannot use this to skip APSC 171/172. It does not count toward your degree. Math/Physics Majors: DANGER. As the official policy states, "Students who wish to access a degree Plan in Mathematics must take MATH 120." The Trap: MATH 121 is an exclusion to MATH 120. If you accept the credit, you are technically barred from the theoretical calculus stream required for your major. The Fix: You must forfeit the credit and take MATH 120. Smith Commerce: This credit is a strategic win. Commerce students need 6.0 units of non-Commerce electives. MATH 121 satisfies this perfectly. Note: It likely does not replace your core COMM 161 (Business Calculus) requirement, but it clears your elective bucket instantly. The 30-Second Decision Rule: Check your degree plan. If it says "MATH 121" or "100-level Calculus" → Take the credit. If it says "MATH 120" or "APSC 171" → Decline/Ignore the credit and take the class. Bottom Line: This credit is a massive schedule win for Life Science and Commerce students (as an elective), but useless for Engineers and a potential trap for Math majors.

Expert's Insight: REAL CREDIT — BUT CHECK YOUR CALCULUS STREAM The Good News: For Arts & Science (Life Sci, General Science), Queen's awards MATH 121 (6.0 units) for IB Math AA HL (Score 5+). This is a full-year calculus credit that clears the requirement for most science majors. What MATH 121 Actually Is: It is "Applied Calculus" (Derivatives, Integrals, Modeling). It focuses on solving problems for science, not writing proofs for mathematicians. Who Should PAUSE (or STOP) Before Taking It: Smith Engineering: STOP. Smith Engineering explicitly grants NO CREDIT for IB Mathematics HL. You cannot use this to skip APSC 171/172. It does not count toward your degree. Math/Physics Majors: DANGER. As the official policy states, "Students who wish to access a degree Plan in Mathematics must take MATH 120." The Trap: MATH 121 is an exclusion to MATH 120. If you accept the credit, you are technically barred from the theoretical calculus stream required for your major. The Fix: You must forfeit the credit and take MATH 120. Smith Commerce: This credit is a strategic win. Commerce students need 6.0 units of non-Commerce electives. MATH 121 satisfies this perfectly. Note: It likely does not replace your core COMM 161 (Business Calculus) requirement, but it clears your elective bucket instantly. The 30-Second Decision Rule: Check your degree plan. If it says "MATH 121" or "100-level Calculus" → Take the credit. If it says "MATH 120" or "APSC 171" → Decline/Ignore the credit and take the class. Bottom Line: This credit is a massive schedule win for Life Science and Commerce students (as an elective), but useless for Engineers and a potential trap for Math majors.

Expert's Insight: REAL CREDIT — BUT CHECK YOUR CALCULUS STREAM The Good News: For Arts & Science (Life Sci, General Science), Queen's awards MATH 121 (6.0 units) for IB Math AA HL (Score 5+). This is a full-year calculus credit that clears the requirement for most science majors. What MATH 121 Actually Is: It is "Applied Calculus" (Derivatives, Integrals, Modeling). It focuses on solving problems for science, not writing proofs for mathematicians. Who Should PAUSE (or STOP) Before Taking It: Smith Engineering: STOP. Smith Engineering explicitly grants NO CREDIT for IB Mathematics HL. You cannot use this to skip APSC 171/172. It does not count toward your degree. Math/Physics Majors: DANGER. As the official policy states, "Students who wish to access a degree Plan in Mathematics must take MATH 120." The Trap: MATH 121 is an exclusion to MATH 120. If you accept the credit, you are technically barred from the theoretical calculus stream required for your major. The Fix: You must forfeit the credit and take MATH 120. Smith Commerce: This credit is a strategic win. Commerce students need 6.0 units of non-Commerce electives. MATH 121 satisfies this perfectly. Note: It likely does not replace your core COMM 161 (Business Calculus) requirement, but it clears your elective bucket instantly. The 30-Second Decision Rule: Check your degree plan. If it says "MATH 121" or "100-level Calculus" → Take the credit. If it says "MATH 120" or "APSC 171" → Decline/Ignore the credit and take the class. Bottom Line: This credit is a massive schedule win for Life Science and Commerce students (as an elective), but useless for Engineers and a potential trap for Math majors.

Expert's Insight: REAL CREDIT — BUT CHECK YOUR CALCULUS STREAM The Good News: For Arts & Science (Life Sci, General Science), Queen's awards MATH 121 (6.0 units) for IB Math AA HL (Score 5+). This is a full-year calculus credit that clears the requirement for most science majors. What MATH 121 Actually Is: It is "Applied Calculus" (Derivatives, Integrals, Modeling). It focuses on solving problems for science, not writing proofs for mathematicians. Who Should PAUSE (or STOP) Before Taking It: Smith Engineering: STOP. Smith Engineering explicitly grants NO CREDIT for IB Mathematics HL. You cannot use this to skip APSC 171/172. It does not count toward your degree. Math/Physics Majors: DANGER. As the official policy states, "Students who wish to access a degree Plan in Mathematics must take MATH 120." The Trap: MATH 121 is an exclusion to MATH 120. If you accept the credit, you are technically barred from the theoretical calculus stream required for your major. The Fix: You must forfeit the credit and take MATH 120. Smith Commerce: This credit is a strategic win. Commerce students need 6.0 units of non-Commerce electives. MATH 121 satisfies this perfectly. Note: It likely does not replace your core COMM 161 (Business Calculus) requirement, but it clears your elective bucket instantly. The 30-Second Decision Rule: Check your degree plan. If it says "MATH 121" or "100-level Calculus" → Take the credit. If it says "MATH 120" or "APSC 171" → Decline/Ignore the credit and take the class. Bottom Line: This credit is a massive schedule win for Life Science and Commerce students (as an elective), but useless for Engineers and a potential trap for Math majors.

Expert's Insight: REAL CREDIT — BUT CHECK YOUR CALCULUS STREAM The Good News: For Arts & Science (Life Sci, General Science), Queen's awards MATH 121 (6.0 units) for IB Math AA HL (Score 5+). This is a full-year calculus credit that clears the requirement for most science majors. What MATH 121 Actually Is: It is "Applied Calculus" (Derivatives, Integrals, Modeling). It focuses on solving problems for science, not writing proofs for mathematicians. Who Should PAUSE (or STOP) Before Taking It: Smith Engineering: STOP. Smith Engineering explicitly grants NO CREDIT for IB Mathematics HL. You cannot use this to skip APSC 171/172. It does not count toward your degree. Math/Physics Majors: DANGER. As the official policy states, "Students who wish to access a degree Plan in Mathematics must take MATH 120." The Trap: MATH 121 is an exclusion to MATH 120. If you accept the credit, you are technically barred from the theoretical calculus stream required for your major. The Fix: You must forfeit the credit and take MATH 120. Smith Commerce: This credit is a strategic win. Commerce students need 6.0 units of non-Commerce electives. MATH 121 satisfies this perfectly. Note: It likely does not replace your core COMM 161 (Business Calculus) requirement, but it clears your elective bucket instantly. The 30-Second Decision Rule: Check your degree plan. If it says "MATH 121" or "100-level Calculus" → Take the credit. If it says "MATH 120" or "APSC 171" → Decline/Ignore the credit and take the class. Bottom Line: This credit is a massive schedule win for Life Science and Commerce students (as an elective), but useless for Engineers and a potential trap for Math majors.

Expert's Insight: THE 'GRADE 6' CLIFF – GENERIC VS. GOLDEN TICKET SFU awards different transfer credit for IB Math Analysis & Approaches HL depending on your score and whether you're an IB Diploma or Partial/Certificate student. <strong>Scenario A: Score of 6 or 7 (Specific Credit)</strong> You get: <strong>MATH 151 (3) + MATH 152 (3)</strong> Meaning: You receive credit for SFU's standard Calculus I & II sequence (where your program uses MATH 151/152). <strong>Engineer note:</strong> Many engineering paths still require MATH 232 (Linear Algebra) in first year. <strong>Scenario B: Score of 4 or 5 (Generic Credit)</strong> You get: <strong>MATH 1XX (6)</strong> (generic/unassigned math credit). <strong>Eligibility:</strong> IB Diploma students typically receive transfer credit at 4+; Partial/Certificate students need 5+ for HL credit. <strong>Why it matters:</strong> MATH 1XX is not the same as being credited for MATH 151, so programs that require the calculus sequence may still make you take the required calculus course(s). <strong>WQB note:</strong> IB/AP transfer credit can be eligible for Q/B designations, but if the designation you need doesn't appear on your record, you can request a WQB designation review. <strong><strong><strong>Verdict:</strong></strong></strong> If you're sitting at a predicted 5, pushing to a 6 can be the difference between generic units and specific calculus credit (MATH 151/152).