It may have had something to do with the fact that our teacher refused to help us with the IA. He said it had to be our own “original” work.
But also, the test is really, really difficult. But I still got my diploma, so I’m not going to complain too much. 
The takeaway is that OP’s son should make sure to get lots of help and guidance if he does self-study any class for the IA.
How does ANY school satisfy the IBD reqs with only 14 kids in the diploma? Reading through this is a real headache, the very idea that any other than a very non mathy kid take studies is really unnerving. You might have a look at the IB official site on how this sort of thing is managed in tiny cohorts. How does the school even keep IBD status with such limitations? My kids school though, makes it clear that scheduling in the IBD is pretty solidly sorted at the end of soph year. But the pathway options are set out for kids that come in as freshmen. Most of these students/parents have this stuff planned out early on.
Update: We met with the principal today and resolved the issue calmly and cooperatively! There’s still an independent study in my son’s future, but at least he can take Calculus 1 (and remain in the IB Diploma program).
Thank you all for your thoughtful advice. You helped me see that I needed to fight for Calculus rather than Math Studies and also provided me with helpful arguments to use with the principal regarding the message the school is sending about the importance of IB.
@WildLupine …glad it worked out and sounds like some good choices were made.
Skimmed a bit, sorry, didn’t read everything. Parent of full IB Diploma kid so who is now in college, so a few thoughts. You can’t “self-study” for IB Math Studies (or any other IB class) like you can for AP, because there are IAs etc. along the way which are part of the IB score. So the suggestion about taking Calc and “self-studying” for Math Studies won’t work. However, a kid could take Math Studies as an independent study, supervised by the teacher, as the math itself isn’t that hard for someone who has done well in math generally. I would suggest using the independent study option for the class which is further afield from the student’s area of interest and focus. Another consideration would be whether the proposed schedule includes “independent study” for an SL or HL class. It would be more manageable to take an SL as an independent study than the second year of an HL.
Being full Diploma generally puts the student in the “most rigorous curriculum available” box on the guidance counselor’s form for the Common App. That designation is significant when applying to more selective schools. In my kid’s experience, schools were very impressed with full IB – it was an objective measure of rigor in the classroom and preparation in critical thinking, reading and writing, as well as a shorthand for substantial engagement through CAS. Were they in a “separate” pile from the 15 AP class kids? Who knows. But it absolutely gave my kid a leg up in admissions and in getting merit awards.
At my younger son’s IB program (same as Marian’s student), the SL Math Studies class was actually Calc AB with additional IB topics, They covered most of the other IB Math Studies topics sophomore year. He took Math Studies SL and AP Calc AB exams junior year to ensure he got college credit, because very few schools give credit for SL exams.
He took corresponding AP exams for SL Econ and SL Spanish as well, and also took the APs for his HL exams (Eng Lang, Euro and Bio). The APs got him more college credit (higher scores than IB), but IB gave him the better education.
He had six IB periods and AP Stat senior year (double period HL Bio, HL Euro, HL Eng, ToK and SL Econ) – on top of the EE, college apps and time-intensive ECs. It was brutal; he wound up very burned out and had migraines – and he was a great student with excellent scores, grades and a balanced life. This was a competitive admit IB program where 25+ (out of ~110) kids make NMSF. Should have pushed a gap year because we dealt with a lot of crash-and-burn on college. S2 says he’d do IB again, but I have had serious regrets about the way that particular program is run.
I have another son who refused to apply to IB because the math sequence just did not work for kids who were well beyond the usual course sequence, and the comp sci was totally inadequate for him. Went to a specialized math/science/CS program and did very well.
Sorry to be late to the party…both my kids were IBD; daughter took Math Studies & loved the practical application of the stats – she was an enviro sci major in college & didn’t feel behind at all. Son took Math SL & plans to major in business. He’ll need more stats in school, but won’t need more calc.
Glad you’re finding a good solution! I def think the IBD is a great option.
WIll anyone care if he gets the IB diploma?
Some colleges only give college credit if you have completed the diploma.
For example, with SUNY Binghamton:
Students in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program may receive up to 32 credits. To receive the full 32 credits, the following conditions must be met:
The IB Diploma must be completed with a score of 30 or more points; and
The student must complete at least three Higher Level exams with a score of 5 or higher.
Diploma holders who meet these conditions receive credit for their individual exam scores plus additional liberal arts elective credit to total 32 credits.
So you get more than just the credits for the HL courses with the diploma.
^Yep every school in my state gives 24 credits for the IB Diploma.
At our school SL is called IB Calc and HL is only one year, so students who go into HL take AP Calc BC before HL.
Glad you worked it out, I wish we could have.
My math studies kid finished her first day in AP Calc BC. She said she feels very prepared and was differentiating with the best of them. We will see how the rest of the year goes. She has a tutor just to help jump start everything.
IB Math Studies was a fantastic class. She said it wasn’t too crazy challenging and the real world statistics was great. My husband is an engineer and he says what they covered is definitely stuff he uses EVERY day and he was very pleased.
Why math studies to BC calc, with the expense of a tutor? Is AB calc not an option with no tutor? my SL math kids may well do AB calc as seniors (AP stats as a junior). BC calc here is just taught as/with HL math anyway. The SL is sold as being AB test ready to 60% for the motivated AP takers, so I would imagine for the kind of kid who needs a tutor or isn’t a BC kind of kid , AB calc seems kinder?
@subywrx…actually no, AB calc with no tutor was not an option. AB calc was not an option with her schedule.
Additionally, her math studies teacher felt she was ready for BC but did tell her there would be a few things they did not cover in ms. Hence, her request for a tutor at the beginning of the semester just to start off on solid ground.
Plus, the BC calc teacher here has a solid reputation for being an amazing, enthusiastic and thorough teacher and she wanted this teacher specifically. I actually have zero issue with her asking for a tutor. She rarely, if ever, asks for things like that so I’m fine with it.
It is interesting to see the differences in the way US schools offer IB math. Our school offers SL Math and HL Math. No Math Studies. They said nothing about taking an AP test after SL however they recommend taking the Cal BC test after HL. But the word calculus never appears on a IB student’s transcript.
@VickiSoCal …I’m sure it relates to experienced faculty, age of the IB program and all sorts of other factors. Ours used to have a HL math teacher but when she left they have not been able to fill the void. Also…our program is less than 6 years old I believe?
D is more than fine with how things have turned out for her so it’s a no big deal thing around here. The IA for math studies was plenty of work and she is glad to at least have that one out of the way!