What the board asks

We went through the ISC board papers, question by question, and matched each question to a topic. Here is what was asked, how often, and what was never asked.

Mathematics: 309 topics in the 2027 syllabus, across 11 units. The board has asked 255 of them at least once. 54 were never asked in the papers we checked.

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M11 Probability

This unit carries about 9 marks in the paper. We split it into 27 topics: each is one thing an examiner can ask, and you can practise it on paper in 5 to 25 minutes. The board has asked 27 of them. 0 were never asked. The top 5 topics make 32% of all the times this unit was asked. Last asked: Specimen 2027.

The syllabus says: Variance and the binomial distribution are not listed in the theory syllabus of this document.

27asked by the board at least once

0in the syllabus, never asked

59times a topic of this unit was asked

6.1hours for one attempt at every topic

What the papers ask most

  • Mean (expected value) of a random variable6 times, last 2026
  • Standard results: complement, addition theorem, mutually exclusive events4 times, last Specimen 2027
  • Total probability: choose a source at random, then draw3 times, last Specimen 2027
  • Conditional probability from given P(A), P(B), P(A n B)3 times, last 2025 improvement
  • Product rule for independent trials: with replacement, odds3 times, last 2025
  • Bayes' theorem word problem: shares and success rates3 times, last 2025 improvement
  • Distribution of a count from draws without replacement3 times, last 2025 improvement
  • At least one success among independent events3 times, last 2024
  • Bayes' theorem word problem: bags, boxes, coins or die3 times, last 2024
  • Independent events: find union, neither, or unknown probability3 times, last 2023

In the syllabus, never asked (0)

They can still come, because they are in the syllabus. Give each one clean attempt. Your plan has two practice questions for each.

    All the topics in Mathematics: Probability →

    The 10 topics Mathematics papers ask most

    Counted on the board papers from 2018 to the 2027 specimen paper, which every unit has been checked against.

    1. 1.Formulate an LPP from a word problemM10 Linear Programming · asked 7 times since 2018
    2. 2.Scalar and vector projection of one vector on anotherM8 Vector Algebra · asked 6 times since 2018
    3. 3.Mean (expected value) of a random variableM11 Probability · asked 6 times since 2018
    4. 4.Find the inverse of an invertible algebraic function and verifyM1 Relations and Functions · asked 5 times since 2018
    5. 5.Principal value of expressions and nested inverse trigM1 Relations and Functions · asked 5 times since 2018
    6. 6.Evaluate or show zero without expanding, using propertiesM2 Algebra: Matrices and Determinants · asked 5 times since 2018
    7. 7.Prove a determinant equals a factorised expression using propertiesM2 Algebra: Matrices and Determinants · asked 5 times since 2018
    8. 8.Definite integral of a modulus functionM5 Calculus: Integrals · asked 5 times since 2018
    9. 9.Case study or linked parts on lines and planesM9 Three-Dimensional Geometry · asked 5 times since 2018
    10. 10.Equations solved with the complementary identitiesM1 Relations and Functions · asked 4 times since 2018

    See when each unit comes in your plan