Hi friend!
As someone who is currently taking the Math 10 Standard course but with friends who are taking the Math 10 Advanced course, I would say this question would depend on how you are doing in your current math class and what your grades are like now.
For example, if you are currently taking Math 9 Standard and getting a solid 6, it depends on a variety of factors if you should stay in the same math level or move up. Try to consider what you’d like to study in the future and how you think you would personally manage the course overall. If you are thinking of wanting to study things closer to the scientific and mathematical field, I would recommend moving up a level as this would further prepare you for what you would learn and need to use in the future. Compared to if you were to major in literature or things not related to mathematics, then staying in the same level would be sufficient. Also, if you are planning on taking the IB diploma, you could ask upperclassmen how they feel the math courses they took as an underclassman prepared them, and what their personal experience was like.
One thing to note is that taking Math 10 Standard would leave all the math IB courses available for you to select from such as AI SL, AA SL, AI HL, and AA HL. However, if you took Math 10 Advanced, only 3 IB courses like AA SL, AI HL, and AA HL would be available to you. Moreover, colleges may be bias towards taking AI SL if you are looking to study something in the scientific and mathematical field as they may not view this course as ‘real math’ since it is the least vigorous math course out of all of them, and the majority of the content you study is statistics, while a course like AA SL has more focus on calculus which may be more relevant for your college studies.
Overall, this decision really depends on your current standing in the math class you are taking and what you plan to study in the future. Although, choose what will make you happy and don’t take a certain course because of a teacher who may be teaching it or because the majority of your friends are taking it. Do it for yourself!
I hope this helps!
Sincerely,
Dear Letterbox