IB Diploma subjects are graded from 1 to 7, and your overall score is out of 45. Your six subject grades contribute up to 42 points. Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Extended Essay (EE) can add up to three more. Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) adds no points, but you must complete it to receive the diploma.
You need at least 24 points and must meet the other diploma requirements. A total of 24 or more does not automatically mean you have passed.
The essentials
- Subjects: six grades from 1 to 7, worth up to 42 points. HL and SL count equally.
- Core: TOK and the EE together add 0–3 points. An E in either means no diploma.
- Diploma: at least 24 points, plus conditions on low grades, HL and SL totals, and CAS.
- University: offers often name specific HL grades as well as a total.
Three different things matter: your individual subject grades, whether you qualify for the diploma, and whether you meet your university offer. This guide explains each one, with examples you can use to check your own position.
What do IB grades 1–7 mean?
Every Diploma Programme subject receives a final grade from 1, the lowest, to 7, the highest. The IB's own short descriptors are:
| Grade | IB descriptor |
|---|---|
| 7 | Excellent |
| 6 | Very good |
| 5 | Good |
| 4 | Satisfactory |
| 3 | Mediocre |
| 2 | Poor |
| 1 | Very poor |
These are simplified labels. The detailed grade descriptors for each subject group explain the knowledge and skills expected; a strong History answer and a strong Mathematics answer demonstrate different things.
Remember
A grade 7 does not mean you scored 100%. It means your assessed performance reached the highest grade band.
Is a 4 a pass in an IB subject?
There is no single subject grade that decides whether you get the diploma. Diploma eligibility depends on your complete set of results and the award conditions below.
That distinction matters: a grade 3 in one subject does not automatically stop you receiving the diploma, while a grade 4 may be below the requirement for a particular university course.
How is your IB score calculated?
The formula
Six subject grades + TOK/EE core points = total score out of 45
Key point
HL grades are not doubled. A 6 in an HL subject adds six points, and a 6 in an SL subject also adds six points.
Worked example: calculating a score of 36
| Subject | Level | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| English A | HL | 6 |
| History | HL | 6 |
| Biology | HL | 5 |
| Mathematics | SL | 5 |
| French B | SL | 6 |
| Economics | SL | 6 |
| Subject total | 34 | |
| TOK B + EE C | Core | 2 |
| Overall score | 36/45 |
The subject grades add up to 34. The TOK/EE combination adds two points, giving 36 overall.
Tip
Always distinguish a subject total out of 42 from a diploma total out of 45 when discussing your target with teachers.
How do TOK and the Extended Essay points work?
TOK and the EE each receive a letter grade from A to E. Their combination decides whether you receive zero, one, two or three core points.
| EE ↓ / TOK → | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | Fail |
| B | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | Fail |
| C | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Fail |
| D | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Fail |
| E | Fail | Fail | Fail | Fail | Fail |
"Fail" means a diploma failing condition: an E in either TOK or the EE prevents the diploma being awarded.
Watch out
A B does not always produce two points. A+B gives three; B+C gives two; B+D gives one.
Zero core points does not automatically mean you fail either. C+D gives zero points, but you can still receive the diploma if you meet all the other requirements.
TOK is assessed through an exhibition and a 1,600-word essay. The exhibition links three objects, in their real-world contexts, to one of the IB's prescribed prompts; it is not a general presentation about knowledge.
Important
Taking the IB in 2027? The revised Extended Essay has its first assessment in May 2027, with new assessment criteria. Check that your supervisor's guidance, the criteria and any example essays match the version you are taking.
What are the IB Diploma pass requirements?
Check every one of these conditions:
| Requirement | What to check |
|---|---|
| Overall score | At least 24 points, including core points |
| Awarded grades | A grade in all six subjects, TOK and the EE |
| Lowest subject grade | No grade 1 |
| Grade 2 limit | No more than two grade 2s |
| Low-grade limit | No more than three grades of 3 or below |
| HL points | At least 12; with four HLs, the highest three count |
| SL points | At least 9; with two SLs, at least 5 |
| TOK and EE | Neither graded E |
| CAS | Requirements completed |
These are the IB's published DP passing criteria. Academic integrity rules also apply: misconduct can affect your results and diploma eligibility.
Worked example
24 points and eligible for the diploma.
- HL grades: 4, 4, 4 → 12 HL points
- SL grades: 4, 4, 4 → 12 SL points
- TOK/EE: C and D → 0 core points
- Total: 24
Assuming CAS and the remaining requirements are met, this meets the diploma award conditions.
Worked example
28 points but no diploma.
- HL grades: 3, 4, 4 → 11 HL points
- SL grades: 5, 5, 5 → 15 SL points
- Core points: 2
- Total: 28
The overall score is above 24, but the HL total is below 12. This combination does not meet the diploma requirements.
Remember
Core points cannot make up for missing the HL or SL minimum.
Your turn
A student has HL grades of 5, 4, 3, SL grades of 4, 3, 3 and TOK/EE of B and C. What is their total, and do they meet the points-based conditions?
AnswerShow answerHide answer
HL = 5 + 4 + 3 = 12, SL = 4 + 3 + 3 = 10 and B + C gives 2 core points, so the total is 12 + 10 + 2 = 24. The HL (12) and SL (9) minimums are met, and there are exactly three grades of 3, the maximum allowed. With no grade 1, no grade 2 and CAS complete, they meet the conditions, but with no margin at all.
Do HL grades matter more than SL grades?
For your total score, HL and SL count equally.
For course content, they differ. Students take three or four HL subjects, with the rest at SL. The IB recommends 240 teaching hours for HL and 150 for SL, and HL covers a greater body of knowledge, understanding and skills.
For university admission, the important question is what your chosen course requires. Requirements are set by individual institutions, so check the course page for your entry year. For how this compares with A-levels, see A-levels vs IB.
Why your total alone may not meet an offer
Example offer
This is illustrative, not a real requirement: 36 points overall, with 6, 6, 5 at HL, including a 6 in Mathematics.
A student with 38 points overall but a 5 in Mathematics HL has not met every stated condition. A student with exactly 36 and the required HL grades has met the academic conditions as written.
When checking an offer, record:
- the overall points requirement;
- the required HL grades and named subjects;
- any specific Mathematics course, such as Analysis and Approaches;
- whether core points are included in the stated total.
Key point
A higher overall score does not automatically cancel a missing subject requirement.
How are individual IB subject grades calculated?
Your subject grade comes from the assessment components specified for that course. Depending on the subject, these can include exam papers, investigations, oral work, essays, portfolios or performances.
Some work is marked externally. Internal assessments are marked by your teachers and moderated by the IB to check that marking standards are applied consistently.
You do not normally calculate a final grade by averaging component grades such as 5, 6 and 7. Component marks are combined using the course's assessment weightings, and the resulting total is converted into a subject grade.
Worked example
Weighted marks in a hypothetical course.
| Component | Weighting | Your mark | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 30% | 70% | 21 |
| Paper 2 | 50% | 60% | 30 |
| Internal assessment | 20% | 80% | 16 |
| Total | 100% | 67/100 |
(70 × 0.30) + (60 × 0.50) + (80 × 0.20) = 21 + 30 + 16 = 67.
That does not automatically mean a grade 6 or 7. You must compare the total with the right grade boundaries.
Check
The weightings above are illustrative. Use the subject guide for your course, level and assessment year; IA weightings vary between subjects.
How do IB grade boundaries work?
A grade boundary is the minimum mark needed to enter a grade band.
Boundaries can change between exam sessions because assessment tasks differ in difficulty. The IB combines senior examiners' judgement of student work with statistical evidence and teachers' expectations to keep standards consistent between sessions.
Watch out
There is no universal rule such as "80% always means a 7".
A simple boundary example
Imagine the overall grade 6 boundary is 62 and the grade 7 boundary is 74 (invented figures):
| Weighted total | Grade |
|---|---|
| 61 | Below the grade 6 band |
| 62 | 6 |
| 73 | 6 |
| 74 | 7 |
How to use past boundaries during revision
When practising a past paper:
- Identify the subject, HL or SL level, session and paper version.
- Mark your answers using the matching mark scheme.
- Use the matching boundaries to interpret that performance.
- Identify the marks you lost and practise those skills again.
A boundary for one paper is not necessarily the overall subject boundary, and one practice paper cannot tell you your full subject grade without the other assessed components. Use past boundaries as a guide to past performance; future boundaries are not known in advance.
What is a good IB score?
A good score is one that meets your next-step requirements and reflects real progress from your starting point.
For context, the IB reported a global average DP score of 30.88 in the May 2026 session, when more than 209,000 students received DP and CP results. That is a session-specific figure, not an entry requirement or a target every student must reach.
| Six subject grades | Subject total | With 2 core points |
|---|---|---|
| Six 4s | 24 | 26 |
| Six 5s | 30 | 32 |
| Six 6s | 36 | 38 |
| Six 7s | 42 | 44 |
This also shows why you do not need six 7s to achieve a strong total. For your own target, start with your chosen course requirements, then agree an achievable subject-by-subject plan with your teachers.
Predicted grades, mocks and final grades: what is the difference?
| Result | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Mock grade | How you performed on your school's practice assessment |
| Predicted grade | Your school's estimate of your eventual performance |
| Final IB grade | The result awarded through the IB assessment process |
A mock is useful evidence, but it is not a guarantee of your final result. Ask your teacher which components the mock covered and how its grade boundaries were chosen.
If you are predicted a 6 but repeatedly score around a 4 in timed practice, use that gap to identify what needs attention. Equally, improving practice scores can show progress even before a prediction changes.
How can you improve your IB grades?
Start by finding which marks you are losing and why. "Revise Biology" is too broad to guide a study session.
1. Make a subject target table
| Subject | Current evidence | Target | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics HL | Losing marks on unfamiliar calculus problems | 6 | Practise mixed questions and explain each method |
| History HL | Essays describe events more than they evaluate | 6 | Rewrite two paragraphs with a supported judgement |
| French B SL | Listening errors affect other answers | 5 | Practise short recordings and classify mistakes |
Use recent marked work rather than your best-ever score.
Priority
Deal with diploma risks and required university subjects first, then look for realistic improvements elsewhere.
2. Turn feedback into a specific task
Ask your teacher
Instead of "improve analysis", ask: "What does this paragraph need to do to earn the next markband?"
Your next task might be to explain a causal link, compare interpretations or support a judgement with precise evidence. Assessment criteria show you what earns marks; grade descriptors help you understand the broader standard.
3. Use practice questions to repair weaknesses
After marking a question, classify the problem:
- Knowledge: you did not know the material.
- Application: you knew it but could not use it in this situation.
- Technique: you misread the command term or gave too little working.
- Timing: you ran out of time.
- Accuracy: you made an avoidable calculation or reading error.
Then choose a matching task. More note-reading will not fix poor timing or weak evaluation. Reattempt the question later without looking at the solution, then try a different question testing the same skill.
4. Protect coursework and core deadlines
Check the weightings and criteria for each assessment before deciding how much time it needs. Work on TOK and the EE throughout the course, and keep CAS evidence and reflections up to date.
Note
Ask your IB coordinator early if you are unsure whether a requirement is complete. Starley's IB Diploma exam timetable shows when each paper falls.
5. Build the total you need
Example
Your current planning estimate is 33 points and your target is 36. One possible route:
- one subject rises from 5 to 6: +1
- another rises from 4 to 5: +1
- core points rise from 1 to 2: +1
That is a three-point improvement. Decide whether each step is realistic from your current work, and protect any required HL grade while you pursue it.
How should you read your IB results?
Check three things separately:
- Diploma outcome: were you awarded the diploma?
- Grades and total: what did you receive in each subject and the core?
- University conditions: did you meet every part of your offer?
If something is unclear, contact your IB coordinator. On the candidate results website you may also be able to see a more detailed view for each subject, including your scaled total mark, the lower and upper grade boundaries and the number of marks needed for a grade increase.
Should you request a re-mark?
Being close to a boundary is a reason to discuss the result with your coordinator. It does not guarantee the grade will rise.
Ask about the work eligible for review, the fee, the deadline and whether a change would affect your diploma or university place.
Important
An enquiry upon results (EUR) must be submitted by your school. Because a re-mark can lower your grade as well as raise it, your written consent is required, and if a school requests one without consent and the grade falls, the original grade is not reinstated.
Can you retake IB subjects?
Yes, but you need a school willing to register you, and you must check the available session and the current assessment requirements.
The IB removed its old three-examination-session limit in 2023. Retake students may need to follow updated subject requirements where the curriculum has changed.
If you missed a university offer, contact admissions promptly while discussing review or retake options with your coordinator. Do not wait for a possible grade change before finding out what options remain; our A-level results day 2027 guide explains how UCAS decisions and Clearing work, and the same steps apply to IB students applying through UCAS.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pass the IB with 24 points?
Yes, if you also meet all the diploma award requirements. Check the HL and SL totals, low-grade limits, TOK, EE and CAS.
Can I get the diploma with a 2 or a 3?
It can be possible. Your complete grade combination matters: no grade 1, no more than two 2s, no more than three grades of 3 or below, and the minimum HL and SL totals still apply.
Does CAS give you bonus points?
No. CAS is required for the diploma but does not add points.
Do I need an A in both TOK and the EE to get three points?
No. A+A, A+B and B+A each give three core points.
What percentage do I need for a 7?
There is no single percentage for all subjects or sessions. Use the boundaries for the relevant course and assessment.
Is an IB 7 the same as an A* at A level?
Both are top subject grades, but a simple conversion does not capture differences in course content, level or assessment. Use the university's published IB requirements when planning an application.
Does a high total guarantee a university place?
No. You may also need specific subjects and grades, and admission can involve other selection requirements. If your course needs a personal statement, interview or test, those count too.
What should I do first if I am worried about passing?
Write down your six likely grades, HL and SL totals, expected core points and CAS status. Take that to your coordinator and identify the exact requirement at risk. A specific problem is much easier to address than a general fear of failing.