IB for UK University Admissions: How to Interpret Total Score, HL, and Math Requirements

When applying to UK universities with the IB, many students only look at the total score at first glance: "This major requires 38 points, my predicted is 39, I'm good." But if you check the official websites of UK universities, you'll find that many schools look at two numbers simultaneously: the total score and the scores of the three HL subjects (this applies to all three schools mentioned below), and some majors even specify which math course is required. Even if your total score is high enough, failing to meet the HL requirements can still result in not getting an offer or failing to meet the conditions.

This article uses the guidelines from the official websites of the London School of Economics (LSE), King's College London (KCL), and the University of Edinburgh as examples to explain how to read the IB admissions requirements for UK universities. For how the 45-point IB total score is calculated and how to get the 3 core points, see our article on How to Score High in the IB; for how to choose between HL and SL, see IB Course Selection Strategy.

1. Admissions Requirements Are Usually Stated as "Total Score + HL"

The wording across the three schools is quite similar:

• LSE: Admissions consider the total score along with the scores of each HL subject. LSE's IB requirements range from "37 total, 6 6 6 in three HLs" to "39 total, 7 6 6 in three HLs," depending on the specific major page;
• KCL: Admissions usually specify the scores for three HL subjects, plus the total diploma score; KCL specifically notes that this total score includes the points from TOK and EE;
• Edinburgh: You must obtain the IB Diploma, achieve the required total score, and meet the required scores in three HL subjects; many majors also require specific subjects to be taken at HL.

Therefore, when reading the requirements for a major, you need to check at least three things: whether the total score is high enough, whether each of the three HL scores is sufficient, whether the specified subjects are chosen correctly, and whether they are taken at HL.

2. KCL's Conversion Table: Total Score and HL Combined Score

KCL places A-level and IB requirements in a single conversion table (originally a guidance conversion):

The original wording in the table is "Total score X or three HL combined Y." This table is a conversion reference provided by KCL. The specific admissions conditions for a particular major should be based on that major's page and the offer you receive. A pattern can be seen in the table: a combined HL score of 18 (equivalent to 6 6 6) roughly corresponds to AAA, with each additional point in the HL combined score moving up one tier.

3. Math: AA or AI, Some Majors Are Very Strict

IB Math is divided into "Analysis and Approaches" (AA) and "Applications and Interpretation" (AI). UK universities' attitudes toward these two courses depend on the major:

LSE also has a middle tier: for Economics, Economics and Economic History, Econometrics and Mathematical Economics, and Finance, "HL AA is preferred," but both will be considered. Students applying to LSE for Economics should pay special attention to this.

It is best to finalize your math course selection by comparing it with your target majors before the start of DP Year 1, as switching courses midway comes at a high cost. For the differences between AA and AI in exams, see our article on How to Take IB Math.

4. English Requirements: IB Scores May Directly Fulfill Them

Take the University of Edinburgh as an example: unless a major has higher specific requirements, IB students must score at least a 5 in SL English; English ab initio does not count. You can also meet the requirement with other English tests recognized by the university. Regulations vary by school and major, so Chinese students must specifically verify whether their English course and score are accepted by their target schools. If not, you will need to prepare for the IELTS or TOEFL separately.

5. Predicted Grades and "Meeting Requirements Does Not Guarantee Admission"

• Your predicted grade is your application score: Edinburgh states that you must have already achieved or be predicted to achieve the entry requirements. Predicted grades are given by school teachers, so internal exams in DP Year 1 and the first semester of Year 2 directly impact your application (empirical advice, see Article 26 for details);
• Meeting requirements does not guarantee admission: LSE explicitly states that achieving or even exceeding the standard requirements in predicted or actual grades does not guarantee an offer; published requirements are for reference only, and they may sometimes require different scores, with offers varying each year;
• Understand the meaning of "ranges": Edinburgh states the requirements for many majors as a range, such as "39 points, HL 666 to 37 points, HL 666," meaning that in recent years, the predicted or actual scores of most applicants who received offers fell within this range. Competitive majors may only consider applicants who exceed the requirements;
• Remember to send your scores after receiving an offer: Edinburgh reminds students that after accepting an offer (Firm or Insurance), you must ensure the university receives your IB scores via UCAS. Your school's IB Coordinator will help you with this.

6. A Checklist

The following is empirical advice. After selecting your target majors, check each item:

1. What is the IB total score stated on the major's page? Is it a single score or a range?
2. What are the required scores for the three HL subjects? Is there a specific subject that must score a 7?
3. Are there specified HL subjects? Should Math be AA or AI, HL or SL?
4. Can the English requirement be met with IB scores?
5. Does the total score include the core points from TOK and EE?
6. How far are your predicted grades from the requirements? Is the gap in the total score or the HL subjects?

Conclusion

For UK universities' IB requirements, the key is not just the total score, but meeting the total score, three HL subjects, and specified subjects simultaneously. Compare your course selections with your target majors early on, and keep your HL scores steady during the DP, which is more important than pushing for the total score at the last minute.

If you need help planning your IB course selection and university applications based on your target majors, feel free to chat with our counselors.

Verification Note: This article was verified against the official websites of the three universities in September 2026: LSE's IB admissions method, total score and HL ranges, math requirements for each major, and that meeting standards does not guarantee admission, are from the LSE undergraduate entry requirements page; KCL's IB admissions method, total score including TOK and EE, A-level to IB conversion table, and math requirements, are from the KCL undergraduate entry requirements page; Edinburgh's IB requirements, SL English 5, predicted grades, and submitting scores via UCAS, are from the Edinburgh IB requirements page and English requirements page, and the meaning of the requirement ranges is from its "Understanding standard entry requirements" page. During this verification, the IB Organization website (ibo.org) and the official websites of Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College London were inaccessible, so they were not cited. University requirements are adjusted annually, and specific majors are subject to the major pages for that year. The predicted grade advice and checklist are our empirical recommendations.

References:

• LSE：Undergraduate entry requirements
• King's College London：Entry requirements
• University of Edinburgh：International Baccalaureate
• University of Edinburgh：English language entry requirements
• University of Edinburgh：Understanding standard entry requirements