How to Score High on the IB: First Understand How the 45 Points Are Calculated, Then Secure Your Core Points and Internal Assessments

2026-09-26 · Guides

In the May 2026 IB session, the global average score was 30.88, with about 10% of students scoring above 40. Out of the 45 total points, 3 come from TOK and the EE, but earning an E in either means you will not receive the diploma. This article follows official IB rules to explain the score structure, internal assessments, how grade boundaries are set, and why predicted grades rely on regular coursework.

The maximum score for the IB Diploma is 45. In the May 2026 session, over 209,000 students worldwide received their DP and CP results, with the global average DP score at 30.88. According to recent IB statistical bulletins, only about 10% of students score above 40. This article does not focus on "top student tips," but rather on the IB scoring structure itself: how the 45 points are made up, which points are the most secure and which are the easiest to lose, and why consistent performance throughout the program is just as important as final exam results in the IB. Information is sourced from the official IB website, with references listed at the end.

How the 45 Points Are Calculated

6 subjects, each graded 1–7, for a maximum of 42 points. This typically consists of 3 Higher Level (HL) and 3 Standard Level (SL) subjects.
Up to 3 points from the core: Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Extended Essay (EE) each receive a grade from A to E. The combination of these two grades is converted into 0–3 points.

Therefore, 45 points = 42 + 3. A practical strategy is: when pushing from 40 to 43 points, the 3 core points are often easier to secure than raising a grade from 6 to 7 in a single subject.

First, Secure the Diploma

This is often overlooked by high-achieving students: the IB Diploma is not awarded simply for reaching a total score. According to official IB regulations, to be awarded the diploma, a student must simultaneously meet the following criteria:

A total score of at least 24 points;
Grades awarded for all subjects, TOK, and the EE;
At least 2 points in each subject;
No more than two grades of 2; no more than three grades of 3 or below;
A minimum of 12 points in HL subjects and 9 points in SL subjects;
Completion of the CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) requirements.

Additionally, if either TOK or the EE receives an E, the diploma will not be awarded—regardless of how well the subjects are scored. Therefore, for students aiming for high scores, the core components must first be "fail-safe" before aiming for "extra points." The same applies to CAS; it is a requirement rather than a scored component, but failing to complete it also results in not receiving the diploma.

The 3 Core Points: TOK and the EE

The combination of TOK and EE grades determines the core points. According to official IB examples: two A's yield 3 points; a B in TOK and a C in the EE yield 2 points. The higher the grades, the more points awarded, up to a maximum of 3.

Both components are completed gradually over the two-year program. While there is no exam-day pressure, they require significant time and multiple revisions. Here are a few tips:

Keep the EE research question narrow. Exploring a topic thoroughly within 4,000 words is difficult if the subject is too broad. A question that can be genuinely answered within the word limit is more likely to earn a higher grade than an overly "ambitious" one.
Choose an EE subject you are genuinely interested in and capable of exploring in depth. It is a research paper that requires you to spend a significant amount of time on a single question.
The core of TOK is "how knowledge is acquired," not "what I know." The essay must argue around the prescribed titles, using specific examples to explain how we justify believing something is true across different areas of knowledge.
Start early and leave time for revisions. The fall of the second year is the most hectic time, as you will be handling university applications, writing the EE, and submitting Internal Assessments for all subjects. Making progress on your EE topic and first draft in the first year will make the second year much more manageable.

Internal Assessments: The Most Secure Points

Most subjects include an Internal Assessment (IA), such as lab reports in the sciences or mathematical explorations. It accounts for about 20% of the final grade in many subjects (exact weightings depend on the specific subject guide). IAs are graded by the classroom teacher and then sampled for moderation by the IB.

IAs are considered the "most secure" points because:

They are completed before the final exams, giving you time to plan and revise;
The grading criteria are public, with clear descriptions of what is required for each criterion;
You choose your own topic, allowing you to select an area where you feel most confident.

However, keep one thing in mind: teacher grades are moderated by the IB. If a teacher's grading is too lenient, the IB may adjust the scores downward overall. Therefore, do not rely solely on your teacher's score; instead, cross-reference the grading criteria and check each item to ensure your report truly meets the requirements.

Practical steps: Read the grading criteria line by line before starting; choose a research question with an appropriate scope that can be answered with data or argumentation; after writing, grade your own work against the criteria, ensuring you can point to the corresponding content in your report for each item.

Exams: Grade Boundaries for a 7 Change Every Year

For every IB exam, grade boundaries are determined after marking by senior examiners, including the Principal Examiners, along with IB staff. They consider the quality of student scripts, the grade descriptors, and statistical data to set the boundaries. The most critical boundaries for university admissions—4, 7, and 3—are determined through manual judgment for each grade, while the remaining grades are calculated proportionally.

This means there is no fixed answer to "what percentage equals a 7"; it can vary by subject and by year. Instead of trying to guess the boundary, it is better to focus your efforts on what you can control:

Practice with past papers and mark schemes. After completing a paper, strictly grade yourself using the mark scheme to see exactly where each point is awarded—whether for a specific step, keyword, or line of argument.
Categorize your mistakes. Did you not know the material, know it but make a calculation error, or know it but fail to write the specific step required by the mark scheme? The third type is the most regrettable but also the easiest to fix.
Ask your teacher for feedback from the subject reports. After each exam session, the IB provides schools with subject reports detailing common student errors and advice for teachers. Your teacher usually has access to this information.

Predicted Grades: Every Internal Exam Counts

When applying to universities, especially in the UK, Hong Kong, and other regions, schools typically offer conditional admission based on the predicted grades submitted by teachers. According to the IB, predicted grades are a teacher's forecast of a student's final result, based on evidence from all coursework and performance, combined with their understanding of IB standards.

In other words, every internal exam and every assignment in the first year and the first semester of the second year will affect the set of grades you have when applying. To achieve high predicted grades, you need to consistently provide your teachers with evidence that "this student can achieve a 7" before the application period, rather than relying on a last-minute sprint in the final months.

A Practical Timeline to Follow

First year, first semester: Adjust to the curriculum and start reviewing assignments using the grading criteria for each subject; begin considering the subject and direction for your EE.
First year, second semester: Finalize your EE topic and begin research and writing; make progress on IAs for sciences and math; start accumulating examples for TOK arguments.
First year summer: Complete the majority of your EE first draft.
Second year, first semester: Finalize the EE and all subject IAs, and complete the TOK essay; this is also when predicted grades are submitted and university applications are due, so take internal exams very seriously.
Second year, second semester to May: Focus entirely on exam preparation, practicing repeatedly with past papers and mark schemes.

Subject selection (which subjects to take at HL) directly impacts the difficulty of the next two years and your university application direction. We discuss our approach to subject selection in this article.

Final Thoughts

High IB scores are not determined solely by the final exams. The 3 core points, IAs for each subject, and consistent internal performance over the two years often play a bigger role in the final outcome than exam-day performance. The earlier you start putting in this "slow and steady" work, the more relaxed your second year will be.

If you are unsure where you currently stand in relation to your target score—whether it is a specific subject, an IA, or the EE—you can start with a diagnostic assessment. Our teachers will analyze your work item by item against the IB grading criteria.

Verification note: The scoring structure, diploma award criteria, core points, internal assessments, grade boundary determination methods, predicted grades, and May 2026 results data in this article were verified against the following official IB pages on September 26, 2026. The weighting of internal assessments for each subject is based on the latest subject guide; policies are subject to change, so please refer to the official IB website for the most current information.

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