The IB reports two things that are easy to confuse: a grade for each subject and a total for the diploma. Universities ask about both, and often in different units.
Subject grades: 1 to 7
Each of the six subjects is graded 1–7, with 7 the highest. Higher level and standard level grades are equally valued in the diploma total, which surprises families who assume an HL 6 outweighs an SL 6. It does not, for the purposes of the 45 points — though universities frequently set their offers in HL grades specifically, which is a separate matter.
The core: up to three points
The Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge are graded together and contribute up to three points on top of the subject grades. Three points out of 45 sounds marginal until an offer sits one point away.
Where offers are usually pitched
A diploma requires a minimum of 24 points with the other conditions met. Competitive university programmes typically ask well above that, and often specify HL grades in named subjects rather than a total alone — an offer of "34 points including HL 6 in Mathematics" can be missed on the subject requirement while the total is comfortably clear.
Check offers in the units they are written in. A student tracking only the predicted total can be on course for the points and short on a named HL subject.
If the diploma is not awarded
Candidates who do not meet the conditions still receive certificates for the subjects they passed, and those grades remain usable. A diploma candidate has three sessions in total to obtain the diploma, so a retake is a real option rather than a last resort — but it consumes one of the three.