Use the TOK/EE matrix and six subject grades, then check CAS, minimum grades and HL/SL totals before interpreting an IB Diploma score.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma is marked out of 45 points: up to 42 from six subjects and up to three from theory of knowledge and the extended essay. The total alone does not decide whether the diploma is awarded.
A candidate can exceed 24 points while failing another requirement. Read the total alongside individual grades, subject levels and completion of the core.
Each of six subjects receives a grade from 1 to 7. Higher level (HL) and standard level (SL) grades contribute their numerical value equally; HL does not receive an automatic multiplier.
The core comprises:
TOK and EE receive grades A to E. Their combination contributes zero to three points. CAS must be completed but adds no points.
Core points come from the intersection of the two grades, not two independent bonuses:
| Extended essay / 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 |
TOK B with EE C earns two points. D in both earns none. E in either component is a failing condition, not merely a zero-point contribution that stronger subjects can compensate for.
Six subject grades of 6, 6, 5, 5, 5 and 4 give:
6 + 6 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 4 = 31
TOK B and EE C add two, making 33/45. The IB Diploma calculator takes the six grades, their HL/SL levels, both core grades and CAS status separately.
The total is the starting point. Next check the award conditions.
Under the IB criteria updated on 19 February 2026, the conditions are cumulative:
With the usual three-HL/three-SL structure, candidates need at least 12 HL points and at least nine SL points. For four HL subjects, the best three count towards the 12-point HL minimum. With two SL subjects, their combined minimum is five points.
Those conditions explain why identical overall scores can produce different outcomes.
| Component | Profile A | Profile B |
|---|---|---|
| Three HL subjects | 4 + 4 + 4 = 12 | 3 + 3 + 3 = 9 |
| Three SL subjects | 4 + 4 + 4 = 12 | 5 + 5 + 5 = 15 |
| TOK and EE | 3 points | 3 points |
| Total | 27/45 | 27/45 |
Profile A satisfies the subject and group minima described, provided CAS and the other requirements are met. Profile B has only nine HL points, below 12. Its 27-point total does not compensate.
Likewise, high overall marks do not remove a grade of 1, an E in the core or incomplete CAS.
A university may require an overall score and a particular HL subject grade. A 35/45 result can therefore fall short of a programme’s mathematics HL requirement even though the diploma is awarded.
For each application, retain the score out of 45, all six grades, HL/SL levels and core results. Compare them with the specific programme and entry-year conditions.
UCAS Tariff points use a separate system: do not add the IB score directly to a Tariff total. Nor does rescaling a mark establish academic equivalence.
Start with individual grades and whether the record is complete. Check TOK, EE and CAS, then HL/SL minima and the overall total. This identifies the actual condition at issue rather than simply asking how to increase the score out of 45.
Does an HL subject earn more points than an SL subject at the same grade? No. Both contribute the same numerical grade, though course demands and group minima differ.
Can a diploma be awarded with no extra core points? Potentially, if the TOK/EE combination is not a failing condition, the total reaches 24 and every other requirement is met.
Can a grade of 7 compensate for weak subjects? Not without limits. Individual minimum grades, low-grade limits and HL/SL totals remain mandatory.
Are predicted grades an official result? No. They support a scenario; awarded grades and the official decision determine the actual outcome.
Collection
7 / 10
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