| Subject | Level | Grade (1 to 7) |
|---|
IB scoring reference: TOK/EE bonus matrix and US GPA equivalents
TOK and EE Bonus Matrix (0 to 3 points)
| TOK \ EE | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| B | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| C | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| D | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Grade E in either TOK or EE results in 0 bonus points and disqualifies the diploma regardless of total subject points. Source: IBO Diploma Programme Assessment Procedures.
IB Subject Grade to US GPA Equivalents
| IB Grade | US GPA | Letter Grade | IBO Descriptor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 4.0 | A | Excellent |
| 6 | 3.7 | A- | Very Good |
| 5 | 3.3 | B+ | Good |
| 4 | 3.0 | B | Satisfactory |
| 3 | 2.0 | C | Mediocre |
| 2 | 1.0 | D | Poor |
| 1 | 0.0 | F | Very Poor |
IB-to-GPA mapping is based on widely used admissions conversion guidance. For binding US graduate-school credential evaluation, a WES course-by-course report is required.
How the IB Diploma Score Is Calculated
The IB Diploma Programme awards a maximum of 45 points. Two components determine that total: the subject grades from six academic courses and the bonus points from Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. Subject grades run from 1 (very poor) to 7 (excellent), so the maximum subject total is 42 points. The TOK and EE bonus adds up to 3 points on top, depending on the combined grades earned in both components.
The ib score calculator above runs the full computation live. Enter each subject's level (Higher Level or Standard Level) and grade from 1 to 7, then select your TOK and EE grades. The four result cards show your total out of 45, the bonus points out of 3, whether all diploma conditions are satisfied, and the estimated US GPA equivalent averaged across your subjects.
Total = Subject 1 + Subject 2 + Subject 3 + Subject 4 + Subject 5 + Subject 6 + TOK/EE Bonus
- Each subject grade: integer from 1 (Very Poor) to 7 (Excellent)
- TOK/EE Bonus: 0 to 3 points from the official IBO bonus matrix
- Maximum total: 42 subject points + 3 bonus = 45 points
IB Grading Scale: Subject Grades 1 to 7 Explained
Each IB subject is graded on a 7-point scale after the external examinations and internal assessments (teacher-marked coursework) are combined. The weighting between external and internal components varies by subject but typically runs 75 to 80 percent external and 20 to 25 percent internal. Grade boundaries, the minimum raw marks needed for each grade, are set by the IBO Grade Award team after each exam session based on that year's paper difficulty. They are not fixed across sessions.
| IB Grade | IBO Descriptor | US GPA Equiv. | Diploma Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Excellent | 4.0 (A) | Top tier; typical 5-rate varies by subject from 8 to 25 percent |
| 6 | Very Good | 3.7 (A-) | Strongly competitive for most university programs |
| 5 | Good | 3.3 (B+) | Above average; generally meets selective university minimums |
| 4 | Satisfactory | 3.0 (B) | Minimum passing grade for most courses; 4 is widely used as university baseline |
| 3 | Mediocre | 2.0 (C) | Below satisfactory; no more than two grades of 3 or below allowed for diploma |
| 2 | Poor | 1.0 (D) | Significant gaps; contributes to diploma disqualification conditions |
| 1 | Very Poor | 0.0 (F) | Grade 1 in any subject immediately disqualifies the diploma |
Higher Level (HL) subjects cover more content and are examined at greater depth than Standard Level (SL) subjects, but both use the identical 1 to 7 grade scale. The distinction matters for the diploma award: the sum of your three HL grades must be at least 12 (an average of 4.0 per HL subject) for the diploma to be conferred.
TOK and Extended Essay Bonus Points: How the Matrix Works
Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay are two of the three core components of the IB Diploma Programme. TOK is an interdisciplinary course that examines the nature of knowledge across academic disciplines. The EE is an independent research paper of up to 4,000 words completed in a subject of the student's choosing. Both components receive a grade from A (highest) to E (lowest).
Those two grades feed into the bonus matrix shown in the calculator's reference section. The matrix adds 0 to 3 points to your subject total. A grade A in both TOK and EE earns the full 3-point bonus. A B paired with a B earns 2. A C in either drops the bonus to 1 or 0 depending on the other grade. Any E drops the bonus to 0 and, more consequentially, disqualifies the diploma regardless of total points.
A student going into exams with subject grades projecting a total of 26 who then earns an E on the Extended Essay will not receive the diploma. That's not a hypothetical: IBO data shows that roughly 2 to 3 percent of diploma candidates fail each session because of TOK or EE conditions rather than insufficient total points. Aim for at least a C in both components to avoid that outcome.
IB Diploma Requirements: All Four Conditions
The diploma is awarded only when all four conditions are satisfied at the same time. Meeting the 24-point minimum is the one most students track, but it is not the only gate.
- Condition 1: Total points at least 24. The six subject grades plus the TOK/EE bonus must sum to 24 or above. A total of 23 points, even with a perfect 3-point bonus, does not satisfy the requirement.
- Condition 2: No grade 1 in any subject. A grade 1 in even one subject (HL or SL) immediately disqualifies the diploma, regardless of how strong the remaining five subjects and the core components are.
- Condition 3: No grade E in TOK or EE. Grade E in either the TOK assessment or the Extended Essay is a failing condition. A student with 40 subject points but an E in TOK would not receive the diploma.
- Condition 4: HL total at least 12. The three Higher Level subject grades must sum to at least 12 out of a possible 21 (average of 4.0 per HL subject). A student with HL grades of 4, 4, and 3 (sum 11) fails this condition even with total points of 28.
The IBO also awards a Bilingual Diploma to candidates who earn grade 5 or above in two language subjects from different language groups. The bilingual endorsement does not change the total point score; it is an additional credential on the diploma certificate.
IB GPA Calculator: Converting IB Scores to US GPA
The IB does not produce a US-style GPA, but US universities regularly ask international applicants to provide a grade equivalent. The standard conversion maps each IB subject grade to an approximate US letter grade and GPA equivalent, then averages across all six subjects for a combined figure. That is what the ib gpa calculator section of the tool above computes automatically.
Using the per-subject lookup (7 = 4.0, 6 = 3.7, 5 = 3.3, 4 = 3.0, 3 = 2.0, 2 = 1.0, 1 = 0.0), a student with grades 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 5 across six subjects earns a US GPA of (4.0 + 3.7 + 3.7 + 3.3 + 3.3 + 3.3) / 6 = 3.55. A student with a typical profile of three 6s and three 5s earns (3.7 + 3.7 + 3.7 + 3.3 + 3.3 + 3.3) / 6 = 3.50. The calculator above performs this average instantly as you enter grades.
For official US university applications at the graduate level, most admissions offices accept the per-subject conversion for initial screening. Binding credential evaluation typically requires a course-by-course report from WES (World Education Services) or another NACES-member evaluator, which may weight HL subjects differently than SL subjects in producing the final GPA.
Predicted IB Grades vs. Final Exam Scores
Predicted grades and final exam grades are two distinct things, and students applying to UK universities in particular need to understand the difference. Predicted grades are teacher estimates submitted to universities before the exams, typically in October of the second year of the Diploma Programme. Final grades are the results published by the IBO in July (May session) and January (November session) after independent marking of the exam papers.
UK universities make conditional offers based on predicted grades: a typical offer might read "require 38 points with 6, 6, 6 at Higher Level." If your final results meet or exceed the conditions, the place is confirmed. If not, you enter the clearing process. IBO data consistently shows that final grades average slightly below predicted grades, particularly for students near the top of their predicted band. A student predicted 38 should not assume their final score will reach 38.
US universities receive IB results after admissions decisions are already made (results come in July, after most May 1 deposit deadlines). US admissions offices use predicted grades from transcripts as context but do not make conditional offers in the UK sense. That said, a few selective universities reserve the right to rescind an offer if final results fall significantly below predictions, so the gap between predicted and final still matters.
IB Score Ranges and University Admissions
Different score ranges open different doors. These are approximate thresholds drawn from published offers and admissions guidance:
| IB Total Score | Approximate US GPA Equiv. | Typical University Context |
|---|---|---|
| 40 to 45 | 3.85 to 4.0 | Competitive for Ivy League, Oxbridge, and top-10 US universities |
| 36 to 39 | 3.65 to 3.85 | Competitive for top-30 US universities, Russell Group (most courses) |
| 30 to 35 | 3.30 to 3.65 | State flagships, mid-tier private universities in the US, most UK non-Oxbridge programs |
| 24 to 29 | 2.75 to 3.30 | Diploma awarded; competitive for regional universities and many international programs |
| Below 24 | Below 2.75 | Diploma not awarded; IB certificate only (individual subject grades still usable) |
The conversion from IB total to US GPA in the table above is an approximation using the per-subject weighted average method. A student scoring 36 total with a mix of grade 6s and 5s will show a slightly different GPA than one scoring 36 with more 7s and 4s, because the per-subject distribution matters. Use the GPA calculator if you have a US course-by-course record to build from separately.
This IB grade calculator estimates your IB Diploma total points and diploma status using the standard scoring rules published in the IB Diploma Programme Assessment Procedures (current edition). Grade boundaries (the raw marks needed for each 1 to 7 grade per subject) are set by the IBO after each exam session and are not available before results day: this calculator assumes the grades you enter are final subject grades. The US GPA conversion is a widely used approximation and is not endorsed by the IBO or the College Board. For binding credential evaluation, commission a course-by-course report from a NACES-member evaluator. Always verify diploma requirements and admissions thresholds with your specific school and target universities. Last verified: May 2026.