How Is IB MYP Graded? The 1-8 Scale and Criteria A to D

MYP grading confuses more parents than any other part of the programme. The reason is that there are two layers — criteria scored out of 8, and a final subject grade reported on a 1 to 7 scale — and on top of that, schools can choose between internal grading and optional IB-validated eAssessment. This guide explains exactly how the marks become the grade, what counts as strong, and how to read your child's MYP report properly.

For the wider context on what MYP actually is, start with our pillar guide on what the IB MYP is. For tutoring help across MYP subjects, see our IB MYP tutoring page.

The Two Numbers: Criterion Scores (0-8) and Subject Grades (1-7)

Each MYP subject is assessed against four published criteria, labelled A to D. Every criterion is marked out of 8. So in each subject, a student earns four scores out of 8 — a total out of 32 — across their MYP work.

At the end of the MYP year, those criterion scores are converted to a final subject grade on a scale of 1 to 7, using IB-published grade boundaries. The boundaries are total criterion scores: for example, a total of 28 out of 32 might map to a grade 7, while 22 to 25 might map to a grade 6 (the exact boundaries are published in the MYP General Regulations and can shift slightly between cohorts).

So when a parent sees a "6 in MYP Maths" on a report, that 6 is a converted final grade representing a band of total criterion scores across all four criteria — not a percentage and not a single test result.

What the Four Criteria Actually Mean

The four criteria differ by subject group, but every subject has exactly four. The most commonly asked-about subject is Mathematics, so we use it as the worked example.

In MYP Mathematics, the four criteria are:

• Criterion A — Knowing and understanding: applying mathematical procedures correctly in standard problems.
• Criterion B — Investigating patterns: identifying patterns, suggesting general rules, and verifying them.
• Criterion C — Communicating: using mathematical language, notation and diagrams to communicate solutions clearly.
• Criterion D — Applying mathematics in real-life contexts: selecting appropriate strategies, evaluating the reasonableness of solutions in a real-world setting.

Each criterion is marked using published level descriptors. A score of 7-8 on Criterion A means the student "applies the selected mathematics successfully when solving challenging problems in a variety of contexts." A score of 1-2 means basic procedures only. The descriptors are public — schools provide them, and students who read them write differently from those who do not.

In Sciences, the four criteria are different: Knowing and understanding, Inquiring and designing, Processing and evaluating, Reflecting on the impacts of science. Other subject groups have their own four. The architecture is always the same — four criteria, each out of 8, converted to a final 1-7 grade.

Grade Boundaries: What Each Number Means

The MYP grade scale is 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). The general meaning of each grade — paraphrased from the IB's published descriptors — is:

• 7 — produces high-quality, frequently innovative work; communicates comprehensive understanding; consistently demonstrates sophisticated critical and creative thinking.
• 6 — produces high-quality work; communicates extensive understanding; demonstrates critical and creative thinking, frequently with sophistication.
• 5 — produces generally high-quality work; communicates secure understanding; demonstrates critical and creative thinking, sometimes with sophistication.
• 4 — produces good-quality work; communicates basic understanding of most concepts; demonstrates critical and creative thinking, occasionally sophisticated.
• 3 — produces work of acceptable quality; communicates basic understanding of many concepts; demonstrates limited evidence of critical or creative thinking.
• 2 — produces work of limited quality; communicates basic understanding of few concepts.
• 1 — produces work of very limited quality; communicates rare evidence of understanding.

The practical takeaway: a 5 is a solid grade, a 6 is strong, and a 7 represents a genuinely high standard demanded across all four criteria — not just on the parts the student finds easiest.

Internal Grading vs IB-Validated eAssessment

Schools have a choice. They can grade MYP entirely internally, with the IB moderating Personal Projects and a sample of subject work but not certifying every grade externally. Or they can enter students for the optional IB MYP eAssessment at the end of MYP Year 5.

The eAssessment combines:

• On-screen examinations (two hours each) in Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Sciences, Mathematics, and Individuals and Societies.
• ePortfolios in Arts, Design, and Physical and Health Education — internally marked, externally moderated.
• The Personal Project — always externally moderated regardless of eAssessment.

Schools that complete the full set can apply for the IB MYP Certificate, which gives students externally validated grades that are recognised internationally. Schools that opt out of eAssessment still issue MYP grades, but those grades are not IB-certified — they are school-internal.

The difference matters when comparing students across schools or when a sixth-form transcript needs the strongest possible MYP evidence. Ask your school which model they use.

How the Personal Project Is Graded

The MYP Personal Project sits on its own 1-7 scale and uses four criteria: A Planning, B Applying skills, C Reflecting, D Communicating. Each is marked out of 8, total out of 32, converted to a 1-7 grade using IB-published boundaries.

The Project is always externally moderated by the IB, even at schools that do not run full eAssessment. So the Personal Project grade carries IB validation regardless. It is the single most independently certified piece of MYP work, which is one reason universities and sixth forms pay attention to it. For the same project-management thinking applied at IB Diploma level, see our IB Extended Essay guide.

What Counts as a Strong MYP Record?

A strong MYP record is grades 6 and 7 across the eight subject groups, with a Personal Project grade of 6 or 7. Grades of 5 are still good — they indicate secure understanding — but they suggest room for growth before the IB Diploma starts.

For students aiming at competitive IB Diploma subjects at HL — particularly Maths AA HL or Sciences at HL — schools typically expect a 6 or 7 in the relevant MYP subject. A 4 or 5 is not a barrier, but it is a signal that the HL pathway will need active support.

For the wider programme overview, read our pillar guide on what the IB MYP is. For what comes next, see what the IB Diploma is and how HL and SL work in IB. For tutoring: IB MYP, MYP Maths.

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