Everyone knows the IB is out of 45. Far fewer know you can clear 24 points and still not be awarded the Diploma. Here is exactly how the score is built — and the conditions that decide a pass.
Quick answer: The IB Diploma is scored out of 45. You take six subjects, each graded 1–7 (a maximum of 42), and the core — Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay — adds up to 3 bonus points through a matrix. To pass you need at least 24 points and to meet the conditions: a grade of at least 2 in every subject, no more than two 2s, no more than three 3s, at least 12 points across HL, at least 9 across SL, no E in TOK or the EE, and CAS completed.
The IB Diploma's headline number — out of 45 — is simple. The way it is assembled, and the conditions hiding behind a "pass", are where students and parents get caught out. Here is the full picture.
You study six subjects, one from each of five groups plus a sixth choice, with three at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL). Each subject is graded on the 1–7 scale, where 7 is the top. Six subjects therefore give a maximum of 42 points. How HL and SL differ is covered in HL vs SL in the IB.
The remaining three points come from the core — Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Extended Essay (EE). Each is graded A (highest) to E, and their combination awards 0 to 3 bonus points using the official matrix below:
| TOK ↓ / EE → | 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 |
Note the corner: an E in either TOK or the EE is a failing condition for the whole Diploma — not merely zero points.
A score of 24 is the floor, but the Diploma is only awarded if all of these conditions are met:
This is why a student can total 24 and still not pass — for example, with a grade 1 in a subject, too many low grades, or an E in the core.
The global average sits around 30–31 points. Strong universities often ask for the mid-30s and above, with specific HL grades; the most selective courses ask higher still. We break down targets in what is a good IB score, and the recovery routes in scoring below 24.
Imagine three HL grades of 6, 6 and 7 (19 points) and three SL grades of 6, 6 and 7 (19 points) — 38 from the subjects — plus a B in TOK and a B in the Extended Essay, which the matrix turns into 2 core points, for 40 overall. Slip two of those HL subjects to a 5 and the same student is at 36. The gap between two university offers often comes down to exactly this: one or two subject grades, or those two core points.
UK universities make IB offers in total points with specific HL grades — for example "36 points with 6,6,5 at HL". The IB total also maps onto the UCAS tariff (a 45 sits well above three A*s), but because most offers are written in IB points and HL grades, always read the course's IB-specific requirement rather than relying on a tariff conversion.
Your school submits predicted grades that universities use to make offers, often a year before your final exams. Strong, well-evidenced predictions open doors — which is why consistent performance across the two years, not just a final push, shapes where you can realistically apply.
IB results are released in early July for the May session (and early January for the November session), and the diploma is awarded once all conditions are met. The certificate shows your six subject grades, the TOK and Extended Essay grades, confirmation that CAS is complete, and the total out of 45. Universities receive results directly through the IB, and most confirm places within days. If you narrowly miss a condition, there are routes — an enquiry upon results (a re-mark) and retakes — which we cover in our guide on scoring below 24.
Points are won at the margins — an HL grade here, two core points there. Our IB Diploma tutors map your current points and build the plan to lift them, subject by subject. Free diagnostic trial.
💬 Book a Free Trial on WhatsAppOfficial source: IB Diploma assessment and the DP passing criteria.
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For IB Diploma tutoring across all six groups, see IB Diploma tutoring. Subject pages: Maths, Physics, Economics.
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