International Baccleaureate

My child is in an IB school and got 4's out of 7! this seems like a barely passing grade, but we're told it's good. what do you think?

When I was in IB myself, 4 was the passing grade. So no change there.


I think it's a matter of semantics. I would also say that a passing grade is "good". 5 and 6 I would define as "very good" and a 7 would be "excellent".

In our secondary school the following "letters" were given for converting the IB "7 " scale:


7 = A* excellent

6 = A superior

5 = B to B+ very good

4 = B- to C good/ average

3 = C to D+

2 = D/ E

1 = Failing but with points


To pass the terminal IB Diploma you need 24 pts (with 3 points from TOK/ Essay). So with 6 subjects it is possible to have 3 point results in some subjects with at least 4+ points in other subjects and pass. The North American universities almost all give Uni credit for 6 or 7 results, and some also give Uni credit for a 5 result.


In terms of primary, most North American systems are really only based on 4 grades: A/ B/ C/ D. The average primary schools do not have such differientiation as the IB (especially at the top end). The Canadian School (IB/pyp) is facing this problem in their conversion.


Currently the Canadian School primary marks are 1- 4:


4 = A (progress above grade level)

3 = B (but the report defines as making progress at grade level; wide range)

2 = C (making progress but not always at grade level)

1 = D (progress significantly below grade level)


You can see the difficulty in converting this to 7 tier marks in the current school/ parent mind set. If converted the IB "4" would be the equivalent of the current "3 or B as defined as progress at grade level.

"To pass the terminal IB Diploma you need 24 pts (with 3 points from TOK/ Essay). So with 6 subjects it is possible to have 3 point results in some subjects with at least 4+ points in other subjects and pass."


Right. There are also a couple of other grade requirements.

- All grades must be at least 2.

- At least 12 points on HL subjects, and 9 on SL subjects.

- TOK or essay must receive at least D.

- if the overall score is 24-27, no grade 2 in a HL subject and no more than one 2 in SL.

- if the overall score is greater than or equal to 28, not more than one grade 2 in a HL subject and no more than two 2s in SL subjects

- Altogether, no more than three grades 3 or below.