IB grade boundaries calculator for retake planning

Use past IB grade boundaries to decide whether a retake target is realistic. Pick a session, search for your subject and level, then test the marks you would need before you commit time, travel, and money to another exam session.

Understanding IB Grade Boundaries

Grade boundaries are the minimum marks needed to achieve each grade from 1 to 7 in an IB subject. They are set after each session by the IB and vary between sessions, timezones, and subjects.

Key Concepts

• TZ0 (Worldwide): Used for subjects with a single paper set globally (e.g. Visual Arts, TOK).
• TZ1 (Americas): North and South America.
• TZ2 (Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific).

How to Use This Tool

1. Select a session: pick from May or November, covering 2017 to 2025.
2. Search for your subject: type in the search box. You can include the level (HL / SL) and timezone (TZ1, TZ2) to narrow results.
3. Drag the slider: enter your overall mark. Your predicted grade updates live.

Tips for Accurate Predictions

• Use boundaries from the same session type you're taking (May for May candidates).
• November boundaries tend to be slightly higher than May.
• TZ2 boundaries are generally higher than TZ1 for the same subject.
• Check you're using the correct syllabus year because some subjects changed syllabuses recently.