How IB assessment works when you are planning a retake

A retake is not just a second attempt at a paper. Your final grade can involve external exams, Internal Assessment, and sometimes core components. This guide explains the pieces clearly so you know what a host school can register and what must be confirmed separately.

How component marks become a score: a 60% worked example

Use the weighting in the guide for your exact subject and examination session. HL and SL are not a universal rule for IA percentages. For example, the current Math AA guide, first assessment 2021 gives SL paper 1 and paper 2 a 40% weighting each and the exploration 20%.

That 60 is not automatically a grade 6: the appropriate session's boundaries determine the grade. This simplified example assumes final component marks and does not recreate IB's complete assessment processing. Never add raw marks from differently weighted papers without converting them first.

Use the boundary tool to explore a historical session, then the diploma-score guide to check the separate award conditions. For the core, the TOK–EE matrix shows how A–E grades translate into up to three points.

To interpret results, distinguish the candidate populations and editions in the May statistical bulletin analysis, then test individual grade changes against the worked core-points matrix.

Compare six worked IB retake score scenarios · Check eight subjects before retaking after a syllabus change

External Assessment (Exams)

External assessment consists of written examinations held at the end of the course. These are set and marked by IB examiners worldwide, not by your school's teachers. Depending on the subject, you may have 1, 2, or 3 exam papers, each testing different skills.

External assessment typically accounts for 70 to 80% of your final grade. Papers may include essays, structured questions, data analysis, and multiple choice components.

Internal Assessment (IA)

Internal Assessment is work completed during the course and initially marked by your teacher. The IB then moderates these marks to ensure global consistency. IA formats vary widely:

• Group 1 (Language A): the individual oral is an internal assessment component. Other components depend on the exact course and level; consult the current subject guide.
• Group 2 (Language B): Individual Oral
• Group 3 (Individuals & Societies): Research based essays or investigations
• Group 4 (Sciences): Scientific investigation (lab report)
• Group 5 (Mathematics): Mathematical exploration
• Group 6 (Arts): Portfolio, exhibition, or performance

The Core Components

Diploma candidates must also complete three core components:

• Theory of Knowledge (TOK): Assessed through an exhibition and essay. Contributes to the Diploma matrix along with the Extended Essay.
• Extended Essay (EE): A 4,000 word independent research paper. Marked externally by IB examiners.
• Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): Not formally assessed but must be completed satisfactorily. CAS cannot be "retaken" in the traditional sense.

You Choose What to Retake

You can retake individual subjects without retaking the entire Diploma. Many candidates retake just one or two subjects where they need a higher grade for university admission.

IBretake Is Exam Hosting Only

IBretake helps students find schools that can host selected retake exams. It does not arrange new IA, coursework, tutoring, oral preparation, or coursework supervision. If an existing IA mark or coursework component matters for your retake, confirm that separately with your previous school or the accepting IB coordinator.

Grade Boundaries Vary

Don't assume a retake will be easier or harder than your original session. Grade boundaries are set independently for each session based on exam difficulty and global performance. Your preparation should focus on mastering the subject, not gaming the boundary.

The 45 Point Scale

The IB Diploma is scored out of 45 points: up to 7 points per subject (6 subjects = 42 points) plus up to 3 bonus points from the TOK/EE matrix. A score of 24 points or above (with certain conditions) is required to earn the Diploma.