At a glance
- Maximum
- 45 points
- Subjects
- 6 x grades 1 to 7 (up to 42)
- Core (TOK + EE)
- Up to 3 points
- Diploma minimum
- 24 points plus all conditions
- Cambridge minimum offer
- 41 to 42 with 776 at HL
Where the 45 points come from
| Part | How it is graded | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Three Higher Level subjects (usually) | 1 to 7 each | Up to 21 |
| Three Standard Level subjects (usually) | 1 to 7 each | Up to 21 |
| Theory of Knowledge (TOK) | A to E | Combined with the EE on the IB matrix |
| Extended Essay (EE) | A to E | TOK and EE together: up to 3 |
| CAS (creativity, activity, service) | Completed or not | No points, but required |
| Total | Up to 45 |
Some students take four Higher Level subjects; the IB's rules decide which grades count. Your school's IB coordinator has the current general regulations.
Why 24 points is not the whole story
Reaching 24 points is necessary but not enough. The diploma is withheld if CAS is not completed, if TOK or the Extended Essay is graded E, if any subject is graded 1, or if too few points come from the Higher Level or Standard Level subjects. A student on 26 points with a grade 1 in one subject does not receive the diploma. This is why IB coordinators watch the weakest subject as closely as the total.
The core points are also easy to misjudge. Because TOK and the EE are combined on a matrix, a strong essay can lift a weaker TOK result, but an E in either fails the diploma regardless of the total. Many students treat the core as an afterthought in the first year and then find the EE deadline lands in the middle of mocks.
What different totals mean for applications
Offers are set by each university and course. These are the published reference points we could verify.
| Total | What it usually means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 41 to 42+ | Range for the most selective UK courses | Cambridge minimum offer: 41 to 42 with 776 at HL; some colleges ask for 777 |
| 40+ | Level leading universities often prefer | KHDA's IB guidance for parents notes a preference for 40+ out of 45 |
| 32 to 38 | Common range of offers at many UK and international universities | Check each course page; offers often name HL grades in required subjects |
| 24 | Minimum for the diploma, if all conditions are met | Below this, or with a failing condition, the student receives course results instead of the diploma |
Checked against Cambridge's accepted qualifications page and KHDA's IB page on 6 October 2026. The 32 to 38 band is a general description, not a published figure; always read the course page.
A worked example
A student predicted 7, 6, 6 at Higher Level and 6, 5, 5 at Standard Level has 35 subject points. With a B in the Extended Essay and a C in TOK, the matrix typically adds 2, for 37. If the target course asks for 38 with 6, 6, 6 at Higher Level, the student meets the HL condition but is one point short overall. The cheapest point to find is usually in a Standard Level subject sitting just below a grade boundary, or in the core, rather than turning an HL 6 into a 7.
Predicted grades are what universities see when they make offers, so the work that matters most happens before the predictions are fixed in the autumn of the final year. Internal assessments (the maths exploration, science investigations, the English individual oral) count for a real share of each subject grade and are completed before the exams, so they are the earliest points a student can secure.
How tutoring helps with IB points
IB tutoring works best when it is aimed at specific points. A tutor looks at the predicted grades, finds the two or three subjects nearest a boundary, and works there: past-paper questions marked against IB markbands, feedback on internal assessment drafts within the IB's rules on authenticity, and TOK essay planning. LiveTutor tutors who teach the IB Diploma work one to one in 60-minute online lessons, and they can plan around the May exam session and school deadlines.
Common questions
What is the maximum IB score?
45: up to 7 points in each of six subjects (42) plus up to 3 core points from TOK and the Extended Essay.
What is the pass mark for the IB Diploma?
24 points, as long as every other condition is met: CAS completed, no E in TOK or the EE, no grade 1, and enough points at Higher and Standard Level.
Is 38 a good IB score?
Yes for most universities, though not for the most selective UK courses, where offers start around 40 to 42 with high Higher Level grades. What matters is the offer for your child's course.
How do IB points convert to UCAS points?
UCAS scores each component: a Higher Level 7 is 56 points, a Standard Level 7 is 28, and an A in TOK or the EE is 12. Universities making IB offers use IB points, not the Tariff.
How much is an IB tutor with LiveTutor?
Every lesson is 60 minutes one to one at $15, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.