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IB CS Grade Boundaries 📊

Historical grade boundaries for IB Computer Science (Old Curriculum, 2014–2026). Explore the data, visualise trends, and check what grade your score corresponds to.

Data: May 2014 – May 2025 Sources: bprzybylski/IB-CS-GeS, RevisionDojo & IB Statistical Bulletins Old Curriculum — Last assessment May 2026

Overview

What are grade boundaries?

Grade boundaries define the minimum total score (out of 100) needed to achieve each grade (1–7) in a given exam session. They are recalculated each year by IB examiners after the papers are marked, so they vary slightly from year to year.

A grade 7 is the highest achievable; a grade 1 is the lowest (and requires only 0 points to "earn").

How is the total score calculated?

The total score is a weighted composite of Paper 1, Paper 2 (HL only: also Paper 3), and the Internal Assessment (IA). Each component is scaled to a maximum of 100.

See the exact formulas →

Grade colour guide

7Excellent (≥ boundary)
6Very good
5Good
4Satisfactory
3Mediocre
2Poor
1Very poor

⚠️ Important notes

  • May 2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19 — no boundaries exist.
  • May 2021 had two routes: Examination and Non-examination. Look at the correct row for your cohort.
  • Before May 2016 the IA was worth up to 40 marks (not 34) because the Group 4 Project was included.
  • In May 2021, Paper 2 was removed (exam route); SL Paper 1 weight → 70, HL Paper 1 weight → 60.
  • From May 2022 the full exam format resumed (Paper 2 reinstated, standard weightings).
  • May 2026 is the final session of the old curriculum. The row marked "Predicted" is an estimate based on the 2022–2025 trend.

Grade Boundaries Table

Session 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Minimum score (out of 100) required for each grade. A dash (–) means the session was not held. Rows in blue italics are predictions based on the 2022–2025 trend.

Grade 7 Boundary Trend

How the minimum score required for a grade 7 has changed over the years, for both SL and HL.

Grade Calculator

Enter your component scores to see your estimated total and predicted grade for any session.

SL Standard Level Calculator

HL Higher Level Calculator

Assessment Formulas

Standard Level (SL)

Total = 45 × (P1 / 70) + 25 × (P2 / 45) + 30 × (IA / 34)
  • P1 — Paper 1: max 70 marks, weight 45%
  • P2 — Paper 2: max 45 marks, weight 25%
  • IA — Internal Assessment: max 34 marks, weight 30%
May 2021 (exam route): Paper 2 removed. P1 weight → 70, scaled to max 70 marks.
Before May 2016: IA max was 40 marks (Group 4 Project included 6 extra marks).

Higher Level (HL)

Total = 40 × (P1 / 100) + 20 × (P2 / 65) + 20 × (P3 / 30) + 20 × (IA / 34)
  • P1 — Paper 1: max 100 marks, weight 40%
  • P2 — Paper 2: max 65 marks, weight 20%
  • P3 — Paper 3: max 30 marks, weight 20%
  • IA — Internal Assessment: max 34 marks, weight 20%
May 2021 (exam route): Paper 2 removed. P1 weight → 60, scaled to max 100 marks.
Before May 2016: IA max was 40 marks (Group 4 Project included 6 extra marks).

Data Sources