IB trends
Average IB score over time: May and November sessions
By Michael Thompson - Head of Teaching Excellence; 15 years as an IB Coordinator
Short answer: The May IB average was 32.0 in 2022, 30.2 in 2023, 30.3 in 2024, 30.6 in 2025 and 30.9 in 2026, while the pass rate went from 86.1% in 2022 to 82.6% in 2026.
This page tracks the average IB Diploma score across two series of sessions: May 2022 to May 2026 and November 2020 to November 2024. For each session we show the number of candidates with a result, the mean total points, the pass rate and the share of candidates in the highest points band reported in the bulletin.
The figures come from the IB's official statistical bulletins. The May series is taken from the five-year table in the provisional May 2026 bulletin, and the November series from the five-year table in the final November 2024 bulletin. Because the two series come from different bulletins and describe different cohorts, they are best read side by side rather than merged into one line.
Key figures
Mean total points, May sessions
| Session | Mean total points, May sessions |
|---|---|
| May 2022 | 32.0 |
| May 2023 | 30.2 |
| May 2024 | 30.3 |
| May 2025 | 30.6 |
| May 2026 | 30.9 |
Diploma pass rate, May sessions
| Session | Diploma pass rate, May sessions |
|---|---|
| May 2022 | 86.1% |
| May 2023 | 80.0% |
| May 2024 | 80.5% |
| May 2025 | 81.9% |
| May 2026 | 82.6% |
Share of candidates with 40-45 points, May sessions
| Session | Share of candidates with 40-45 points, May sessions |
|---|---|
| May 2022 | 14.7% |
| May 2023 | 8.9% |
| May 2024 | 9.3% |
| May 2025 | 9.8% |
| May 2026 | 10.1% |
Results by session
| Session | Candidates with a result | Mean total points | Diploma pass rate | Share with 40-45 points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2022 | 88,766 | 32.0 | 86.1% | 14.7% |
| May 2023 | 91,442 | 30.2 | 80.0% | 8.9% |
| May 2024 | 96,726 | 30.3 | 80.5% | 9.3% |
| May 2025 | 102,242 | 30.6 | 81.9% | 9.8% |
| May 2026 | 104,369 | 30.9 | 82.6% | 10.1% |
| November 2020 | 15,225 | 29.6 | 75.8% | 11.8% |
| November 2021 | 13,003 | 32.3 | 87.2% | 19.8% |
| November 2022 | 13,824 | 31.0 | 82.0% | 15.5% |
| November 2023 | 16,187 | 29.1 | 72.4% | 10.2% |
| November 2024 | 17,515 | 29.3 | 73.1% | 10.6% |
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May sessions: a step down, then a slow recovery
The mean total was 32 in May 2022, with a pass rate of 86.1% and 14.7% of candidates in the highest points band. In May 2023 the mean fell to 30.2, the pass rate to 80% and the top-band share to 8.9%. Since then each session has edged upwards: 30.3 in May 2024, 30.6 in May 2025 and 30.9 in May 2026. The pass rate followed the same path (80.5%, 81.9%, then 82.6%) and the top-band share rose from 9.3% to 9.8% and then 10.1%. Over the same period the number of candidates with a result grew from 88,766 in May 2022 to 104,369 in May 2026.
November sessions: larger swings in a smaller cohort
November results move more sharply. The mean was 29.6 in November 2020, peaked at 32.3 in November 2021 (pass rate 87.2%, top-band share 19.8%), then fell to 31 in November 2022 and 29.1 in November 2023. The pass rate dropped to 82% and then 72.4%, and the top-band share to 15.5% and then 10.2%. November 2024 shows a small rise: a mean of 29.3, a pass rate of 73.1% and a top-band share of 10.6%. Cohorts ranged from 13,003 candidates in November 2021 to 17,515 in November 2024.
Why May and November should not be compared directly
The May session is far larger: between 88,766 and 104,369 candidates with a result, against between 13,003 and 17,515 in November. A smaller cohort can shift more when the mix of candidates changes, although the bulletins do not give reasons for the larger swings in the November figures. The two sessions also differ in profile, meaning the mix of schools and candidates is not the same. A November mean of 29.3 and a May mean of 30.9 therefore do not show that one session is harder; they describe different groups of students.
How to use these figures
Use the trend for your own session as context, not as a forecast. The mean total, pass rate and top-band share describe a whole cohort, and your result depends on your own subjects, coursework and exam performance. If you are comparing years, stay within the same series, May with May and November with November, and keep the cohort size in mind.
Key takeaways
- May means ran from 32 in May 2022 down to 30.2 in May 2023, then rose each session to 30.9 in May 2026.
- November means were more volatile, from a peak of 32.3 in November 2021 to 29.1 in November 2023 and 29.3 in November 2024.
- May cohorts are much larger than November cohorts, so the two series should be compared with care.
- The May pass rate was 82.6% in May 2026; the November pass rate was 73.1% in November 2024.
Frequently asked questions
- What was the average IB score in May 2026?
- The mean total in May 2026 was 30.9 points, with a pass rate of 82.6% and 10.1% of candidates in the highest points band. There were 104,369 candidates with a result.
- Why are May and November averages different?
- The sessions have different cohort sizes and profiles. May has between 88,766 and 104,369 candidates with a result in these tables, November between 13,003 and 17,515. The groups are not the same, so the averages are not like-for-like.
- Is the IB average going up or down?
- In May the mean fell from 32 in May 2022 to 30.2 in May 2023, then rose to 30.9 in May 2026. In November it fell from 32.3 in November 2021 to 29.1 in November 2023, then edged up to 29.3 in November 2024.
More IB statistics
- IB results May 2026: points, pass rate and score distribution
- What is a good IB score? Percentiles from May 2026
- How hard is a 7 in the IB? Share of 7s by subject, May 2026
- How rare are 40+ IB points? May 2026 share and trend
- IB diploma pass rate explained: May 2026 results and trends
- How IB grade boundaries work: who sets them and why they move
- IB results May 2025: average score, pass rate and statistics