IB scores explained
IB diploma pass rate explained: May 2026 results and trends
By Michael Thompson - Head of Teaching Excellence; 15 years as an IB Coordinator
Short answer: The IB diploma pass rate in May 2026 was 82.6%: 86,217 of 104,369 candidates with a points total were awarded the diploma. Of the 18,152 who were not, 14,136 had fewer than 24 points.
The IB diploma pass rate is the share of diploma candidates with a points total who were awarded the diploma. This page uses figures from the IB's official provisional statistical bulletin for May 2026, plus the five-year tables in that bulletin and in the final November 2024 bulletin.
In May 2026 the pass rate was 82.6%. Below we explain what counts as passing, how the rate compares with recent sessions, and why a diploma is sometimes not awarded.
Key figures
131,467
Diploma students
82.6%
Diploma pass rate
14,136
Not awarded: under 24 points
4,016
Not awarded despite 24+ points
Diploma students counts everyone registered for the diploma, including anticipated and retake candidates; the mean and pass rate cover candidates who received a result.
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% |
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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What counts as passing the diploma
Passing means being awarded the diploma, and that depends on more than the total. A candidate needs at least 24 points. They must also satisfy the core requirements (the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and CAS) and avoid the failing conditions that apply to subject grades. The bulletin does not treat the points total as sufficient on its own: a candidate can reach 24 points or more and still not be awarded the diploma if another condition is missed.
The May 2026 figures
In May 2026 there were 131,467 diploma candidates. Of these, 104,369 had a points total, and the pass rate is based on this group. The diploma was awarded to 86,217 candidates and not awarded to 18,152, which gives the pass rate of 82.6%.
Why diplomas are not awarded
Of the 18,152 candidates who were not awarded the diploma in May 2026, 14,136 had fewer than 24 points. A further 4,016 reached 24 points or more but missed another requirement, such as the core requirements, or triggered a failing condition. Falling short on points is therefore the dominant reason by a wide margin. Even so, a meaningful group lose the diploma on a condition other than the total, which is why the core and the minimum grades deserve attention from the start of the course.
How the rate has moved across sessions
The May series (from the May 2026 bulletin) shows a pass rate of 86.1% in May 2022, then 80% in May 2023, 80.5% in May 2024, 81.9% in May 2025 and 82.6% in May 2026. Mean total points followed the same pattern: 32 in May 2022, 30.2 in May 2023, then 30.3, 30.6 and 30.9. The share in the top points band was 14.7% in May 2022, fell to 8.9% in May 2023 and has since risen to 10.1%. The November series (from the November 2024 bulletin) is more volatile, with far fewer candidates: the pass rate was 75.8% in November 2020, 87.2% in November 2021, 82% in November 2022, 72.4% in November 2023 and 73.1% in November 2024. The May 2026 session had 104,369 candidates with a result, against 17,515 in November 2024, so the May figure is the broader picture.
Key takeaways
- The May 2026 pass rate was 82.6%: 86,217 diplomas awarded among 104,369 candidates with a points total.
- Passing needs at least 24 points plus the core requirements and the other award conditions.
- Of 18,152 candidates not awarded the diploma, 14,136 had fewer than 24 points and 4,016 missed another condition.
- The May pass rate has risen each year since May 2023, from 80% to 82.6%, but remains below the 86.1% of May 2022.
- November sessions are smaller and swing more, from 87.2% in November 2021 to 72.4% in November 2023.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the IB diploma pass rate for May 2026?
- The pass rate was 82.6%. Of 104,369 diploma candidates with a points total, 86,217 were awarded the diploma and 18,152 were not.
- Can I fail the IB diploma with 24 points or more?
- Yes. The minimum is 24 points, but you must also meet the core requirements and avoid the failing conditions. In May 2026, 4,016 candidates reached 24 points or more and still were not awarded the diploma.
- Why was the pass rate lower in May 2023 than in May 2022?
- The bulletin shows the fall (86.1% to 80%) alongside lower mean points (32 to 30.2) and a smaller share in the top points band (14.7% to 8.9%). The figures describe the change but do not explain its cause.
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
- How IB grade boundaries work: who sets them and why they move
- Average IB score over time: May and November sessions
- IB results May 2025: average score, pass rate and statistics