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IB results May 2025: average score, pass rate and statistics

By Michael Thompson - Head of Teaching Excellence; 15 years as an IB Coordinator

Published 5 October 2026Data: IB Diploma Programme statistical bulletin, May 2025

Short answer: In May 2025, IB diploma candidates averaged 30.6 points and the pass rate was 81.9%. Of the 102,233 candidates with a points total, 9.8% scored 40 or more.

This page summarises the IB's official statistical bulletin for the May 2025 session. In total, 202,102 students were entered across the Diploma Programme and the Career-related Programme, including students who took individual courses only. Of these, 128,398 were diploma candidates, registered for the full IB Diploma from 3,241 schools. The session spans 153 countries.

The two headline quality measures, a mean of 30.6 points and a pass rate of 81.9%, describe diploma candidates only. Below we look at how those candidates' points totals are spread, how rare the highest scores are, and how May 2025 compares with earlier May sessions.

Key figures

202,102

Students in the session (DP and CP)

128,398

Diploma students

30.6

Mean total points

81.9%

Diploma pass rate

3,241

Schools with diploma students

153

Countries

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 students by total points, May 2025

Diploma students by total points, May 2025
Total pointsDiploma awardedNot awarded
0-10-678
11-19-5,190
20-23-8,955
24-2924,7643,592
30-3428,126106
35-3920,814-
40-459,999-
Total pointsDiploma awardedNot awarded

How rare is each points band?

Total pointsStudentsThis band or higher
40-459,999top 9.8%
35-3920,814*top 30.1%
30-3428,232top 57.8%
24-2928,356top 85.5%
20-238,955top 94.3%
11-195,190top 99.3%
0-10678everyone

* plus fewer than 10 candidates not awarded the diploma - the IB does not publish counts under 10.

Mean total points, May sessions

Mean total points, May sessions
SessionMean total points, May sessions
May 202232.0
May 202330.24
May 202430.3
May 202530.6

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Headline numbers for May 2025

The 202,102 students in the session are the widest count, covering both programmes and course-only entries. The more useful figure for most families is the 128,398 diploma candidates, because the school count, the mean and the pass rate all refer to this group. Diploma candidates averaged 30.6 points, and 81.9% passed. Of the diploma candidates, 102,233 received a points total, and the distribution below is based on that group.

How the total points were distributed

Among students who were awarded the diploma, 24,764 (29.6%) finished in the 24-29 band, 28,126 (33.6%) in the 30-34 band, 20,814 (24.9%) in the 35-39 band and 9,999 (11.9%) in the 40-45 band. These percentages are shares of awarded diplomas. Students who were not awarded the diploma sit mostly in lower bands: 678 (3.7%) scored 0-10, 5,190 (28%) scored 11-19 and 8,955 (48.3%) scored 20-23. A smaller group still missed the diploma with a higher total: 3,592 (19.4%) in the 24-29 band and 106 (0.6%) in the 30-34 band. A points total alone does not decide the outcome, because other diploma conditions must also be met.

How rare are high scores?

Looking at everyone with a points total, the 40-45 band (9,999 diploma holders) makes up the top 9.8%. Reaching the 35-39 band or above places a student in the top 30.1% (at least 20,814 students in that band), and 30 points or more puts a student in the top 57.8% (28,232 students in the 30-34 band). A total of 24 or more falls within the top 85.5% (28,356 students in the 24-29 band). Scoring 40 or above is therefore achieved by roughly one candidate in ten, while a score in the low thirties is close to the middle of the cohort.

May 2025 compared with earlier May sessions

The number of diploma candidates, as first published in each May bulletin, rose from 113,732 in May 2022 to 116,265 in May 2023, 121,945 in May 2024 and 128,398 in May 2025. The cohort has grown steadily, though the IB revises earlier years slightly in later bulletins. The mean was 32 points in May 2022, then 30.24 in May 2023, 30.3 in May 2024 and 30.6 in May 2025. The pass rate followed the same pattern: 86.11% in May 2022, 80.01% in May 2023, 80.5% in May 2024 and 81.9% in May 2025. May 2025 is therefore a little higher than May 2023 and May 2024 on both measures, but still below May 2022.

Key takeaways

  • May 2025 had 202,102 students in total, of whom 128,398 were full diploma candidates from 3,241 schools.
  • Diploma candidates averaged 30.6 points, with a pass rate of 81.9%.
  • A score of 40-45 places a student in the top 9.8% of those with a points total, and 35 or more in the top 30.1%.
  • The mean and pass rate in May 2025 are above May 2023 and May 2024 but below May 2022.
  • A points total is not the only factor: some students with 24-29 or 30-34 points were still not awarded the diploma.

Frequently asked questions

What was the average IB score in May 2025?
Diploma candidates averaged 30.6 points in May 2025, and the pass rate was 81.9%. Both figures describe diploma candidates only, not the full 202,102 students in the session.
How many students scored 40 or more in May 2025?
In May 2025, 9,999 diploma holders scored in the 40-45 band; every candidate in that band was awarded the diploma. Among diploma candidates with a points total, that places them in the top 9.8%. Of students awarded the diploma, they make up 11.9%.
Why are there two student totals, 202,102 and 128,398?
The 202,102 covers every student in the session across the Diploma Programme and the Career-related Programme, including course-only students. The 128,398 are those registered for the full IB Diploma. The mean, pass rate and school count refer to the latter.

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