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IB results May 2026: points, pass rate and score distribution

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

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

Short answer: In May 2026, IB diploma candidates averaged 30.9 points and the pass rate was 82.6%. Of the 104,369 candidates with a points total, 10.1% scored 40 or more.

This page summarises the IB results for the May 2026 session. All figures come from the IB's official statistical bulletin for that session. It is the provisional version, based on a snapshot of outcomes taken shortly before results were released, and a final bulletin follows.

In May 2026, 209,607 students took part in the session across the Diploma Programme and the Career-related Programme, including course-only students. Of these, 131,467 were registered for the full IB Diploma, at 3,292 schools in 151 countries.

Key figures

209,607

Students in the session (DP and CP)

131,467

Diploma students

30.9

Mean total points

82.6%

Diploma pass rate

3,292

Schools with diploma students

151

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 2026

Diploma students by total points, May 2026
Total pointsDiploma awardedNot awarded
0-10-629
11-19-4,655
20-23-8,852
24-2924,6353,846
30-3428,948140
35-3922,11325
40-4510,521-
Total pointsDiploma awardedNot awarded

How rare is each points band?

Total pointsStudentsThis band or higher
40-4510,521*top 10.1%
35-3922,138top 31.3%
30-3429,088top 59.2%
24-2928,481top 86.5%
20-238,852top 94.9%
11-194,655top 99.4%
0-10629everyone

* 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 202330.2
May 202430.3
May 202530.6
May 202630.9

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Headline numbers

Among diploma candidates with a points total (104,369 students), 86,217 were awarded the diploma and 18,152 were not. That gives a pass rate of 82.6%. The mean total is 30.9 points in the bulletin's own five-year chart, while the bulletin's overview tile shows 30.8. Both describe diploma candidates with a result, not all 209,607 students in the session.

How total points are distributed

Most diploma holders sit in the middle bands. In the 30-34 band, 28,948 students were awarded the diploma, which is 33.6% of all diploma holders. The 24-29 band has 24,635 (28.6%), the 35-39 band has 22,113 (25.6%) and the 40-45 band has 10,521 (12.2%). Students not awarded the diploma are concentrated lower down: 629 in the 0-10 band (3.5% of those not awarded), 4,655 in 11-19 (25.6%) and 8,852 in 20-23 (48.8%). The 24-29 band contains 3,846 such students (21.2%), the 30-34 band 140 (0.8%) and the 35-39 band 25 (0.1%). Note that the awarded percentages are shares of diploma holders and the not-awarded percentages are shares of those not awarded, so the two columns are not directly comparable.

How rare are high scores?

Reading the distribution from the top, 10.1% of diploma candidates with a result reached the 40-45 band. That band holds 10,521 diploma holders plus fewer than 10 candidates who were not awarded the diploma, whose exact number the IB does not publish. Adding the 35-39 band (22,138 students) brings the cumulative share to 31.3%. Reaching 30 or more places a student in the top 59.2%, and 24 or more in the top 86.5%. The top 94.9% starts at the 20-23 band and the top 99.4% at 11-19. The 0-10 band, with 629 students, completes the full 100%.

May 2026 compared with earlier May sessions

The bulletin's five-year tables allow a direct comparison of May sessions. The number of candidates with a result rose from 88,766 in May 2022 to 91,442 in May 2023, 96,726 in May 2024, 102,242 in May 2025 and 104,369 in May 2026. The mean total was 32 in May 2022, then 30.2 in May 2023, 30.3 in May 2024, 30.6 in May 2025 and 30.9 in May 2026. The pass rate followed the same path: 86.1% in May 2022, 80% in May 2023, 80.5% in May 2024, 81.9% in May 2025 and 82.6% in May 2026. The share scoring 40-45 was 14.7% in May 2022, 8.9% in May 2023, 9.3% in May 2024, 9.8% in May 2025 and 10.1% in May 2026. Since May 2023, the mean, the pass rate and the top-band share have each risen in every following May session, but all three remain below the May 2022 level.

Key takeaways

  • May 2026 had 131,467 diploma candidates, and the pass rate for those with a result was 82.6%.
  • The mean total is 30.9 points in the bulletin's chart (the overview tile shows 30.8).
  • 10.1% of diploma candidates with a result reached 40-45 points, and 31.3% reached 35 or more.
  • May 2026 is above May 2023, May 2024 and May 2025 on mean, pass rate and top-band share, but below May 2022.
  • These figures are from the provisional bulletin and may change in the final version.

Frequently asked questions

What was the IB pass rate in May 2026?
The pass rate was 82.6% among diploma candidates with a points total. Of 104,369 such candidates, 86,217 were awarded the diploma and 18,152 were not. This is from the provisional bulletin.
How many students scored 40-45 points in May 2026?
10,521 diploma holders reached the 40-45 band, plus fewer than 10 candidates who were not awarded the diploma, whose exact number the IB does not publish. That corresponds to 10.1% of diploma candidates with a result.
Why does the mean show as 30.9 and 30.8?
The bulletin's five-year chart gives a mean of 30.9 points, while its overview tile shows 30.8. This page uses 30.9, the chart value, for comparisons across May sessions.

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Sources