IB subject statistics
IB Brazilian Social Studies grade distribution and average grade, May 2026
By Michael Thompson - Head of Teaching Excellence; 15 years as an IB Coordinator
Short answer: In May 2026, IB Brazilian Social Studies students averaged 5.1 at SL (503 students). 8.7% scored a 7, and the most common grade was 5.
This page summarises how candidates performed in IB Brazilian Social Studies in the May 2026 session. The figures come from the IB's official statistical bulletin for that session. They are provisional, and a final version will follow later in the year.
In May 2026 the subject has one reported level, Standard Level (SL), with 503 candidates and a mean grade of 5.1. Below we look at what the distribution says about how the subject is scored, how it compares with May 2025, and what that means for choosing and preparing it.
Key figures
| Level | Students | Mean grade | Share of 7s | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SL | 503 | 5.1 | 8.7% | +0.2 |
Grade distribution, May 2026
| Grade | Standard Level |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.0% |
| 2 | 0.4% |
| 3 | 7.4% |
| 4 | 20.1% |
| 5 | 34.2% |
| 6 | 26.6% |
| 7 | 8.7% |
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What the grade distribution shows
Grade 5 is the most common result at 34.2% of all candidates, followed by grade 6 at 26.6% and grade 4 at 20.1%. Grade 7 was awarded to 8.7% and grade 3 to 7.4%. Grade 2 stands at 0.4% and grade 1 at 0%. The shares add up to slightly less than the full cohort because the remainder received no grade. Grades 5, 6 and 7 together account for well over half of all candidates, so the distribution sits in the upper-middle of the scale. This matches the mean grade of 5.1. The low end is thin: very few candidates fell below a 3.
HL versus SL
The May 2026 data lists only SL for Brazilian Social Studies, so there is no Higher Level (HL) result to compare it with. We cannot say whether HL was not offered or simply not reported. Everything on this page therefore describes SL candidates only, and we make no claim about how an HL cohort would differ.
Change compared with May 2025
The SL mean grade was 4.9 in May 2025 and is 5.1 in May 2026, a modest rise. The rise shows at both ends of the distribution: the share of 7s grew from 6.3% to 8.7%, and grade 2 fell from 2.7% to 0.4%. With 503 candidates, a small shift in the mean can reflect a different cohort as much as a change in how the subject is assessed. It is best read as a gentle upward movement, not a trend.
What this means for choosing and preparing the subject
A mean grade of 5.1 with the mode at grade 5 suggests that a solid, consistent performance is rewarded and that a 7 is possible but not common, at 8.7%. For preparation, the practical aim is to move from a secure 5 towards a 6 or 7 through careful work on the assessed skills. Students should also check with their school which level is offered, since only SL appears in this data. The session-wide diploma mean of 30.9 points covers all subjects and the core, so it says nothing about this subject on its own.
Key takeaways
- In May 2026, 503 candidates took Brazilian Social Studies at SL, with a mean grade of 5.1.
- Grade 5 was the most common result at 34.2%, followed by grade 6 at 26.6%.
- Grade 7 was awarded to 8.7% of candidates, and grades 1 and 2 were very rare.
- The SL mean rose from 4.9 in May 2025 to 5.1 in May 2026.
- No HL result is reported in the May 2026 data, so no HL and SL comparison is possible.
Frequently asked questions
- What was the mean grade in Brazilian Social Studies in May 2026?
- The SL mean grade was 5.1 across 503 candidates. This figure comes from the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026, and a final version will follow later in the year.
- How many candidates scored a 7?
- 8.7% of all candidates received a grade 7 at SL in May 2026. Grade 5 was more common at 34.2%, and grade 6 followed at 26.6%.
- Is there an HL version in the data?
- No. The May 2026 data lists only SL, and no level appears for May 2025 other than SL. We do not know whether HL was not offered or not reported, so we make no HL comparison.
Other subjects
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
- Average IB score over time: May and November sessions
- IB results May 2025: average score, pass rate and statistics