What was the mean grade in IB Dance in May 2026?

The mean grade was 4.5 at HL and 4.1 at SL, according to the IB's provisional statistical bulletin for May 2026. In May 2025 the HL mean was 4.6 and the SL mean was 4.1.

How many IB Dance candidates got a 7 in May 2026?

6.1% of HL candidates and 5.2% of SL candidates received a grade 7. These are shares of all candidates at each level, not head counts, so they should not be compared as numbers of students.

Is HL Dance scored more generously than SL?

HL has the higher mean grade and fewer low grades, but the data does not show why. The difference could reflect who chooses HL, for example more committed candidates, rather than any difference in how the levels are marked.

IB subject statistics

IB Dance grade distribution and average grade, May 2026

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 Dance students averaged 4.5 at HL (394 students) and 4.1 at SL (463). 6.1% of HL and 5.2% of SL students scored a 7, and the most common grade was 4 at HL and 3 at SL.

This page summarises how IB Dance candidates performed in the May 2026 session. The figures come from the IB's official statistical bulletin for May 2026. This is the provisional version, and a final one follows later in the year, so small changes are possible.

In May 2026, 394 candidates sat Dance at HL and 463 at SL. The mean grade was 4.5 at HL and 4.1 at SL. Below we explain what the grade distributions show, how the two levels differ and how results compare with May 2025.

Key figures

Level	Students	Mean grade	Share of 7s	vs May 2025
HL	394	4.5	6.1%	-0.1
SL	463	4.1	5.2%	no change

Grade distribution, May 2026

Grade distribution, May 2026
Grade	Higher Level	Standard Level
1	0.0%	0.0%
2	1.0%	5.8%
3	17.3%	30.5%
4	34.5%	24.4%
5	24.1%	14.7%
6	14.7%	10.8%
7	6.1%	5.2%

Grade 1-7, % of studentsHigher LevelStandard Level

Aiming for a 6 or 7 in Dance?Dance tutoring

Mean grade and grade distribution

The HL distribution peaks at grade 4, which 34.5% of HL candidates received. Grade 5 follows with 24.1%, then grade 3 with 17.3%, grade 6 with 14.7% and grade 7 with 6.1%. Grade 2 accounts for 1% and grade 1 for 0%. The SL distribution peaks one grade lower: grade 3 is the most common at 30.5%, followed by grade 4 with 24.4%. SL then shows 14.7% at grade 5, 10.8% at grade 6, 5.2% at grade 7 and 5.8% at grade 2. These shares are percentages of all candidates at that level. The remainder received no grade, so the shares do not add up to the full cohort.

HL vs SL

HL has the higher mean grade (4.5 against 4.1) and a lighter lower end: 17.3% of HL candidates received a grade 3, against 30.5% at SL, and 1% received a grade 2, against 5.8%. At the top, 6.1% of HL candidates reached grade 7 against 5.2% at SL, and 14.7% reached grade 6 against 10.8%. These are shares, not head counts, and SL had more candidates overall. The data cannot tell us why the levels differ. One possibility is that candidates who choose HL are more committed to the subject, but that is an interpretation, not something the bulletin shows.

Change compared with May 2025

The HL mean grade was 4.6 in May 2025 and is 4.5 in May 2026, a slight dip. The SL mean grade was 4.1 in May 2025 and is 4.1 again in May 2026, so it is unchanged. Both levels were reported in both sessions. With a single year-on-year comparison and fairly small cohorts, it is safest to read this as broad stability rather than a trend. The mean diploma total for the whole May 2026 session was 30.9 points. That is context for the diploma overall and says nothing specific about Dance.

What this means for choosing and preparing

In Dance a top grade is uncommon: grade 7 was reached by 6.1% at HL and 5.2% at SL, and most results sit between grades 3 and 5. If you are considering HL, the higher mean and the smaller share of low grades are encouraging, but they may reflect who chooses the course, so judge your own strengths and commitment first. Whichever level you take, aim to stay clear of the grade 2 and 3 band by planning your practical and written work early and seeking regular feedback from your teacher.

Key takeaways

May 2026 mean grade: 4.5 at HL (394 candidates) and 4.1 at SL (463 candidates).
HL peaks at grade 4 (34.5%), SL at grade 3 (30.5%).
Grade 7 was reached by 6.1% of HL and 5.2% of SL candidates.
Compared with May 2025, the HL mean slipped from 4.6 to 4.5 and the SL mean stayed at 4.1.
The May 2026 figures are provisional; the IB will publish a final version later in the year.

Frequently asked questions

What was the mean grade in IB Dance in May 2026?: The mean grade was 4.5 at HL and 4.1 at SL, according to the IB's provisional statistical bulletin for May 2026. In May 2025 the HL mean was 4.6 and the SL mean was 4.1.
How many IB Dance candidates got a 7 in May 2026?: 6.1% of HL candidates and 5.2% of SL candidates received a grade 7. These are shares of all candidates at each level, not head counts, so they should not be compared as numbers of students.
Is HL Dance scored more generously than SL?: HL has the higher mean grade and fewer low grades, but the data does not show why. The difference could reflect who chooses HL, for example more committed candidates, rather than any difference in how the levels are marked.