What was the mean grade in IB Design Technology in May 2026?

The mean grade was 4.6 at HL and 4.1 at SL, based on 2,159 HL and 1,966 SL candidates. These figures come from the provisional bulletin, and a final version follows later in the year.

Did Design Technology grades change from May 2025?

Only slightly. The HL mean went from 4.7 in May 2025 to 4.6 in May 2026, while the SL mean was 4.1 in both sessions. Such small differences are not strong evidence of a trend.

How many candidates get a 7 in Design Technology?

In May 2026, 3.4% of HL candidates and 0.3% of SL candidates received a 7. Shares are of all candidates, so a top grade is achievable but uncommon at both levels.

IB subject statistics

IB Design Technology 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 Design Technology students averaged 4.6 at HL (2,159 students) and 4.1 at SL (1,966). 3.4% of HL and 0.3% of SL students scored a 7, and the most common grade was 5 at HL and 4 at SL.

This page summarises IB Design Technology results for the May 2026 session. The data comes from the IB's official statistical bulletin for that session. The May 2026 figures are from the provisional bulletin, and a final version follows later in the year.

In May 2026, 2,159 candidates sat Design Technology at HL and 1,966 at SL. Below we look at what the mean grades and grade distributions say about how the subject is scored, how HL and SL differ, and what changed since May 2025.

Key figures

Level	Students	Mean grade	Share of 7s	vs May 2025
HL	2,159	4.6	3.4%	-0.1
SL	1,966	4.1	0.3%	no change

Grade distribution, May 2026

Grade distribution, May 2026
Grade	Higher Level	Standard Level
1	0.0%	0.4%
2	2.8%	6.5%
3	13.6%	21.5%
4	27.5%	37.8%
5	33.9%	23.3%
6	17.7%	8.4%
7	3.4%	0.3%

Grade 1-7, % of studentsHigher LevelStandard Level

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Mean grade and grade distribution

The mean grade was 4.6 at HL and 4.1 at SL. Both sit in the middle of the 1-7 scale, so a typical candidate ends up around grade 4 or 5. The distributions are shares of all candidates, so a small remainder who received no grade is not shown in them. At HL the most common grade was 5 (33.9%), followed by grade 4 (27.5%) and grade 6 (17.7%). Grades 5 to 7 together make up more than half of HL candidates. At SL the most common grade was 4 (37.8%), then grade 5 (23.3%) and grade 3 (21.5%). Grades 3 and 4 together account for more than half of SL candidates.

HL vs SL: where the levels differ

The HL mean is half a grade above the SL mean, and the whole HL distribution sits higher. At the top, 3.4% of HL candidates received a 7 against 0.3% at SL. Grade 6 was reached by 17.7% at HL and 8.4% at SL. At the lower end, grade 2 was given to 2.8% of HL candidates and 6.5% of SL candidates, and grade 1 to 0% at HL and 0.4% at SL. These are comparisons of shares, not head counts. The gap may partly reflect who chooses each level, for example candidates with a strong interest in design or engineering choosing HL, but the data cannot confirm this.

Change compared with May 2025

At HL the mean grade was 4.6 in May 2026, slightly lower than the 4.7 recorded in May 2025. At SL the mean was 4.1 in both sessions, so it did not change. Movements of this size are small, and since the May 2026 figures are provisional they are best read as stability rather than a trend. Both levels were reported in May 2025 and May 2026, so the comparison is like for like.

What this means for subject choice and preparation

Design Technology is not a subject where a 7 is common. Only 3.4% of HL and 0.3% of SL candidates reached it, so a plan built on a top grade should be realistic. A grade 4 or 5 is the typical outcome at both levels. For choosing between levels, HL has the higher mean, but this does not mean HL is easier, because the candidates differ. Choose the level that fits your university plans and the workload you can sustain. For preparation, steady work across the course matters more than a last-minute push, and the spread of results at both levels shows that grades differ widely between candidates.

Key takeaways

May 2026 mean grades: 4.6 at HL and 4.1 at SL (provisional bulletin).
The most common grade was 5 at HL (33.9%) and 4 at SL (37.8%).
A grade 7 is rare: 3.4% at HL and 0.3% at SL.
Compared with May 2025, HL slipped slightly from 4.7 to 4.6 and SL stayed at 4.1.

Frequently asked questions

What was the mean grade in IB Design Technology in May 2026?: The mean grade was 4.6 at HL and 4.1 at SL, based on 2,159 HL and 1,966 SL candidates. These figures come from the provisional bulletin, and a final version follows later in the year.
Did Design Technology grades change from May 2025?: Only slightly. The HL mean went from 4.7 in May 2025 to 4.6 in May 2026, while the SL mean was 4.1 in both sessions. Such small differences are not strong evidence of a trend.
How many candidates get a 7 in Design Technology?: In May 2026, 3.4% of HL candidates and 0.3% of SL candidates received a 7. Shares are of all candidates, so a top grade is achievable but uncommon at both levels.