What was the mean grade in IB English A: Literature in May 2026?

The mean grade was 4.7 at HL and 5.2 at SL, according to the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026. In May 2025 the means were 4.6 at HL and 5.1 at SL.

How many candidates got a grade 7 in May 2026?

At SL, 10.1% of candidates received a grade 7, and at HL 2.3% did. These are shares of each level's candidates, not numbers of people, and the two levels have very different cohort sizes.

Does the higher SL mean mean SL is easier?

Not necessarily. HL and SL candidates are different groups taking different courses, so the gap in means may reflect who chooses each level. The bulletin does not give reasons, so it should not be read as a difficulty ranking.

IB subject statistics

IB English A: Literature 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 English A: Literature students averaged 4.7 at HL (28,516 students) and 5.2 at SL (5,698). 2.3% of HL and 10.1% of SL students scored a 7, and the most common grade was 4 at HL and 5 at SL.

This page summarises how candidates performed in IB English A: Literature in the May 2026 session. The figures come from the IB's official statistical bulletin for that session. They are from the provisional bulletin, and a final version follows later in the year.

In May 2026, 28,516 candidates sat the HL course and 5,698 sat SL. The mean grade was 4.7 at HL and 5.2 at SL. Below we look at what the grade distribution says about how the subject is scored, 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	28,516	4.7	2.3%	+0.1
SL	5,698	5.2	10.1%	+0.1

Grade distribution, May 2026

Grade distribution, May 2026
Grade	Higher Level	Standard Level
1	0.0%	0.0%
2	1.0%	0.7%
3	9.0%	6.4%
4	34.0%	18.1%
5	33.8%	33.8%
6	17.9%	29.5%
7	2.3%	10.1%

Grade 1-7, % of studentsHigher LevelStandard Level

Aiming for a 6 or 7 in English A: Literature?English A: Literature tutoring

What the mean grade and distribution show

At HL the distribution is centred on the middle of the scale. Grade 4 was awarded to 34% of candidates and grade 5 to 33.8%, so these are the two largest groups. Grade 6 followed with 17.9%, grade 3 with 9% and grade 7 with just 2.3%. Grade 2 was 1% and grade 1 was 0%. The top grade is therefore rare at HL, and a 6 is already a clearly above-average result. All shares are percentages of all candidates, and a small remainder received no grade, so they do not add up to exactly the full cohort.

HL vs SL: why the profiles differ

SL candidates sit higher on the scale. Their mean grade was 5.2 against 4.7 at HL. Grade 5 was the largest group at 33.8%, followed by grade 6 at 29.5%. Grade 7 reached 10.1% at SL against 2.3% at HL, and grade 4 was 18.1% at SL against 34% at HL. These are shares of each level's candidates, not head counts, and HL is far the larger group. The gap may reflect who chooses each level, for example how candidates select HL or SL across their subject combination, but the bulletin does not tell us the reason. It is also not evidence that SL is easier, because the two groups are different cohorts taking different courses.

Change compared with May 2025

Both levels moved up slightly. The HL mean grade rose from 4.6 in May 2025 to 4.7 in May 2026, and the SL mean grade rose from 5.1 to 5.2. Movements of this size are small, and one session does not establish a trend. The overall shape of the results, with HL concentrated at grades 4 and 5 and SL pushed towards grades 5 and 6, matches what the two means suggest. For wider context only, the mean diploma total across the whole May 2026 session was 30.9 points. That is a diploma-wide figure and tells us nothing specific about this subject.

What this means for subject choice and preparation

If you are weighing HL against SL, treat the distribution as a guide to how demanding top marks are, not as a prediction for you. At HL, a grade 7 is awarded to only 2.3% of candidates, so aiming for a 6 or 7 calls for consistently strong analysis and well-structured written work. At SL, 10.1% reached a 7. Choose the level mainly on your interest in close reading and extended writing, and on how the subject fits your other courses. In preparation, practise timed literary analysis and essays regularly, and use your teacher's feedback against the assessment criteria to find where marks are lost.

Key takeaways

May 2026 mean grades: 4.7 at HL and 5.2 at SL (provisional bulletin).
HL is centred on grades 4 (34%) and 5 (33.8%); grade 7 is awarded to 2.3%.
SL peaks at grade 5 (33.8%) and grade 6 (29.5%), with 10.1% at grade 7.
Both means edged up from May 2025: HL from 4.6 to 4.7, SL from 5.1 to 5.2.
Compare levels as shares of different cohorts; the data does not show why they differ.

Frequently asked questions

What was the mean grade in IB English A: Literature in May 2026?: The mean grade was 4.7 at HL and 5.2 at SL, according to the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026. In May 2025 the means were 4.6 at HL and 5.1 at SL.
How many candidates got a grade 7 in May 2026?: At SL, 10.1% of candidates received a grade 7, and at HL 2.3% did. These are shares of each level's candidates, not numbers of people, and the two levels have very different cohort sizes.
Does the higher SL mean mean SL is easier?: Not necessarily. HL and SL candidates are different groups taking different courses, so the gap in means may reflect who chooses each level. The bulletin does not give reasons, so it should not be read as a difficulty ranking.