What was the mean grade in IB Environmental Systems and Societies in May 2026?

The mean grade was 4.5 at HL and 4.3 at SL, according to the IB's bulletin for May 2026.

Did results change compared with May 2025?

At SL the mean grade was 4.3 in both May 2025 and May 2026, so it was unchanged. The data has no HL entry for May 2025, so no HL change can be given.

How many students scored a 7 in May 2026?

A grade 7 was awarded to 5.4% of HL candidates and 5% of SL candidates. These are shares of each level's candidates, and SL had many more candidates overall.

IB subject statistics

IB Environmental Systems and Societies 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 Environmental Systems and Societies students averaged 4.5 at HL (3,857 students) and 4.3 at SL (20,964). 5.4% of HL and 5.0% of SL students scored a 7, and the most common grade was 5 at HL and 4 at SL.

This page summarises how candidates performed in IB Environmental Systems and Societies 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 follows later in the year, so small changes are possible.

In May 2026, 3,857 candidates sat the subject at HL and 20,964 at SL. Below we explain what the mean grades and grade distributions suggest about how the subject is scored, how HL and SL differ, and what that means for choosing and preparing for it.

Key figures

Level	Students	Mean grade	Share of 7s	vs May 2025
HL	3,857	4.5	5.4%	-
SL	20,964	4.3	5.0%	no change

Grade distribution, May 2026

Grade distribution, May 2026
Grade	Higher Level	Standard Level
1	0.3%	1.0%
2	5.1%	7.1%
3	18.7%	20.6%
4	25.8%	24.8%
5	27.0%	24.0%
6	16.6%	14.4%
7	5.4%	5.0%

Grade 1-7, % of studentsHigher LevelStandard Level

Aiming for a 6 or 7 in Environmental Systems and Societies?Environmental Systems and Societies tutoring

What the mean grade and distribution show

The mean grade was 4.5 at HL and 4.3 at SL, so the typical result sits in the middle of the 1-7 scale. The distribution is bunched around grades 3, 4 and 5. At HL, grade 5 was the most common result (27%), followed by grade 4 (25.8%). At SL, grade 4 was the most common (24.8%), with grade 5 close behind (24%). Adding up grades 3 to 5 gives well over half of candidates at both levels. Grade 7 was awarded to 5.4% of HL candidates and 5% of SL candidates, so top marks are achievable but far from routine.

HL compared with SL

HL has the slightly higher mean grade, and its distribution leans a little further towards the upper grades. Grade 6 was reached by 16.6% of HL candidates against 14.4% at SL, and grade 7 by 5.4% against 5%. At the lower end, grade 1 was 0.3% at HL and 1% at SL, and grade 2 was 5.1% at HL and 7.1% at SL. These are shares of each level's candidates, not head counts, and SL is far larger. The gap could reflect who chooses HL, for example students with a stronger interest in the subject, but the data cannot show the cause.

Change since May 2025

For SL, the mean grade was 4.3 in May 2026 and also 4.3 in May 2025, so the average outcome was stable. For HL, the data has no entry for May 2025. The level was either not offered or not reported then, so we cannot state any year-on-year change for HL. The session-wide diploma average was 30.9 points in May 2026. That is context for the whole cohort and says nothing about this subject on its own.

What this means for choosing and preparing

A mean around 4.3 to 4.5 with a broad spread suggests the subject rewards consistent work, not just a good grasp of the content. Grades 5 and above are within reach for a solid share of candidates, but a 7 is uncommon. Practise applying ideas to unfamiliar case studies and data, and build precise written answers. Treat the figures as a guide to typical outcomes, not a prediction for any one student. Choose HL or SL based on your interest and on how the subject fits your wider diploma plan.

Key takeaways

May 2026 mean grade: 4.5 at HL and 4.3 at SL.
Most candidates land on grades 3 to 5; grade 7 went to 5.4% at HL and 5% at SL.
SL mean was 4.3 in both May 2026 and May 2025; there is no May 2025 HL entry to compare.
HL candidates numbered 3,857 against 20,964 at SL, so compare shares, not head counts.

Frequently asked questions

What was the mean grade in IB Environmental Systems and Societies in May 2026?: The mean grade was 4.5 at HL and 4.3 at SL, according to the IB's bulletin for May 2026.
Did results change compared with May 2025?: At SL the mean grade was 4.3 in both May 2025 and May 2026, so it was unchanged. The data has no HL entry for May 2025, so no HL change can be given.
How many students scored a 7 in May 2026?: A grade 7 was awarded to 5.4% of HL candidates and 5% of SL candidates. These are shares of each level's candidates, and SL had many more candidates overall.