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

The mean was 4.3 at HL and 4.1 at SL, according to the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026. A final version of the bulletin follows later in the year.

How did IB Film results change compared with May 2025?

Both means were slightly lower. HL went from 4.4 in May 2025 to 4.3 in May 2026, and SL from 4.2 to 4.1. The difference is small, and we only have means for May 2025.

Is HL Film easier than SL because the mean is higher?

Not necessarily. HL has a mean of 4.3 against 4.1 at SL, but the two groups of candidates differ and the data does not explain the gap. Choose based on interest and workload, not on the mean alone.

IB subject statistics

IB Film 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 Film students averaged 4.3 at HL (2,990 students) and 4.1 at SL (1,843). 3.1% of HL and 2.0% of SL students scored a 7, and the most common grade at both levels was 4.

This page summarises results for IB Film in the May 2026 session, based on the IB's official statistical bulletin for that session. The May 2026 figures come from the IB's provisional bulletin; a final version follows later in the year, so small revisions are possible.

Film had 2,990 HL candidates and 1,843 SL candidates. Below we look at the mean grades, the grade distribution, the gap between HL and SL, and the movement since May 2025.

Key figures

Level	Students	Mean grade	Share of 7s	vs May 2025
HL	2,990	4.3	3.1%	-0.1
SL	1,843	4.1	2.0%	-0.1

Grade distribution, May 2026

Grade distribution, May 2026
Grade	Higher Level	Standard Level
1	0.7%	0.7%
2	4.4%	6.7%
3	17.8%	20.0%
4	31.9%	31.6%
5	25.5%	19.9%
6	12.1%	10.1%
7	3.1%	2.0%

Grade 1-7, % of studentsHigher LevelStandard Level

Aiming for a 6 or 7 in Film?Film tutoring

Mean grade and grade distribution

The mean grade was 4.3 at HL and 4.1 at SL, so the typical result sits just above the middle of the 1-7 scale. Grade 4 is the most common grade at both levels: 31.9% of HL candidates and 31.6% of SL candidates. At HL grade 5 follows at 25.5%; at SL grade 3 is second at 20%, just ahead of grade 5 at 19.9%. Note that these percentages are shares of all candidates and the remainder received no grade, so the shares shown do not account for every candidate. The extremes are thin: grade 1 accounts for 0.7% at both levels, and grade 7 for 3.1% at HL and 2% at SL. Film is therefore scored with a distribution centred on grade 4, and a 7 is a rare outcome.

HL compared with SL

HL has the higher mean, 4.3 against 4.1. The difference shows up across the distribution. At grade 5, HL has 25.5% against 19.9% at SL; at grade 6 it is 12.1% against 10.1%; at grade 7 it is 3.1% against 2%. At the lower end, SL has larger shares at grade 2 (6.7% against 4.4%) and grade 3 (20% against 17.8%). These are comparisons of shares, not head counts, and HL simply has more candidates in total. The data cannot tell us why HL scores a little higher. It may reflect who chooses HL, for instance students with a stronger interest in the subject, or the extra teaching time, but these are possibilities rather than findings.

Movement since May 2025

Both levels moved slightly down. The HL mean went from 4.4 in May 2025 to 4.3 in May 2026, and the SL mean from 4.2 to 4.1. The gap between HL and SL is unchanged in direction: HL stayed above SL. At HL the shift was towards the lower middle: grade 3 rose from 14.2% to 17.8% and grade 6 fell from 14.6% to 12.1%. At SL, grade 4 grew from 27.8% to 31.6%. A change of this size in one session is small and should not be over-read. For wider context, the mean diploma total for the whole May 2026 session was 30.9 points, but that figure covers all subjects and the core, so it says nothing about Film specifically.

What this means for choosing and preparing

Film does not look like a subject where top grades come automatically: a 7 was reached by 3.1% of HL and 2% of SL candidates, and most results cluster around grades 3 to 5. That makes steady, consistent work more important than hoping for a single outstanding piece. If you are weighing HL against SL, the slightly higher HL mean is not a reason in itself to choose it. Consider your interest, your workload and your other subjects. For preparation, start practising early, seek regular feedback from your teacher and aim to lift your work from the common grade 4 band towards grade 5 or 6, where the shares at both levels fall away noticeably.

Key takeaways

May 2026 means: HL 4.3 and SL 4.1, from the IB's provisional bulletin.
Grade 4 is the most common grade at both levels (31.9% HL, 31.6% SL); grade 7 is rare (3.1% HL, 2% SL).
HL has larger shares at grades 5, 6 and 7 than SL, but the data cannot show why.
Both means are slightly lower than in May 2025 (HL 4.4, SL 4.2).
Consistent work and early feedback matter more than relying on one standout result.

Frequently asked questions

What was the mean grade in IB Film in May 2026?: The mean was 4.3 at HL and 4.1 at SL, according to the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026. A final version of the bulletin follows later in the year.
How did IB Film results change compared with May 2025?: Both means were slightly lower. HL went from 4.4 in May 2025 to 4.3 in May 2026, and SL from 4.2 to 4.1. The difference is small, and we only have means for May 2025.
Is HL Film easier than SL because the mean is higher?: Not necessarily. HL has a mean of 4.3 against 4.1 at SL, but the two groups of candidates differ and the data does not explain the gap. Choose based on interest and workload, not on the mean alone.