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

The mean grade was 5 at both HL and SL, according to the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026. In May 2025 it was 5 at HL and 4.9 at SL.

Is it easier to get a 7 at SL than at HL?

The share of grade 7 was higher at SL (7.6%) than at HL (3.4%) in May 2026. That does not prove SL is easier. Different groups of candidates take each level, and these are shares of all candidates, not head counts.

Are the May 2026 figures final?

No. They come from the IB's provisional bulletin, and a final version follows later in the year. Small differences are possible, so check back for updates.

IB subject statistics

IB French 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 French A: Literature students averaged 5.0 at HL (321 students) and 5.0 at SL (354). 3.4% of HL and 7.6% of SL students scored a 7, and the most common grade at both levels was 5.

This page summarises IB French A: Literature in the May 2026 session, using the IB's official statistical bulletin. The May 2026 figures come from the provisional bulletin, and a final version will follow later in the year, so small changes are possible.

In May 2026, 321 candidates took the subject at HL and 354 at SL. Below we look at what the mean grade and the grade distribution show, how HL and SL differ, and how the subject moved compared with May 2025.

Key figures

Level	Students	Mean grade	Share of 7s	vs May 2025
HL	321	5.0	3.4%	no change
SL	354	5.0	7.6%	+0.1

Grade distribution, May 2026

Grade distribution, May 2026
Grade	Higher Level	Standard Level
1	0.0%	0.0%
2	0.3%	0.3%
3	3.7%	7.1%
4	22.1%	24.9%
5	44.2%	32.8%
6	24.3%	26.3%
7	3.4%	7.6%

Grade 1-7, % of studentsHigher LevelStandard Level

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

What the mean grade and distribution show

Both levels have a mean grade of 5 in May 2026. The distribution explains why. At HL, grade 5 is the most common result at 44.2%, followed by grade 6 at 24.3% and grade 4 at 22.1%. At SL, grade 5 is again the most common at 32.8%, with grade 6 at 26.3% and grade 4 at 24.9%. These shares are percentages of all candidates, and the remainder received no grade. Grade 5 is the largest single group at each level, but at HL it falls short of a majority, and at SL it is clearly a minority. So the subject is scored mainly in the middle-to-upper range, with grades 4, 5 and 6 carrying most of the weight.

HL vs SL: similar centre, different spread

The two levels share the same mean grade, but their shapes differ. HL is more concentrated around grade 5 (44.2% against 32.8% at SL). SL has heavier tails. Grade 3 is reached by 7.1% of SL candidates against 3.7% at HL, and grade 7 by 7.6% at SL against 3.4% at HL. Grade 2 is at 0.3% at both levels, and grade 1 is at 0 at both. These are shares, not head counts, and the groups differ in size. Why the spread differs is not something the bulletin tells us. It could reflect who chooses each level, since HL candidates may be more committed to literature, but that is only a possibility.

Change compared with May 2025

At HL the mean grade was 5 in May 2025 and is 5 in May 2026, so there is no change at the level of the published mean. At SL the mean moved from 4.9 in May 2025 to 5 in May 2026. That is a small rise, and the bulletin gives no reason for it. Because the means are reported to one decimal place, it is best read as stable to slightly higher, not as a trend. One session is not enough to say that SL has become easier or that candidates are better prepared.

What this means for choice and preparation

A mean of 5 at both levels suggests that a solid grade is realistic for candidates who read widely and write analytically in French. The grade 7 share is small at both levels (3.4% at HL, 7.6% at SL), so a top grade needs consistently sharp analysis and precise expression. HL candidates cluster at grade 5 and 6, so the difference between them is likely to come from depth of textual argument and control of language. SL candidates have a wider spread, so steady practice with essays and commentaries can matter a lot. Choose the level based on your strength in French and your interest in literature, not on these averages alone.

Key takeaways

Both HL and SL have a mean grade of 5 in May 2026.
Grade 5 is the most common result at HL (44.2%) and at SL (32.8%).
SL has more candidates at both ends: grade 7 at 7.6% against 3.4% at HL, and grade 3 at 7.1% against 3.7% at HL.
Compared with May 2025, the HL mean is unchanged at 5, and the SL mean moved from 4.9 to 5.
May 2026 figures are provisional and may change in the final bulletin.

Frequently asked questions

What was the mean grade in IB French A: Literature in May 2026?: The mean grade was 5 at both HL and SL, according to the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026. In May 2025 it was 5 at HL and 4.9 at SL.
Is it easier to get a 7 at SL than at HL?: The share of grade 7 was higher at SL (7.6%) than at HL (3.4%) in May 2026. That does not prove SL is easier. Different groups of candidates take each level, and these are shares of all candidates, not head counts.
Are the May 2026 figures final?: No. They come from the IB's provisional bulletin, and a final version follows later in the year. Small differences are possible, so check back for updates.