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

The mean grade was 5.3 at HL and 4.9 at SL. Both levels had the same mean as in May 2025, so the subject looks stable between these two May sessions. The figures are from the provisional bulletin.

Is IB Geography HL scored more generously than SL?

HL has a higher mean grade (5.3 against 4.9) and a larger share of grade 7 (12.7% against 7.5%). The data cannot show why. It may reflect who chooses HL rather than easier marking, so treat it as a possibility, not a conclusion.

How should I use these statistics when choosing Geography?

Use them as a guide to the typical grade profile, not a prediction for you. Grades are concentrated around 5 and 6 at both levels. Your interest, your strengths and your other subject choices should matter more than small differences between levels.

IB subject statistics

IB Geography 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 Geography students averaged 5.3 at HL (5,229 students) and 4.9 at SL (4,724). 12.7% of HL and 7.5% of SL students scored a 7, and the most common grade at both levels was 5.

This page summarises how candidates performed in IB Geography 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, so small changes are possible.

In May 2026, 5,229 candidates sat Geography at HL and 4,724 at SL. Below we look at the mean grades, how the grades are spread, how the two levels differ and what May 2025 tells us about stability.

Key figures

Level	Students	Mean grade	Share of 7s	vs May 2025
HL	5,229	5.3	12.7%	no change
SL	4,724	4.9	7.5%	no change

Grade distribution, May 2026

Grade distribution, May 2026
Grade	Higher Level	Standard Level
1	0.0%	0.5%
2	0.8%	3.6%
3	5.2%	10.1%
4	15.3%	19.4%
5	35.9%	31.8%
6	29.4%	24.9%
7	12.7%	7.5%

Grade 1-7, % of studentsHigher LevelStandard Level

Aiming for a 6 or 7 in Geography?Geography tutoring

Mean grade and what it says about scoring

The mean grade in May 2026 was 5.3 at HL and 4.9 at SL. Both sit above the middle of the 1-7 scale, so a typical Geography candidate finished with a solid grade rather than a marginal one. Grade 5 is the most common single grade at both levels: 35.9% of HL candidates and 31.8% of SL candidates. Adding the shares for grades 5, 6 and 7 gives more than half of all candidates at each level. The distribution is therefore weighted towards the upper-middle grades, with a relatively thin tail at the bottom.

HL vs SL: how the distributions differ

HL is shifted upwards. At HL, 29.4% of candidates earned a grade 6 and 12.7% a grade 7. At SL the shares were 24.9% for grade 6 and 7.5% for grade 7. At the bottom the pattern reverses: grade 3 went to 5.2% of HL candidates and 10.1% of SL candidates, grade 2 to 0.8% and 3.6%, and grade 1 to 0% and 0.5%. These are shares of each level's candidates, not head counts, so they compare the shape of the two groups rather than their size. The gap could reflect who chooses HL, for example students with a strong interest in the subject, but the bulletin does not tell us the reason.

Change compared with May 2025

The mean grades did not move. In May 2025 the mean was 5.3 at HL and 4.9 at SL, identical to May 2026 at both levels. Geography therefore looks stable from one May session to the next. The session's overall diploma mean of 30.9 points is context for the whole cohort and says nothing specific about this subject.

What this means for subject choice and preparation

Geography has not shown a harsh or erratic grade profile in these two May sessions, and a grade 5 or 6 is a realistic target for well-prepared candidates. HL offers a higher share of top grades, but this does not mean HL is easier, as the stronger results may come from a self-selected group. Choose the level based on your interest and your other subjects. Whichever level you take, steady practice with exam-style questions and careful use of case studies is the most reliable way to move towards the upper grades.

Key takeaways

May 2026 mean grade: 5.3 at HL and 4.9 at SL, unchanged from May 2025.
Grade 5 is the most common grade at both levels: 35.9% at HL and 31.8% at SL.
Grade 7 reached 12.7% of HL candidates and 7.5% of SL candidates.
HL had 5,229 candidates and SL had 4,724; the figures are from the provisional bulletin.

Frequently asked questions

What was the mean grade in IB Geography in May 2026?: The mean grade was 5.3 at HL and 4.9 at SL. Both levels had the same mean as in May 2025, so the subject looks stable between these two May sessions. The figures are from the provisional bulletin.
Is IB Geography HL scored more generously than SL?: HL has a higher mean grade (5.3 against 4.9) and a larger share of grade 7 (12.7% against 7.5%). The data cannot show why. It may reflect who chooses HL rather than easier marking, so treat it as a possibility, not a conclusion.
How should I use these statistics when choosing Geography?: Use them as a guide to the typical grade profile, not a prediction for you. Grades are concentrated around 5 and 6 at both levels. Your interest, your strengths and your other subject choices should matter more than small differences between levels.