What was the average IB Latin grade in May 2026?

The mean grade was 4.5 at HL and 4.2 at SL. These figures come from the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026, and a final version follows later in the year.

How many IB Latin candidates earned a 7 in May 2026?

15.8% of HL candidates and 8.1% of SL candidates earned a 7. These are shares of each level's candidates, not head counts, so they should not be compared as numbers of students.

Did IB Latin grades go up or down compared with May 2025?

Down at both levels. The HL mean moved from 4.8 in May 2025 to 4.5 in May 2026, and the SL mean from 4.3 to 4.2. With small cohorts, one session is not necessarily a trend.

IB subject statistics

IB Latin 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 Latin students averaged 4.5 at HL (190 students) and 4.2 at SL (729). 15.8% of HL and 8.1% of SL students scored a 7, and the most common grade was 4 at HL and 3 at SL.

This page summarises IB Latin results for the May 2026 session, using the IB's official statistical bulletin. The May 2026 figures come from the provisional bulletin, and a final version follows later in the year, so small changes are possible.

In May 2026, 190 candidates sat Latin at HL and 729 at SL. Below we explain what the mean grades and grade distributions suggest about how the subject is scored, how the two levels differ, and how results moved compared with May 2025.

Key figures

Level	Students	Mean grade	Share of 7s	vs May 2025
HL	190	4.5	15.8%	-0.3
SL	729	4.2	8.1%	-0.1

Grade distribution, May 2026

Grade distribution, May 2026
Grade	Higher Level	Standard Level
1	0.0%	0.3%
2	4.2%	6.4%
3	23.2%	32.1%
4	28.4%	23.0%
5	16.3%	18.2%
6	10.0%	9.6%
7	15.8%	8.1%

Grade 1-7, % of studentsHigher LevelStandard Level

Aiming for a 6 or 7 in Latin?Latin tutoring

Mean grade and grade distribution

The mean grade was 4.5 at HL and 4.2 at SL. Both sit in the middle of the 1-7 scale. At HL, grade 4 was the most common single result (28.4%), followed by grade 3 (23.2%). At SL, grade 3 was the most common (32.1%), followed by grade 4 (23%). The distributions are spread across the middle grades rather than bunched at the top. The percentages are shares of all candidates, and a small remainder in each level received no grade.

HL compared with SL

HL had the higher mean grade, 4.5 against 4.2. The gap is clearest at the top: 15.8% of HL candidates earned a 7, compared with 8.1% at SL, roughly double the share. HL also had 10% at grade 6 against 9.6% at SL. At the lower end, 4.2% of HL candidates received a 2, compared with 6.4% at SL, and grade 1 was 0% at HL and 0.3% at SL. These are shares, not head counts, as SL is the much larger group. The data cannot say why HL does better. One possibility is that students who choose HL Latin are especially committed to the subject, but the bulletin does not show this.

Change since May 2025

Mean grades were lower than in May 2025 at both levels. HL moved from 4.8 to 4.5, and SL from 4.3 to 4.2. The HL decline is the larger of the two. With cohorts this small, especially at HL, year-to-year movement can reflect differences between groups of candidates as well as differences in difficulty, so one session should not be treated as a trend. The whole-session diploma mean of 30.9 points is context for the May 2026 session only and tells us nothing specific about Latin.

What this means for choosing and preparing

Latin is not a subject where a top grade comes easily: the bulk of candidates land on grades 3 to 5 at both levels. A 7 is realistic but achieved by a minority, more often at HL. If you are considering Latin, choose it because you enjoy translation and close reading of texts, since steady work over two years seems to matter more than any quick gain. For preparation, build vocabulary and grammar regularly, practise translation under timed conditions, and use past papers to see how marks are earned. Students aiming for a 6 or 7 should treat consistent accuracy as the priority.

Key takeaways

May 2026 mean grades: 4.5 at HL and 4.2 at SL, from the provisional IB bulletin.
HL had 15.8% of candidates at grade 7, against 8.1% at SL.
Both levels had lower means than in May 2025 (HL 4.8, SL 4.3), though small cohorts can swing from year to year.
Most results sit in the middle grades, so steady preparation and accuracy matter for reaching a 6 or 7.

Frequently asked questions

What was the average IB Latin grade in May 2026?: The mean grade was 4.5 at HL and 4.2 at SL. These figures come from the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026, and a final version follows later in the year.
How many IB Latin candidates earned a 7 in May 2026?: 15.8% of HL candidates and 8.1% of SL candidates earned a 7. These are shares of each level's candidates, not head counts, so they should not be compared as numbers of students.
Did IB Latin grades go up or down compared with May 2025?: Down at both levels. The HL mean moved from 4.8 in May 2025 to 4.5 in May 2026, and the SL mean from 4.3 to 4.2. With small cohorts, one session is not necessarily a trend.