Is the mean grade higher at HL or SL in May 2026?

HL had the higher mean grade: 5 against 4.5 at SL. HL also had the larger share of grade 7 (16.8% against 8.5%). Who chooses each level may play a part, so the difference does not by itself show that HL is easier.

How did Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches change since May 2025?

The HL mean grade moved from 4.9 in May 2025 to 5 in May 2026. The SL mean grade was 4.5 in both sessions. The movement is small, so it is best read as broadly stable results.

Are these May 2026 figures final?

No. They come from the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026, and a final version follows later in the year. Some numbers could therefore change slightly.

IB subject statistics

IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches 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 Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches students averaged 5.0 at HL (26,591 students) and 4.5 at SL (42,995). 16.8% of HL and 8.5% 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 Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches 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.

In May 2026 there were 26,591 HL candidates and 42,995 SL candidates. Below we look at the mean grades, the shape of the grade distribution, the HL and SL differences, and the movement since May 2025.

Key figures

Level	Students	Mean grade	Share of 7s	vs May 2025
HL	26,591	5.0	16.8%	+0.1
SL	42,995	4.5	8.5%	no change

Grade distribution, May 2026

Grade distribution, May 2026
Grade	Higher Level	Standard Level
1	0.5%	1.1%
2	4.2%	7.9%
3	10.7%	16.0%
4	20.3%	25.5%
5	24.3%	23.9%
6	22.1%	15.5%
7	16.8%	8.5%

Grade 1-7, % of studentsHigher LevelStandard Level

Aiming for a 6 or 7 in Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches?Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches tutoring

What the grade distribution shows

The percentages are shares of all candidates at each level, and any remainder received no grade. At HL the most common grade was a 5 (24.3%), followed by a 6 (22.1%) and a 4 (20.3%). A grade 7 was awarded to 16.8%, a 3 to 10.7%, a 2 to 4.2% and a 1 to 0.5%. Adding grades 5, 6 and 7 together gives a clear majority of HL candidates. At SL the most common grade was a 4 (25.5%), followed by a 5 (23.9%) and a 3 (16%). A 6 went to 15.5%, a 7 to 8.5%, a 2 to 7.9% and a 1 to 1.1%. Grades 5 to 7 together do not reach half of SL candidates.

HL compared with SL

The HL mean grade was 5 and the SL mean grade was 4.5. The HL distribution sits further to the right: the share of grade 7 was 16.8% at HL against 8.5% at SL, roughly twice as large. At the other end, grades 1 and 2 were less common at HL (0.5% and 4.2%) than at SL (1.1% and 7.9%). These are comparisons of shares, not head counts, since SL had more candidates. The gap may partly reflect who chooses HL, for example students who are already confident in mathematics, but the data cannot confirm this.

Change since May 2025

At HL the mean grade moved from 4.9 in May 2025 to 5 in May 2026. At SL the mean grade was 4.5 in both May 2025 and May 2026. So the HL average edged up slightly while SL stayed level. Differences of this size between two sessions are small, and they should not be read as the subject becoming easier or harder.

What this means for choosing and preparing

Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches is not a subject where a 7 comes easily: at SL 8.5% reached it and at HL 16.8%. If you are considering HL, the distribution suggests that many candidates achieve a 5 or above, but it says nothing about the effort involved or about your own starting point. Weigh your current maths results, your university course requirements and your other subjects. For preparation, steady practice with past-style problems and working on the weakest topics matter more than chasing the average. Note that the session-wide diploma mean of 30.9 points covers the whole diploma and tells you nothing about this subject.

Key takeaways

May 2026 mean grade: 5 at HL and 4.5 at SL.
The most common grade was a 5 at HL (24.3%) and a 4 at SL (25.5%).
A grade 7 was awarded to 16.8% of HL candidates and 8.5% of SL candidates.
The HL mean rose from 4.9 in May 2025 to 5, while the SL mean stayed at 4.5.
The May 2026 figures are provisional; a final bulletin follows later in the year.

Frequently asked questions

Is the mean grade higher at HL or SL in May 2026?: HL had the higher mean grade: 5 against 4.5 at SL. HL also had the larger share of grade 7 (16.8% against 8.5%). Who chooses each level may play a part, so the difference does not by itself show that HL is easier.
How did Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches change since May 2025?: The HL mean grade moved from 4.9 in May 2025 to 5 in May 2026. The SL mean grade was 4.5 in both sessions. The movement is small, so it is best read as broadly stable results.
Are these May 2026 figures final?: No. They come from the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026, and a final version follows later in the year. Some numbers could therefore change slightly.