IB Music grade distribution and average grade, May 2026

Mean grade and what it tells you

The mean grade in May 2026 was 4.8 at HL and 4.4 at SL, on the IB's scale of 1 to 7. Both sit around the middle of the scale, between grades 4 and 5. A mean like this means the typical Music candidate finishes with a solid mid-range grade, with a smaller group reaching the top grades. It is an average across candidates, so it says little about any single student's result.

How the grades are spread

At HL, grade 5 was the most common result, at 32%. Grade 4 followed at 22.5%, grade 6 at 20.4% and grade 3 at 12.9%. Grade 7 went to 7.9% of candidates and grade 2 to 1.3%, while no HL candidates received a grade 1 (0%). Adding grades 5, 6 and 7 together shows that a majority of HL candidates reached grade 5 or above.

At SL, grade 4 was the most common result, at 29.1%. Grade 5 followed at 24.8%, grade 3 at 21.5%, grade 6 at 11.9% and grade 7 at 4.2%. Grade 2 was 2.2% and grade 1 was 0.1%. Here, grades 5 to 7 together do not make up a majority. These shares are percentages of all candidates; the small remainder received no grade.

HL compared with SL

HL has the higher mean (4.8 against 4.4) and a larger share of top grades: 7.9% of HL candidates received a 7, against 4.2% at SL. At the lower end, grade 3 accounted for 12.9% at HL and 21.5% at SL. These are shares, not head counts, and the two levels had similar numbers of candidates. Why HL looks stronger is not something the bulletin shows. One possibility is that students who choose HL are often already committed to music and practise more, but that remains an interpretation.

Change since May 2025

The HL mean grade was 4.8 in both May 2025 and May 2026, so it was unchanged. The SL mean rose slightly, from 4.3 in May 2025 to 4.4 in May 2026. Because means are reported to one decimal place, such a shift is small and should be read cautiously, particularly as May 2026 is still provisional. Overall, the scoring picture for Music looks stable.

What this means for choosing and preparing

If you are weighing Music, the figures suggest realistic expectations of a mid-range grade, with grades 5 and above clearly attainable, especially at HL. Music rewards sustained, regular work, and the spread of grades suggests that steady preparation matters more than hoping for a lucky result. Choose HL if you are motivated to take Music deeper and can commit the time, not simply because its mean is higher. Choose SL if you want to keep the subject manageable alongside others. Your own starting level and enthusiasm matter more than the averages.