IB subject statistics
IB Physics grade distribution and average grade, May 2026
By Michael Thompson - Head of Teaching Excellence; 15 years as an IB Coordinator
Short answer: In May 2026, IB Physics students averaged 5.0 at HL (19,035 students) and 4.3 at SL (14,461). 20.5% of HL and 11.1% of SL students scored a 7. At HL, grades 5 and 7 were equally the most common; at SL, 3 was the most common grade.
This page summarises how IB Physics was scored in the May 2026 session. The figures come from the IB's official statistical bulletin for that session, which is provisional; a final version follows later in the year.
The bulletin covers 19,035 Higher Level (HL) candidates and 14,461 Standard Level (SL) candidates. Below we look at the mean grades, the spread of grades, the gap between the two levels and the movement since May 2025.
Key figures
| Level | Students | Mean grade | Share of 7s | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HL | 19,035 | 5.0 | 20.5% | +0.1 |
| SL | 14,461 | 4.3 | 11.1% | +0.1 |
Grade distribution, May 2026
| Grade | Higher Level | Standard Level |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.3% | 1.5% |
| 2 | 4.4% | 7.1% |
| 3 | 14.8% | 24.7% |
| 4 | 19.5% | 22.1% |
| 5 | 20.5% | 19.0% |
| 6 | 18.9% | 12.5% |
| 7 | 20.5% | 11.1% |
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Mean grade and grade distribution
HL Physics had a mean grade of 5 and SL a mean grade of 4.3. At HL the grades are spread fairly evenly across the upper half of the scale: 20.5% of candidates received a 5, 18.9% a 6 and 20.5% a 7. Adding these up, grades 5 to 7 account for a majority of HL candidates. At SL the picture is lower and more bunched in the middle: 24.7% received a 3, 22.1% a 4 and 19% a 5. Grades of 4 or below together account for more than half of SL candidates. The percentages are shares of all candidates, and a small remainder received no grade.
HL vs SL: how the two levels differ
The clearest difference is at the top. 20.5% of HL candidates earned a 7, against 11.1% at SL. At the bottom, 0.3% of HL candidates received a 1 compared with 1.5% at SL, and 4.4% received a 2 compared with 7.1%. A grade 3 was far more common at SL (24.7%) than at HL (14.8%). These are shares, not head counts, so they compare how each level's candidates were spread rather than how many people reached a grade. The gap may partly reflect who chooses HL, for example students with a strong interest or plans in science or engineering, but the bulletin does not tell us this.
Movement since May 2025
Both levels moved up slightly compared with May 2025. The HL mean grade went from 4.9 to 5, and the SL mean grade from 4.2 to 4.3. These are small shifts in the mean, and a single session cannot show whether it is a lasting trend. Papers, candidate groups and boundaries can all differ from one session to the next, so the safest reading is that Physics scoring was broadly stable between May 2025 and May 2026.
What this means for subject choice and preparation
A mean of 5 at HL and 4.3 at SL suggests that Physics is neither unusually generous nor unusually harsh, and a 7 at HL was reached by roughly one candidate in five. That is encouraging, but it does not mean the grade comes easily: the lower and middle grades are well populated at both levels. If you are choosing between HL and SL, think about your mathematical confidence, your university plans and how much time you can give to problem practice. For preparation, steady work on past-paper questions, clear command of the core equations and practice explaining physical reasoning in words are sensible priorities at either level.
Key takeaways
- May 2026 mean grades: HL Physics 5, SL Physics 4.3, based on the IB's provisional bulletin.
- 20.5% of HL candidates earned a 7, compared with 11.1% at SL.
- A majority of HL candidates received a 5, 6 or 7, while more than half of SL candidates received a 4 or below.
- Means rose slightly from May 2025: HL from 4.9 to 5, SL from 4.2 to 4.3.
- Choose the level on your maths confidence and future plans, not on the mean grade alone.
Frequently asked questions
- What was the mean grade in IB Physics in May 2026?
- The mean grade was 5 at HL and 4.3 at SL, according to the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026. A final version of the bulletin follows later in the year.
- How did IB Physics results change compared with May 2025?
- Both levels rose slightly. The HL mean went from 4.9 in May 2025 to 5 in May 2026, and the SL mean from 4.2 to 4.3. One session is too little to call it a trend.
- Is it harder to get a 7 in Physics at SL than at HL?
- A smaller share of SL candidates earned a 7 (11.1%) than at HL (20.5%). The gap may reflect who takes each level, so it does not prove SL marking is stricter.
Other subjects
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- IB results May 2026: points, pass rate and score distribution
- What is a good IB score? Percentiles from May 2026
- How hard is a 7 in the IB? Share of 7s by subject, May 2026
- How rare are 40+ IB points? May 2026 share and trend
- IB diploma pass rate explained: May 2026 results and trends
- How IB grade boundaries work: who sets them and why they move
- Average IB score over time: May and November sessions
- IB results May 2025: average score, pass rate and statistics