Is Social and Cultural Anthropology easy to score highly in?

The May 2026 data suggests not especially. The mean grade was 4.8 at HL and 4.5 at SL, and grade 7 went to only 7.7% of HL and 2.6% of SL candidates. Good results come from consistent practice in essay writing and use of ethnographic evidence.

How did HL and SL results differ in May 2026?

HL had a higher mean grade (4.8 against 4.5) and larger shares at grades 6 and 7. At HL 25.3% got a grade 6, against 16.5% at SL. The HL group may be self-selected, so this does not prove HL is easier or SL is harder.

Did results change compared with May 2025?

Only slightly. The HL mean grade went from 4.9 in May 2025 to 4.8 in May 2026, and the SL mean grade stayed at 4.5. The May 2026 figures are provisional, so they may be adjusted in the final bulletin.

IB subject statistics

IB Social and Cultural Anthropology 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 Social and Cultural Anthropology students averaged 4.8 at HL (949 students) and 4.5 at SL (1,735). 7.7% of HL and 2.6% of SL students scored a 7, and the most common grade was 4 at HL and 5 at SL.

This page looks at how candidates performed in IB Social and Cultural Anthropology in the May 2026 session. The figures come from the IB's official statistical bulletin for that session. They are provisional, and a final version follows later in the year, so small shifts are possible.

In May 2026, 949 candidates sat the subject at Higher Level (HL) and 1,735 at Standard Level (SL). Below we explain what the mean grades and grade distributions suggest about how the subject is scored, how the two levels differ and what changed since May 2025.

Key figures

Level	Students	Mean grade	Share of 7s	vs May 2025
HL	949	4.8	7.7%	-0.1
SL	1,735	4.5	2.6%	no change

Grade distribution, May 2026

Grade distribution, May 2026
Grade	Higher Level	Standard Level
1	0.8%	0.3%
2	3.1%	4.8%
3	11.2%	11.4%
4	25.6%	26.5%
5	24.7%	31.4%
6	25.3%	16.5%
7	7.7%	2.6%

Grade 1-7, % of studentsHigher LevelStandard Level

Aiming for a 6 or 7 in Social and Cultural Anthropology?Social and Cultural Anthropology tutoring

What the mean grade and distribution show

The HL mean grade was 4.8 and the SL mean grade was 4.5, so the typical result sits in the middle of the scale at both levels. The distributions are centred on grades 4 and 5 rather than at the top. At SL, grade 5 is the most common result with 31.4% of candidates, followed by grade 4 with 26.5%. At HL the middle is flatter: grade 4 has 25.6%, grade 6 has 25.3% and grade 5 has 24.7%. The percentages are shares of all candidates, and the remainder received no grade.

HL compared with SL

HL candidates were more likely to reach the top grades. Grade 7 was awarded to 7.7% of HL candidates against 2.6% of SL candidates, and grade 6 to 25.3% against 16.5%. At the other end, grade 2 was 3.1% at HL and 4.8% at SL, and grade 1 was 0.8% at HL and 0.3% at SL. These are comparisons of shares, not head counts, because the SL group is larger. The gap may partly reflect who chooses HL, for instance candidates with a stronger interest or more experience of essay-based subjects, but the bulletin does not say why.

Change since May 2025

The HL mean grade moved from 4.9 in May 2025 to 4.8 in May 2026, a small dip. The SL mean grade was 4.5 in both May 2025 and May 2026. Taken together, the subject looks stable from one May session to the next. The bulletin figures here do not show whether the HL dip comes from a different mix of candidates or from the marking, so it is best not to over-read it.

What this means for choosing and preparing

Anthropology is not scored in a way that hands out top grades easily: a grade 7 was rare at SL and uncommon even at HL. A mean near 4.5 to 4.8 means most candidates land on grades 4 to 6, so steady, consistent work on ethnographic examples, argument and written analysis matters more than hoping for generous grade boundaries. If you are considering HL, the higher share of grades 6 and 7 is encouraging, but it may reflect a self-selected group, so choose the level based on your own strengths and interest. Whichever level you take, practise structuring evidence-based essays under timed conditions.

Key takeaways

May 2026 mean grades were 4.8 at HL (949 candidates) and 4.5 at SL (1,735 candidates).
Grade 7 reached 7.7% of HL candidates and 2.6% of SL candidates, so top grades are uncommon at both levels.
HL slipped from 4.9 in May 2025 to 4.8, while SL stayed at 4.5: broadly stable.
The May 2026 figures are provisional and may change slightly in the final bulletin.

Frequently asked questions

Is Social and Cultural Anthropology easy to score highly in?: The May 2026 data suggests not especially. The mean grade was 4.8 at HL and 4.5 at SL, and grade 7 went to only 7.7% of HL and 2.6% of SL candidates. Good results come from consistent practice in essay writing and use of ethnographic evidence.
How did HL and SL results differ in May 2026?: HL had a higher mean grade (4.8 against 4.5) and larger shares at grades 6 and 7. At HL 25.3% got a grade 6, against 16.5% at SL. The HL group may be self-selected, so this does not prove HL is easier or SL is harder.
Did results change compared with May 2025?: Only slightly. The HL mean grade went from 4.9 in May 2025 to 4.8 in May 2026, and the SL mean grade stayed at 4.5. The May 2026 figures are provisional, so they may be adjusted in the final bulletin.