What was the mean grade in Spanish A: Literature in May 2026?

The mean grade was 4.7 at HL and 4.3 at SL, according to the IB's provisional statistical bulletin for May 2026. In May 2025 the means were 4.7 at HL and 4.4 at SL.

How common is a grade 7 in Spanish A: Literature?

A grade 7 was awarded to 2.2% of HL candidates and 2.9% of SL candidates in May 2026. It is a rare result at both levels, so it is best seen as an ambitious goal rather than something to assume.

Is HL scored more generously than SL?

The HL mean (4.7) is higher than the SL mean (4.3), and HL has a larger share of grades 5 and 6. The data does not show why. Differences in who takes HL and in teaching time are possible explanations, not established facts.

IB subject statistics

IB Spanish A: Literature 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 Spanish A: Literature students averaged 4.7 at HL (3,765 students) and 4.3 at SL (2,014). 2.2% of HL and 2.9% of SL students scored a 7, and the most common grade was 5 at HL and 4 at SL.

This page looks at how IB Spanish A: Literature was scored 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.

In May 2026, 3,765 candidates sat the subject at HL and 2,014 at SL. Below we cover the mean grades, the shape of the grade distribution, how HL and SL differ and how the results compare with May 2025.

Key figures

Level	Students	Mean grade	Share of 7s	vs May 2025
HL	3,765	4.7	2.2%	no change
SL	2,014	4.3	2.9%	-0.1

Grade distribution, May 2026

Grade distribution, May 2026
Grade	Higher Level	Standard Level
1	0.0%	0.0%
2	0.5%	1.5%
3	7.7%	23.1%
4	32.9%	34.8%
5	36.7%	26.1%
6	19.0%	10.4%
7	2.2%	2.9%

Grade 1-7, % of studentsHigher LevelStandard Level

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Mean grade and what it says about scoring

The mean grade was 4.7 at HL and 4.3 at SL. Both sit in the middle of the 1-7 scale, so a typical candidate ends up at grade 4 or 5. The distributions agree. At HL, grade 5 is the most common result at 36.7% of candidates, followed by grade 4 at 32.9%. At SL, grade 4 is the most common at 34.8%, followed by grade 5 at 26.1%. All distribution shares in this page are percentages of all candidates, and a small remainder received no grade.

HL compared with SL

The HL distribution sits further to the right. A grade 6 went to 19% of HL candidates against 10.4% at SL. A grade 3 went to 7.7% at HL against 23.1% at SL, so a weak result is far more common at SL. Grades 1 and 2 are rare at both levels: grade 1 was 0% at each, and grade 2 was 0.5% at HL and 1.5% at SL. The top grade is the exception to the pattern. A grade 7 was awarded to 2.2% of HL candidates and 2.9% of SL candidates, so the SL share is slightly higher. These are shares, not head counts, and HL has the larger cohort. Why HL does better is not something the bulletin explains. It could reflect who chooses HL, the extra teaching time, or both.

Change since May 2025

The HL mean grade was 4.7 in May 2026, the same as in May 2025. The SL mean grade was 4.3, down from 4.4 in May 2025. The subject is therefore stable at HL, with a slight dip at SL. A shift of that size could easily reflect a different cohort or different papers, so it is not strong evidence that the subject has become harder or easier.

What this means for choosing and preparing

Most candidates land on grade 4 or 5 at both levels. At SL, a grade 3 is also common, at 23.1%. For preparation, the practical gains are often in moving from grade 4 to 5, and from grade 5 to 6. A grade 7 is uncommon at either level, so it is better treated as a stretch target than a planning assumption. If you are choosing between levels, the higher HL mean is not a promise of a higher grade for you. Consider your reading stamina, your Spanish, and how the subject fits the rest of your diploma. The mean grade says nothing about your own starting point.

Key takeaways

May 2026 mean grade: 4.7 at HL (3,765 candidates) and 4.3 at SL (2,014 candidates).
Grades 4 and 5 are the core of the distribution at both levels; HL peaks at grade 5 (36.7%), SL at grade 4 (34.8%).
A grade 3 is far more common at SL (23.1%) than at HL (7.7%), while a grade 7 is rare at both (2.2% HL, 2.9% SL).
Against May 2025, HL is unchanged at 4.7 and SL moved from 4.4 to 4.3.
These figures are provisional and may be revised in the final bulletin.

Frequently asked questions

What was the mean grade in Spanish A: Literature in May 2026?: The mean grade was 4.7 at HL and 4.3 at SL, according to the IB's provisional statistical bulletin for May 2026. In May 2025 the means were 4.7 at HL and 4.4 at SL.
How common is a grade 7 in Spanish A: Literature?: A grade 7 was awarded to 2.2% of HL candidates and 2.9% of SL candidates in May 2026. It is a rare result at both levels, so it is best seen as an ambitious goal rather than something to assume.
Is HL scored more generously than SL?: The HL mean (4.7) is higher than the SL mean (4.3), and HL has a larger share of grades 5 and 6. The data does not show why. Differences in who takes HL and in teaching time are possible explanations, not established facts.