What was the average grade in IB Spanish B in May 2026?

The mean grade was 5.2 at HL and 4.8 at SL. These figures come from the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026, and a final version follows later in the year.

Did Spanish B grades change compared with May 2025?

Very little. The HL mean was 5.2 in May 2025 and is 5.2 in May 2026. The SL mean moved from 4.9 to 4.8. HL is unchanged and the SL change is small.

Is it easier to score a 7 at SL or HL in Spanish B?

In May 2026, 16.5% of HL candidates and 8% of SL candidates received a 7. The HL share is higher, but the cause is unclear: HL candidates may differ in prior Spanish or motivation, so it does not show that HL is easier.

IB subject statistics

IB Spanish B 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 B students averaged 5.2 at HL (8,849 students) and 4.8 at SL (22,685). 16.5% of HL and 8.0% of SL students scored a 7, and the most common grade was 6 at HL and 5 at SL.

This page summarises results for Spanish B in the May 2026 session. The data comes from the IB's official statistical bulletin for that session. The May 2026 figures are from the provisional bulletin, and a final version follows later in the year, so small revisions are possible.

In May 2026, 8,849 candidates took Spanish B at HL and 22,685 at SL. Below we look at what the mean grade and the spread of grades say about how the subject is scored, how HL and SL differ, and how results compare with May 2025.

Key figures

Level	Students	Mean grade	Share of 7s	vs May 2025
HL	8,849	5.2	16.5%	no change
SL	22,685	4.8	8.0%	-0.1

Grade distribution, May 2026

Grade distribution, May 2026
Grade	Higher Level	Standard Level
1	0.4%	0.1%
2	2.2%	1.2%
3	7.6%	9.9%
4	17.2%	27.1%
5	23.8%	32.0%
6	29.7%	19.7%
7	16.5%	8.0%

Grade 1-7, % of studentsHigher LevelStandard Level

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Mean grade: HL 5.2, SL 4.8

The mean grade was 5.2 at HL and 4.8 at SL. The SL mean sits between grades 4 and 5 and the HL mean between grades 5 and 6, so the typical candidate lands in the middle to upper part of the 1 to 7 scale rather than at the very top. The mean is only a summary, though. The distribution below shows where candidates actually finish.

How grades are spread

At HL, grade 6 is the most common result at 29.7%, followed by grade 5 at 23.8%, grade 4 at 17.2% and grade 7 at 16.5%. Grades 5, 6 and 7 together cover a clear majority of all HL candidates. Grade 3 accounts for 7.6%, grade 2 for 2.2% and grade 1 for 0.4%. At SL, grade 5 is the most common at 32%, then grade 4 at 27.1% and grade 6 at 19.7%. Grades 4 and 5 together make up more than half of SL candidates. Grade 7 is 8%, grade 3 is 9.9%, grade 2 is 1.2% and grade 1 is 0.1%. These shares are percentages of all candidates, and the small remainder received no grade.

HL vs SL

HL candidates score higher on average, and the distribution is shifted upwards: the HL peak is at grade 6, the SL peak at grade 5. The share of grade 7s is 16.5% at HL against 8% at SL, about twice as large. These are shares, not head counts, and SL has more candidates overall. The gap may partly reflect who chooses HL, for example students with more prior Spanish or stronger motivation for the language, rather than HL being easier or better taught. The data cannot confirm the cause.

Change since May 2025

The HL mean grade was 5.2 in May 2025 and is 5.2 in May 2026, so it is unchanged. The SL mean was 4.9 in May 2025 and is 4.8 in May 2026, a slight dip. A change of this size is small and could reflect the make-up of the cohort as much as anything about the subject. Overall, Spanish B looks stable from one May session to the next.

What this means for choosing and preparing

Spanish B results are spread across the scale, not bunched at the top, so a grade 6 or 7 is a realistic target but is not automatic. If you already have a solid base in Spanish, HL is worth considering: grade 7 was reached by 16.5% of HL candidates, although that may partly reflect who chooses HL. If Spanish is a supporting subject, SL is a sensible choice, and grades 4 and 5 are where most SL candidates finish. Either way, steady practice across all the assessed skills matters more than last-minute revision. Check the current subject guide for the assessment details.

Key takeaways

May 2026 mean grade: 5.2 at HL and 4.8 at SL, based on the IB's provisional bulletin.
HL peaks at grade 6 (29.7%); SL peaks at grade 5 (32%).
Grade 7 is reached by 16.5% of HL candidates and 8% of SL candidates.
Compared with May 2025, HL is unchanged at 5.2 and SL moved from 4.9 to 4.8.
HL suits students with a strong Spanish base; SL is a sound choice if Spanish is not a main strength.

Frequently asked questions

What was the average grade in IB Spanish B in May 2026?: The mean grade was 5.2 at HL and 4.8 at SL. These figures come from the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026, and a final version follows later in the year.
Did Spanish B grades change compared with May 2025?: Very little. The HL mean was 5.2 in May 2025 and is 5.2 in May 2026. The SL mean moved from 4.9 to 4.8. HL is unchanged and the SL change is small.
Is it easier to score a 7 at SL or HL in Spanish B?: In May 2026, 16.5% of HL candidates and 8% of SL candidates received a 7. The HL share is higher, but the cause is unclear: HL candidates may differ in prior Spanish or motivation, so it does not show that HL is easier.