What was the mean grade in IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science in May 2026?

The mean grade was 4.7 at Higher Level and 3.9 at Standard Level. In May 2025 the means were 4.8 at HL and 3.8 at SL. The May 2026 figures are from the provisional bulletin.

How many candidates achieved a grade 7 in May 2026?

A grade 7 was awarded to 6.9% of HL candidates and 1.9% of SL candidates. These are shares of all candidates at each level, so they should not be compared as head counts.

Is HL much harder than SL in this subject?

The statistics cannot show difficulty. HL has a higher mean grade, 4.7 against 3.9, but HL and SL candidates may differ in background and motivation. Choose by interest and strengths, not by the mean alone.

IB subject statistics

IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science 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 Sports, Exercise and Health Science students averaged 4.7 at HL (1,942 students) and 3.9 at SL (6,313). 6.9% of HL and 1.9% of SL students scored a 7, and the most common grade at both levels was 4.

This page summarises how candidates performed in IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science in the May 2026 session. The figures come from the IB's official statistical bulletin for that session. They are from the provisional bulletin, and a final version follows later in the year, so small changes are possible.

In May 2026, 1,942 candidates sat the subject at Higher Level (HL) and 6,313 at Standard Level (SL). Below we look at what the mean grades and grade distributions say about how the subject is scored, how the two levels differ, and how results moved compared with May 2025.

Key figures

Level	Students	Mean grade	Share of 7s	vs May 2025
HL	1,942	4.7	6.9%	-0.1
SL	6,313	3.9	1.9%	+0.1

Grade distribution, May 2026

Grade distribution, May 2026
Grade	Higher Level	Standard Level
1	0.2%	0.8%
2	4.6%	8.5%
3	13.3%	26.1%
4	26.6%	30.9%
5	26.4%	20.1%
6	20.4%	6.6%
7	6.9%	1.9%

Grade 1-7, % of studentsHigher LevelStandard Level

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What the mean grade and distribution show

The HL mean grade was 4.7 and the SL mean grade was 3.9. At HL, the distribution is centred on the middle of the scale: grade 4 was awarded to 26.6% of candidates, grade 5 to 26.4% and grade 6 to 20.4%. Together, grades 4 to 6 cover the large majority of HL candidates. At SL the peak sits lower: grade 4 was the most common at 30.9%, followed by grade 3 at 26.1% and grade 5 at 20.1%. Grades 3 and 4 together account for more than half of all SL candidates. These percentages are shares of all candidates, and any remainder received no grade.

HL compared with SL

HL candidates scored a higher mean grade than SL candidates, and the shape of the distributions differs too. A grade 7 was awarded to 6.9% of HL candidates and 1.9% of SL candidates. At the lower end, grade 2 was 4.6% at HL against 8.5% at SL, and grade 1 was 0.2% at HL against 0.8% at SL. These are shares within each level, not head counts, and SL is the much larger group. The gap could partly reflect who chooses HL, for example students with a stronger interest in the subject or more prior experience of science-style study, but the bulletin does not tell us the reasons.

Change since May 2025

Compared with May 2025, the HL mean grade moved from 4.8 to 4.7, and the SL mean grade moved from 3.8 to 3.9. Both changes are small, and the two levels moved in opposite directions. The overall picture is of a subject whose scoring is stable from one May session to the next. Because the May 2026 figures are provisional, it is sensible not to read too much into a shift of this size.

What this means for choosing and preparing

The statistics suggest that SL candidates most often finish on grade 3 or 4, while HL candidates most often finish on grades 4 to 6, with a grade 7 reached by a minority at both levels. If you are considering the subject, treat the mean grade as a guide to how marks are distributed, not as a prediction for you. Your own strengths in written analysis, data handling and the internal assessment matter far more. Regular practice with past-paper style questions and early work on the investigation are sensible ways to aim for the upper grades.

Key takeaways

May 2026 mean grade: 4.7 at HL (1,942 candidates) and 3.9 at SL (6,313 candidates).
At SL, grade 4 was the most common at 30.9%; at HL, grades 4 and 5 were almost level at 26.6% and 26.4%.
A grade 7 was awarded to 6.9% of HL candidates and 1.9% of SL candidates.
Against May 2025, HL moved from 4.8 to 4.7 and SL from 3.8 to 3.9, so the changes were small.
The May 2026 figures are provisional and may be revised in the final bulletin.

Frequently asked questions

What was the mean grade in IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science in May 2026?: The mean grade was 4.7 at Higher Level and 3.9 at Standard Level. In May 2025 the means were 4.8 at HL and 3.8 at SL. The May 2026 figures are from the provisional bulletin.
How many candidates achieved a grade 7 in May 2026?: A grade 7 was awarded to 6.9% of HL candidates and 1.9% of SL candidates. These are shares of all candidates at each level, so they should not be compared as head counts.
Is HL much harder than SL in this subject?: The statistics cannot show difficulty. HL has a higher mean grade, 4.7 against 3.9, but HL and SL candidates may differ in background and motivation. Choose by interest and strengths, not by the mean alone.