IB subject statistics
IB Swedish B 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 Swedish B students averaged 5.3 at HL (167 students) and 5.2 at SL (204). 14.4% of HL and 13.2% of SL students scored a 7, and the most common grade was 6 at HL and 5 at SL.
This page summarises how candidates performed in IB Swedish B 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 adjustments are possible.
In May 2026, 167 candidates sat Swedish B at HL and 204 at SL. Below we look at the mean grades, how the grades are spread, how HL and SL compare and how the results moved against May 2025.
Key figures
| Level | Students | Mean grade | Share of 7s | vs May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HL | 167 | 5.3 | 14.4% | -0.1 |
| SL | 204 | 5.2 | 13.2% | -0.1 |
Grade distribution, May 2026
| Grade | Higher Level | Standard Level |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2 | 0.6% | 1.5% |
| 3 | 6.0% | 2.5% |
| 4 | 13.8% | 22.5% |
| 5 | 31.1% | 30.4% |
| 6 | 32.9% | 29.4% |
| 7 | 14.4% | 13.2% |
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What the mean grade says
The mean grade was 5.3 at HL and 5.2 at SL. Both sit above 5 on the 1-7 scale, so the typical candidate in this subject finished with a 5 or a 6. The two levels are very close, and the gap between them is small. A mean only summarises the middle of the picture, so the distribution below is more useful for seeing where individual candidates ended up.
How the grades are distributed
At HL, 0% of candidates received a 1, 0.6% a 2, 6% a 3, 13.8% a 4, 31.1% a 5, 32.9% a 6 and 14.4% a 7. At SL, 0% received a 1, 1.5% a 2, 2.5% a 3, 22.5% a 4, 30.4% a 5, 29.4% a 6 and 13.2% a 7. These shares are percentages of all candidates, and a small remainder received no grade. Grades 5 to 7 together make up the large majority of candidates at both levels. The most common grade was a 6 at HL and a 5 at SL.
HL compared with SL
The top of the scale is similar: 14.4% of HL candidates and 13.2% of SL candidates earned a 7. The main difference is lower down. At SL, 22.5% finished on a 4, against 13.8% at HL, while a 3 was more common at HL (6%) than at SL (2.5%). These are shares, not head counts, and the two groups differ in size. Possible explanations include who chooses HL, such as candidates with a strong Swedish background, but the data cannot confirm any cause.
Change since May 2025
Compared with May 2025, the mean grade was slightly lower at both levels: HL moved from 5.4 to 5.3 and SL from 5.3 to 5.2. With cohorts of 167 and 204 candidates, a movement this small could simply reflect normal year-to-year variation between groups of candidates. It would be unwise to read it as a change in how the subject is assessed.
What this means for choice and preparation
Swedish B results are consistently solid at both levels, with most candidates at a 5 or above. Choosing HL or SL should depend mainly on your language level, your other subjects and your university plans, not on the means, which are nearly identical. For preparation, the spread at the lower end suggests that consistency across all assessed skills matters. A candidate who aims for a 6 or 7 should practise under timed conditions and get regular feedback on written work.
Key takeaways
- May 2026 mean grades were 5.3 at HL and 5.2 at SL, so the two levels score almost identically.
- Grades 5 to 7 account for the large majority of candidates at both levels; 14.4% of HL and 13.2% of SL candidates earned a 7.
- SL had a larger share on a 4 (22.5%) than HL (13.8%).
- Both means were slightly lower than in May 2025 (5.4 at HL, 5.3 at SL), a small shift in small cohorts.
- These figures are from the provisional bulletin and may be adjusted in the final version.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Swedish B easier at SL than at HL?
- The data does not show that. The mean grades in May 2026 were 5.3 at HL and 5.2 at SL, and 14.4% of HL and 13.2% of SL candidates earned a 7. The groups differ in size and make-up, so the figures are not a direct measure of difficulty.
- How did Swedish B results change compared with May 2025?
- The mean grade was slightly lower at both levels: HL went from 5.4 to 5.3 and SL from 5.3 to 5.2. With 167 HL and 204 SL candidates, this could be normal variation between cohorts.
- Are the May 2026 figures final?
- No. They come from the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026, and a final version follows later in the year, so some figures may change slightly.
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