What is the average grade in IB Theatre in May 2026?

The mean grade is 5.1 at HL and 4.6 at SL, according to the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026. Both values match those of May 2025.

How many candidates get a grade 7 in IB Theatre?

In May 2026, 12.8% of all HL candidates and 6.7% of all SL candidates received a grade 7. These shares are calculated on all candidates in each level.

Is IB Theatre HL scored more generously than SL?

The HL mean (5.1) is higher than the SL mean (4.6), and HL has larger shares at grades 5, 6 and 7. The data does not show why. Differences between the candidate groups may play a role, so it is not evidence that HL is easier.

IB subject statistics

IB Theatre 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 Theatre students averaged 5.1 at HL (2,381 students) and 4.6 at SL (1,289). 12.8% of HL and 6.7% of SL students scored a 7, and the most common grade was 5 at HL and 4 at SL.

This page summarises IB Theatre results for the May 2026 session, using the IB's official statistical bulletin for that session. The figures are from the provisional bulletin, and a final version will follow later in the year, so small revisions are possible.

In May 2026, 2,381 candidates sat Theatre at HL and 1,289 at SL. Below we look at the mean grades, how the grades are spread, how HL and SL differ, and what changed compared with May 2025.

Key figures

Level	Students	Mean grade	Share of 7s	vs May 2025
HL	2,381	5.1	12.8%	no change
SL	1,289	4.6	6.7%	no change

Grade distribution, May 2026

Grade distribution, May 2026
Grade	Higher Level	Standard Level
1	0.1%	0.2%
2	1.4%	1.9%
3	8.9%	15.7%
4	17.4%	28.6%
5	30.4%	26.5%
6	26.4%	16.5%
7	12.8%	6.7%

Grade 1-7, % of studentsHigher LevelStandard Level

Aiming for a 6 or 7 in Theatre?Theatre tutoring

Mean grade and grade distribution

The mean grade is 5.1 at HL and 4.6 at SL. The HL distribution peaks at grade 5, with 30.4% of all candidates, followed by grade 6 with 26.4%. Grade 7 is reached by 12.8%, and grade 4 by 17.4%. Grades 5, 6 and 7 together cover a clear majority of HL candidates. Only 8.9% received a grade 3, 1.4% a grade 2 and 0.1% a grade 1. At SL the peak sits one grade lower: grade 4 is the most common result at 28.6%, then grade 5 at 26.5%. Grade 6 accounts for 16.5% and grade 7 for 6.7%. Low grades are more common than at HL: 15.7% for grade 3, 1.9% for grade 2 and 0.2% for grade 1.

HL compared with SL

The HL mean is about half a grade above the SL mean. The gap shows most clearly at the top: 12.8% of HL candidates reached a grade 7, against 6.7% at SL, close to double the share. Grade 6 shows the same pattern, at 26.4% for HL and 16.5% for SL. At grade 3 and grade 4 the order reverses, with SL holding the larger shares (15.7% and 28.6%, against 8.9% and 17.4% at HL). These are shares of each group, not head counts. The data cannot tell us why the levels differ. One possibility is that students who choose HL are more committed to the subject, but the bulletin does not show this.

Change since May 2025

The mean grades did not move. HL was 5.1 in May 2025 and is 5.1 in May 2026. SL was 4.6 in May 2025 and is 4.6 in May 2026. On the headline measure, the scoring of Theatre looks stable from one May session to the next. For context only, the mean diploma total across the whole May 2026 session was 30.9 points out of 45. That figure includes core points and says nothing about Theatre specifically.

What this means for choice and preparation

A grade 7 is a realistic but not a common outcome: 12.8% at HL and 6.7% at SL. The most frequent results are grade 5 at HL and grade 4 at SL. Students aiming for the top grades should plan their preparation around consistent quality across the whole course rather than relying on a single strong piece. When choosing between levels, the higher HL mean should not be read as proof that HL is easier. The two groups are different, and the bulletin does not show how. Choose the level that fits your interest, your timetable and your university requirements, and use these figures as a realistic benchmark for what an average result looks like.

Key takeaways

May 2026 mean grade: 5.1 at HL (2,381 candidates) and 4.6 at SL (1,289 candidates).
HL results peak at grade 5 (30.4%), SL results at grade 4 (28.6%).
Grade 7 was reached by 12.8% of HL and 6.7% of SL candidates.
Both means are unchanged from May 2025, at 5.1 for HL and 4.6 for SL.
These are provisional figures; the IB will publish a final version later in the year.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average grade in IB Theatre in May 2026?: The mean grade is 5.1 at HL and 4.6 at SL, according to the IB's provisional bulletin for May 2026. Both values match those of May 2025.
How many candidates get a grade 7 in IB Theatre?: In May 2026, 12.8% of all HL candidates and 6.7% of all SL candidates received a grade 7. These shares are calculated on all candidates in each level.
Is IB Theatre HL scored more generously than SL?: The HL mean (5.1) is higher than the SL mean (4.6), and HL has larger shares at grades 5, 6 and 7. The data does not show why. Differences between the candidate groups may play a role, so it is not evidence that HL is easier.