Introduction
If you’re an IB parent, you’ve probably heard teachers and counselors talking about predicted grades. Then, on the other side, you know your child will eventually receive final IB results after exams.
Naturally, you may wonder:
“What’s the difference? Which ones matter more? How do universities use them? And what can I do as a parent to help my child improve both?”
This confusion is common — and important to clear up. Predicted grades and final results play different roles in your child’s IB journey and university applications. Understanding how they work will help you guide your teen through these crucial two years with less stress and more clarity.
What Are Predicted Grades?
Predicted grades are the grades that your child’s teachers estimate they are most likely to achieve by the end of the IB Diploma Programme.
They are based on:
- Classwork and assessments.
- Internal Assessment progress.
- Mock exams and tests.
- Teacher judgment and experience.
Predicted grades are submitted by schools to universities in the first or second year of IB, depending on application cycles.
What Are Final Results?
Final results are the official grades awarded by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) after your child sits the final exams and submits all assessed work.
They include:
- External exams (Papers 1, 2, and sometimes 3, depending on subject).
- Internal Assessments (moderated by the IB).
- Extended Essay (EE).
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK).
- CAS completion (pass/fail, but required for the diploma).
These final results are what determine whether your child earns the full IB Diploma and whether they meet university offer requirements.
Key Differences Between Predicted and Final Grades
1. Timing
- Predicted: Submitted before exams, often during Year 2 applications.
- Final: Released in July after exams.
2. Purpose
- Predicted: Used by universities to make conditional offers or admissions decisions.
- Final: Used to confirm offers and officially award the diploma.
3. Accuracy
- Predicted: An educated guess, but not always exact. Teachers may predict higher or lower than final outcomes.
- Final: The actual, official record of achievement.
4. Weight
- Predicted: Crucial for getting into university.
- Final: Crucial for keeping the spot at university.
How Universities Use Predicted Grades
- UK: Universities make conditional offers based on predicted grades. Example: “Offer of 36 points with 6 in HL Biology.”
- US: Admissions decisions are often based on predicted grades and coursework; final results may be used for placement or credit.
- Canada: Universities may grant conditional acceptance based on predicted grades, then finalize based on results.
- Other regions: Most universities use predicted grades to evaluate applications, with final results confirming the decision.
In short: predicted grades get your child in the door, while final grades hold the door open.
Why Predicted Grades Often Differ From Final Results
- Student Improvement
Some students underperform early but improve dramatically by finals. - Exam Performance
Exams can raise or lower final grades compared to teacher predictions. - Teacher Bias
Teachers may predict optimistically to help students get offers, or conservatively to avoid overpromising. - Stress Factors
Final exam performance under pressure sometimes lowers results compared to predictions. - IB Marking Complexity
Final grading includes moderation, external marking, and stricter criteria than classroom work.
What Happens If Predicted and Final Grades Don’t Match?
- Higher Final Grades: Great news — universities accept the offer, and your child may even qualify for scholarships or advanced credits.
- Lower Final Grades: Universities may withdraw or alter offers if results don’t meet conditions.
- Close Cases: Sometimes, if results are just slightly lower, universities still accept based on overall strength.
Parent Concerns (and Reassurances)
Concern 1: “What if my child’s predicted grades are too low for university applications?”
Reassurance: Many universities look holistically, not just at numbers. Support and revision strategies (like RevisionDojo) can raise performance before the final push.
Concern 2: “What if my child doesn’t meet their final grade offer?”
Reassurance: While this is serious, many universities show flexibility. Plus, remark requests and reapplications are possible.
Concern 3: “Can predicted grades really be trusted?”
Reassurance: They’re not perfect, but they give universities a fair estimate. Final results ultimately matter most.
How Parents Can Support Predicted and Final Grades
1. Encourage Consistency Early
Predicted grades come from Year 1 and early Year 2 performance. Encourage steady effort, not last-minute cramming.
2. Help Them Understand IB Assessment
Many students lose marks simply because they don’t understand how IB examiners award points.
3. Manage Stress and Balance
Support sleep, downtime, and healthy routines — these affect both predicted and final outcomes.
4. Focus on Feedback
Encourage your child to act on teacher comments. Predicted grades rise when students show growth and responsiveness.
5. Provide Structured Study Support
This is where external resources like RevisionDojo come in.
How RevisionDojo Improves Predicted and Final Grades
RevisionDojo is designed to bridge the gap between “what teachers think I can do” and “what I actually achieve.”
- Predicted Grade Boosters: Provides strategies for writing, analysis, and exam technique that teachers notice, leading to stronger predictions.
- Final Grade Confidence: Equips students with exact exam strategies so they can turn predictions into reality.
- Clear Study Plans: Keeps progress consistent across two years, avoiding sudden dips.
- Stress Reduction: Helps students perform at their true ability without panic.
- Parent Reassurance: You know your teen has a plan to hit both predicted and final targets.
👉 Help your child maximize both predicted and final IB grades with RevisionDojo
FAQs for Parents
1. Which matters more, predicted or final grades?
Predicted grades matter for getting offers. Final grades matter for keeping offers. Both are critical.
2. What if my child’s predicted grades are lower than expected?
It’s common. Focus on building skills and showing improvement. Teachers often adjust predictions if progress is visible.
3. Can students improve predicted grades?
Yes. By showing consistent growth, seeking feedback, and demonstrating effort, students can shift predictions upward.
4. Do final grades always match predicted grades?
Rarely. It’s normal for them to differ slightly — sometimes higher, sometimes lower.
5. What if my child’s final grades are lower than their predicted grades?
Universities may withdraw offers, but not always. Some accept near-misses. Appeals and reapplications are also possible.
6. How does RevisionDojo impact predicted grades?
Teachers notice when students improve essays, structure, and confidence. RevisionDojo provides the tools that make those improvements visible.
7. How does RevisionDojo impact final grades?
By giving exam strategies and structured revision, it helps students perform at their best when it matters most.
Practical Parent Phrases for Predicted & Final Grade Conversations
- “Predicted grades aren’t destiny — they’re feedback.”
- “Universities know IB is tough; what matters is steady progress.”
- “Final exams are your chance to prove yourself beyond predictions.”
- “I believe in your ability to improve between now and finals.”
- “You don’t have to do this alone — there are tools to help.”
Conclusion
Predicted and final grades both matter — but in different ways. Predicted grades open university doors, while final grades keep them open. A dip in either is not the end of the road, but both require support, strategy, and consistency.
As a parent, your role is to reassure your teen, encourage balance, and provide tools that transform effort into results. That’s exactly what RevisionDojo offers: structured strategies that help students raise predicted grades, secure strong final results, and enter university with confidence.
