Introduction
One of the most stressful moments for IB students is receiving their predicted grades. These grades, given by teachers before final exams, are used for university applications and reflect how teachers believe you will perform.
But what exactly do predicted grades mean? How are they calculated? And most importantly, how can you improve your IB predicted grades before final exams?
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about interpreting predicted grades and strategies to boost them.
What Are IB Predicted Grades?
Predicted grades are the scores (1–7) that your teachers expect you to achieve in your final IB exams. They are submitted to the IB and universities months before final exams.
- They are not final grades, but estimates.
- They are based on your performance in class, coursework, and mock exams.
- They help universities decide on conditional offers.
How Are Predicted Grades Calculated?
Teachers use a combination of:
- Class performance: Homework, tests, and participation.
- Mock exam results: Often the biggest influence.
- Internal Assessments (IAs): Since these are officially moderated, strong IAs boost predictions.
- Consistency: Teachers look at long-term performance, not one-off results.
Predicted grades are usually conservative but realistic.
Why Predicted Grades Matter
- University Applications
- Most universities make conditional offers based on predicted grades.
- A strong set of predicted grades increases your options.
