🎬 IB Film Marking Scale: What You Need to Know
1. 🎯 Grading Scale
- IB Film is graded using a standard 1–7 scale, where:
- 7 = Excellent performance
- 4 = Satisfactory
- 2 = Minimum passing mark
- 1 = Fail
You need at least a grade of 2 to pass at both SL and HL. (revisiondojo.com, spires.co, revisiondojo.com)
2. 🧠 Assessment Components & Weighting
Standard Level (SL)
Component Weighting Textual Analysis 30% Comparative Study 30% Film Portfolio 40% Total 100% (International Baccalaureate®, revisiondojo.com)
Higher Level (HL)
Component Weighting Textual Analysis 20% Comparative Study 20% Film Portfolio 25% Collaborative Film Project 35% Total 100% (International Baccalaureate®)
- Textual Analysis: Written analysis of a prescribed five-minute film extract, focusing on film language and cultural context.
- Comparative Study: A multimedia presentation comparing at least two culturally distinct films.
- Film Portfolio: Practical exercises in roles like directing, cinematography, editing, or sound design.
- Collaborative Film Project (HL only): Creation of a short film (6–7 minutes), plus a report and trailer. (revisiondojo.com)
3. 📌 How Raw Scores Translate to Grades
Film coursework is assessed against markbands for each criterion. IB uses a best-fit approach: your work is matched to descriptors that correspond to a grade level within each task. (International Baccalaureate®)
For example:
- In Film Portfolio, examiners assess your planning, technical technique, creativity, reflection, and apply marks aligned to descriptors to assign a portfolio score.
- Your total then converts into the final grade 1–7. Unlike some subjects, there's no fixed threshold per percentage—it depends on holistic fit.
4. 🔍 RevisionDojo Support for Marking Understanding
RevisionDojo offers detailed guides to help you align your work with IB expectations:
- Breakdown of each component’s intent and criteria, simplifying examiner language. (revisiondojo.com, revisiondojo.com)
- Insights on what counts toward a 7 in IB Film: film language mastery, creativity, effective teamwork, self-reflection, and technical polish. (revisiondojo.com)
✅ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What’s the minimum IB Film grade required to pass?
A: A Grade 2 on the 1–7 scale is required at both SL and HL. (spires.co)
Q: Is Film Portfolio internally or externally assessed?
A: It’s internally assessed by your teacher, then externally moderated by IB. (Wikipedia, revisiondojo.com)
Q: Are percentage marks used to assign grades?
A: No. IB employs criteria-based markbands and holistic judgment, not fixed percentage boundaries. (International Baccalaureate®, The City University of New York)
Q: How can RevisionDojo help me hit a 7?
A: By detailing the markbands per component, providing strategic advice for scoring high, and offering practical prompts to align your creative and analytical work with IB expectations. (revisiondojo.com, revisiondojo.com)
✅ Conclusion
In IB Film, your everyday creative efforts—textual analysis, comparative studies, portfolios, and teamwork—are evaluated on a clear 1–7 grading scale. Coursework components form 40–75% of your final grade (depending on level). Using markband-based assessment (not raw percentages), your work is rated on how well it fits IB standards at each grade level.
With RevisionDojo’s markband breakdowns, guidance articles, and strategy tools, you can align every Film project to IB criteria and maximize your performance in each component.
🎯 Call to Action
- Explore RevisionDojo’s IB Film guides and markband breakdowns to see examiners’ perspectives
- Use their scoring strategy tool for Film to self-assess and elevate your score potential
- Practice film exercises and project planning in line with IB criteria to target higher band performance
