Introduction
If you’re preparing for IB Geography HL in 2025, understanding the grade boundaries is essential. These thresholds show you how many marks are needed to achieve each grade (1–7) across different components of the course.
This guide provides the full IB Geography HL (Timezone 0) grade boundaries for 2025, covering Internal Assessment, Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3, and the final overall grades.
Geography HL Internal Assessment Grade Boundaries – 2025 TZ0
- Grade 7: 21–25
- Grade 6: 18–20
- Grade 5: 14–17
- Grade 4: 11–13
- Grade 3: 6–10
- Grade 2: 3–5
- Grade 1: 0–2
👉 The IA is marked out of 25. To achieve a 7, students must score at least 21 marks.
Geography HL Paper One Grade Boundaries – 2025 TZ0
- Grade 7: 44–60
- Grade 6: 39–43
- Grade 5: 33–38
- Grade 4: 28–32
- Grade 3: 19–27
- Grade 2: 10–18
- Grade 1: 0–9
👉 Paper 1 (structured questions based on the core syllabus) is out of 60 marks. A 7 requires 44 or higher.
Geography HL Paper Two Grade Boundaries – 2025 TZ0
- Grade 7: 38–50
- Grade 6: 32–37
- Grade 5: 25–31
- Grade 4: 19–24
- Grade 3: 14–18
- Grade 2: 7–13
- Grade 1: 0–6
👉 Paper 2 (optional themes) is marked out of 50. To score a 7, students must achieve at least 38 marks.
Geography HL Paper Three Grade Boundaries – 2025 TZ0
- Grade 7: 22–28
- Grade 6: 19–21
- Grade 5: 17–18
- Grade 4: 14–16
- Grade 3: 11–13
- Grade 2: 6–10
- Grade 1: 0–5
👉 Paper 3 (HL extension, often on global interactions) is out of 28 marks. The top grade requires 22+ marks.
Final Geography HL Grade Boundaries – 2025 TZ0
The overall grade thresholds (out of 100 marks) are:
- Grade 7: 76–100
- Grade 6: 65–75
- Grade 5: 53–64
- Grade 4: 43–52
- Grade 3: 29–42
- Grade 2: 14–28
- Grade 1: 0–13
👉 To secure a Grade 7 overall, a student must achieve at least 76 marks out of 100.
Tips for Scoring High in Geography HL
- Master command terms – Words like evaluate, analyze, discuss carry specific IB expectations.
- Case studies are key – Strong, detailed examples can push answers into the top markbands.
- Practice map and data skills – Paper 1 often tests interpretation of resources like graphs, maps, and diagrams.
- Balance optional themes and HL extension – Don’t neglect Paper 3, as it can make or break a 6 vs 7.
Conclusion
The IB Geography HL grade boundaries for 2025 (TZ0) show that consistent performance across all three papers and the IA is needed to reach top marks. With a Grade 7 requiring 76/100 overall, students should aim for steady strength in both core and optional components.
If you’re also sitting Geography SL or want to compare grade boundaries across Timezone 1 and 2, check out our other detailed breakdowns.
