An MYP Individuals and Societies report card usually shows achievement in four subject-specific criteria, a combined criterion total, and a final subject grade from 1 to 7. It may also include teacher comments, Approaches to Learning information, attendance, or a separate local grade, depending on the school's reporting policy.
MYP achievement is criterion-related. Students are judged against published descriptors for knowledge, investigation, communication, and critical thinking, rather than ranked against classmates or graded through a simple percentage average.
What appears on an MYP Individuals and Societies report card?
The exact design varies by school, but a report commonly includes:
- The course name, such as history, geography, economics, or integrated humanities
- Achievement levels for Criteria A, B, C, and D
- A criterion total out of 32
- A final MYP subject grade from 1 to 7
- Written feedback identifying strengths and next steps
- Approaches to Learning or work-habit indicators
- A separate national, percentage, or letter grade if locally required
Not every number has the same function. A level 6 for Criterion D describes critical-thinking achievement, whereas a final grade 6 summarizes performance across the subject. The RevisionDojo guide to MYP criteria explains this distinction across subject groups.
The four Individuals and Societies criteria
The IB Individuals and Societies overview describes a subject group covering historical, geographical, political, social, economic, technological, religious, and cultural factors. Achievement is assessed through four equally weighted criteria.
| Criterion | Name | What the report measures |
|---|---|---|
| A | Knowing and understanding | Subject terminology, factual knowledge, conceptual understanding, explanations, and examples |
| B | Investigating | Formulating questions, planning investigations, collecting information, and evaluating the research process |
| C | Communicating | Organizing information, addressing audience and purpose, and documenting sources |
| D | Thinking critically | Analysing concepts and sources, recognizing perspectives, interpreting evidence, and evaluating conclusions |
Each criterion has a maximum achievement level of 8. The descriptor bands are 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8; level 0 applies when the evidence does not reach the first descriptor.
A criterion level is not a mark out of eight in the usual percentage sense. Level 6 does not automatically mean 75 percent. It means the work most closely matches the relevant level descriptor.
How the final report-card grade is calculated
For school-based reporting, the teacher makes a best-fit judgment for each criterion. The teacher reviews sufficient relevant evidence and selects the descriptor that most accurately represents demonstrated achievement.
This does not necessarily mean calculating the arithmetic mean of every task. Recent, sustained, and independently produced evidence may better represent current achievement than an early task, although the school's assessment policy determines its precise procedure.
The four final levels are added:
The total is converted to the 1-7 MYP scale using standard MYP grade-boundary guidelines.
| Criterion total | Final MYP grade | General interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | 1 | Very limited achievement |
| 6-9 | 2 | Limited achievement with significant gaps |
| 10-14 | 3 | Basic understanding and acceptable work |
| 15-18 | 4 | Good-quality work and understanding of most concepts |
| 19-23 | 5 | Generally high-quality work and secure understanding |
| 24-27 | 6 | High-quality work showing extensive understanding |
| 28-32 | 7 | Consistently sophisticated, independent achievement |
A total of 0 means none of the criteria reached the first described level. Because the standard ranges normally begin at 1, schools should explain how this exceptional result is recorded. See the MYP grade-boundary system guide for further explanation.
Worked report-card example
Suppose a Year 5 student receives these final levels:
| Criterion | Final level | Evidence represented |
|---|---|---|
| A: Knowing and understanding | 6 | Accurate knowledge and developed explanations |
| B: Investigating | 5 | A sound investigation with limitations in evaluation |
| C: Communicating | 7 | Clear structure, appropriate style, and effective documentation |
| D: Thinking critically | 6 | Strong analysis and supported judgments |
The calculation is:
A total of 24 out of 32 falls within the 24-27 boundary, producing a final grade of 6. It does not mean the student earned 75 percent, even though ; the grade comes from descriptors and the conversion table.
Raising Criterion B from 5 to 6 would improve the total to 25, which remains a grade 6. Reaching grade 7 requires at least 28, so improvement across several criteria may be necessary.
Why task scores may not match the report card
An assignment may assess only one or two criteria. A source analysis might focus on A and D, while an inquiry project could emphasize B and C.
The report card summarizes a body of evidence, so averaging every visible task level may not reproduce the teacher's final judgment. Students should consult the school's assessment policy if the method is unclear. RevisionDojo also explains how MYP schools determine internal grades.
Comments and Approaches to Learning ratings should be read separately. Organization, collaboration, and self-management influence learning, but they should not be added to the academic criterion total.
Internal report cards versus MYP eAssessment results
An internal report card is not the same as an official MYP Individuals and Societies eAssessment result. The IB assessment overview states that external eAssessment is optional for schools, apart from the separately moderated personal project requirement for MYP Year 5 students.
| Feature | Internal school report | Official MYP eAssessment result |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence | Classroom assignments, inquiries, presentations, and tests | Responses in an on-screen examination |
| Assessor | School teacher | Trained IB examiners |
| Initial scale | Four criterion levels, each 0-8 | Raw examination marks aligned with objectives |
| Final scale | Usually 1-7 | 1-7 |
| Boundaries | Standard out-of-32 guidelines | Subject- and session-specific boundaries |
| Status | School-issued record | Official IB course result |
The IB offers on-screen Individuals and Societies examinations in geography, history, and integrated humanities, subject to current availability. The official on-screen examination information describes two-hour examinations held in May or November.
An eAssessment raw mark must not be converted using the classroom table out of 32. The IB establishes boundaries for each discipline and examination session, allowing for differences in paper difficulty. Official MYP grading and awards information confirms that course results are reported from 1 to 7.
How students should use the report
Start with the four criterion levels rather than only the final grade. They reveal whether the main priority is content knowledge, research design, communication, or analysis.
A practical review process is:
- Identify the lowest criterion and read its exact descriptor.
- Compare it with the teacher's comment and marked work.
- Choose one observable improvement, such as evaluating source limitations.
- Practise that skill in a new context.
- Ask what evidence would demonstrate the next achievement band.
Students preparing for external assessment can use the MYP Individuals and Societies resource hub to review content and the Individuals and Societies Questionbank for timed application and evaluation practice.
Common interpretation mistakes
- Treating a criterion level as the final grade: A 7 in Criterion C is not automatically a subject grade of 7.
- Converting levels into percentages: MYP descriptors have no official percentage equivalents.
- Averaging every task mechanically: Final levels normally involve professional best-fit judgment.
- Ignoring uneven performance: One final grade can conceal stronger and weaker criteria.
- Applying classroom boundaries to eAssessment: External boundaries depend on the subject and session.
- Comparing students directly: Criterion-related assessment measures work against standards, not class rank.
Conclusion
An MYP Individuals and Societies report card uses four criterion levels to explain achievement in knowing and understanding, investigating, communicating, and thinking critically. These levels total up to 32 and normally convert into a school-reported grade from 1 to 7.
Official eAssessment also produces a 1-7 grade, but raw marks use IB boundaries for the relevant discipline and session. Students should use criterion feedback to select their next skill target, then reinforce it through RevisionDojo Study Notes and focused Questionbank practice.
Sources and referenced URLs
- IB Individuals and Societies curriculum overview
- IB MYP assessment overview
- IB MYP on-screen examinations
- IB MYP grading and awards
- RevisionDojo MYP criteria guide
- RevisionDojo MYP grade-boundary system guide
- How MYP schools determine internal grade boundaries
- RevisionDojo MYP Individuals and Societies resources
- RevisionDojo MYP Individuals and Societies Questionbank