Are MYP Physics criterion scores averaged to calculate the final grade?

No, the four final criterion levels are added rather than averaged. The teacher first makes a best-fit judgment from 0 to 8 for Criteria A, B, C, and D. Those four levels produce a total out of 32, which is converted through the MYP grade boundaries. Teachers also do not necessarily average all task results when deciding each final criterion level. They consider the available evidence and select the descriptor that best represents the student's demonstrated achievement.

What total is needed for a grade 7 in MYP Physics?

Under the standard 32-point MYP conversion table, a total of 28–32 produces a grade 7. Because each of the four criteria has a maximum level of 8, several profiles can reach this range. For example, 7, 7, 7, and 7 total 28, while 8, 8, 6, and 6 also total 28. A student does not need to receive level 8 in every criterion. However, the final levels must be supported by evidence matching the relevant criterion descriptors.

Can a student receive a final MYP Physics grade if one criterion was not assessed?

A defensible final subject grade requires sufficient evidence across all four prescribed criteria. Schools are expected to create appropriate opportunities for students to demonstrate each criterion and its strands during the programme. A missing criterion cannot simply be treated as though the student earned the same level as in another area. Coordinators should investigate whether an additional assessment opportunity or other valid evidence is available. The school's assessment policy and current IB guidance should govern unusual cases involving absence or insufficient evidence.

Does the MYP Physics eAssessment use the same grade boundaries as classroom assessment?

No, the external eAssessment does not use the classroom 32-point conversion table. Examiners award raw marks for responses across tasks assessing Criteria A to D. The IB then sets subject- and session-specific grade boundaries that convert the raw mark into a grade from 1 to 7. Boundaries can change because examination difficulty and the available evidence differ between sessions. A classroom criterion total and an eAssessment raw mark therefore cannot be converted in the same way.

How are Criteria B and C weighted in the MYP Physics eAssessment?

The sciences eAssessment blueprint assigns 50 marks to investigation skills covering Criteria B and C together. This should not be interpreted as one combined classroom criterion worth twice as much as the others. B and C remain distinct objectives, addressing investigation design and the processing and evaluation of evidence. Together they account for half of the examination because they represent two of the four equally weighted criteria. Students must therefore prepare both planning skills and data-analysis skills rather than treating investigation as a single generic area.

Can one high criterion level compensate for a low level in another criterion?

A high level does contribute additional points to the combined total, so it can partly offset a lower result elsewhere. However, each criterion has the same maximum of eight, which limits how much compensation is possible. For example, levels of 8, 4, 4, and 4 total 20, producing a grade 5 rather than a top grade. Balanced performance is usually the more reliable route to grades 6 and 7. Students should use criterion-level feedback to identify the weakest area and practise the exact skills named in its descriptors.

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MYP Physics Criteria Levels to Final Grade

MYP Physics Assessment MYP IB Physics IB Grading

Michael R.

• 11 Sept 2026•10

MYP Physics Criteria Levels to Final Grade

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MYP Physics Criteria Levels to Final Grade

MYP Physics Assessment MYP IB Physics IB Grading

Michael R.

• 11 Sept 2026•10

MYP Physics criteria levels become a final grade in two stages. First, the teacher determines one final achievement level from 0 to 8 for each of Criteria A, B, C, and D. The four levels are added to produce a total out of 32, which is converted to a subject grade from 1 to 7 using MYP grade boundaries.

This school-based calculation differs from the externally marked MYP Physics eAssessment. Although the on-screen examination assesses the same criteria, the IB converts raw examination marks using subject- and session-specific boundaries rather than the classroom 32-point table.

The four MYP Physics assessment criteria

MYP Physics belongs to the MYP sciences subject group. Its four criteria are equally weighted, with each having a maximum achievement level of 8.

Criterion	Official focus	What students demonstrate
A: Knowing and understanding	Scientific knowledge and application	Explain concepts, apply equations, solve problems, and make supported judgments
B: Inquiring and designing	Planning investigations	Formulate questions or hypotheses, identify variables, and design logical methods
C: Processing and evaluating	Analysing evidence	Present and interpret data, draw conclusions, evaluate methods, and suggest improvements
D: Reflecting on the impacts of science	Scientific applications and consequences	Explain applications and evaluate their implications using scientific language and sources

Each criterion contains achievement bands such as 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, and 7–8. Teachers compare the student's evidence with the published descriptors and use professional judgment to select the best-matching level. A level of 0 means the work does not reach a standard described by the criterion.

These levels are not percentages. A level 6 does not mean 60%, and a level 8 does not merely indicate that every answer was correct. The descriptors represent the quality and complexity of demonstrated achievement.

Converting MYP Physics criteria levels to a grade

The calculation is:

T=A+B+C+D

Each criterion is worth 0 to 8, giving a maximum total of 32. The standard MYP conversion table is then applied.

Combined criterion total	Final MYP grade
1–5	1
6–9	2
10–14	3
15–18	4
19–23	5
24–27	6
28–32	7

A total of zero indicates that no assessable achievement has been demonstrated. Schools should follow current IB guidance and their reporting procedures when recording this exceptional outcome.

Consider a student whose final levels are A6, B5, C6, and D7:

6+5+6+7=24

A total of 24 falls within the 24–27 range, producing a final MYP Physics grade of 6. If the total were 23, the grade would be 5, so one additional criterion level can sometimes cross a boundary.

How teachers determine final criterion levels

Teachers do not have to calculate the arithmetic mean of every score collected during the term. MYP assessment uses best-fit professional judgment, based on how well the student's evidence matches the relevant descriptors.

Suppose a student's Criterion A results are 4, 5, 6, and 6. Although the mean is 5.25, the teacher does not automatically round it to 5. The teacher considers the pattern, consistency, task demands, and quality of the evidence before deciding which level best represents current achievement.

Recent, sustained evidence can be particularly informative because it may demonstrate development. However, the latest task does not automatically replace all earlier evidence. Schools must provide sufficient opportunities to assess every criterion and its strands, allowing teachers to make a defensible final judgment.

Individual task scores therefore provide evidence rather than points that must all be added together. Only the four concluding criterion levels are combined to produce the total out of 32.

Why balanced performance matters

Because each criterion contributes a maximum of eight points, every criterion represents 25% of the available total. Strong factual knowledge cannot completely compensate for weak investigation, data-processing, or reflection skills.

For example, levels of 8, 4, 4, and 4 total 20, producing grade 5. A balanced profile of 6, 6, 6, and 6 totals 24 and produces grade 6. Students should therefore practise all four areas rather than concentrating only on Criterion A tests.

MYP Physics eAssessment conversion

The MYP Physics eAssessment is an externally marked on-screen examination used for IB-validated MYP course results and the MYP certificate. Physics is available within the sciences eAssessment alongside biology, chemistry, and integrated sciences.

The IB sciences subject brief organizes the examination into three task areas:

Examination task area	Criteria assessed	Marks
Knowing and understanding	Criterion A	25
Investigation skills	Criteria B and C	50
Applying science	Criterion D	25
Total	All four criteria	100

Investigation skills receive 50 marks because this area covers two separate criteria, B and C. The examination blueprint therefore represents each of the four criteria approximately equally.

Examiners award raw marks using authorized markschemes and markbands. The IB then applies subject- and session-specific grade boundaries to convert the examination total into a grade from 1 to 7. Grade awarding considers examination demand, candidate work, expert judgment, and statistical evidence.

An eAssessment score such as 72 out of 100 should not be divided or placed into the classroom 32-point table. Its final grade depends on the official Physics boundaries for that examination session.

Feature	School-based grade	Physics eAssessment result
Evidence	Classroom work over time	End-of-course examination
Initial result	Four levels from 0–8	Raw examination marks
Conversion	Standard 32-point table	Session-specific IB boundaries
Marker	Classroom teacher	IB-appointed examiners
Final scale	1–7	1–7

Both systems are criterion-related, meaning performance is judged against defined standards rather than class rank. The key difference is the numerical route used to reach the final grade.

Common calculation mistakes

Averaging the four levels: Dividing the total by four gives an average criterion level, not the final subject grade.
Treating levels as percentages: Level 7 is not 70%, and 24 out of 32 cannot automatically be interpreted as an eAssessment percentage.
Adding every task score: Task results inform the final best-fit decision; they are not normally combined into one year-long points total.
Using classroom boundaries for eAssessment: External raw marks require the boundaries issued for the relevant subject and session.
Ignoring a weak criterion: Every criterion has equal maximum weight, so a low level directly reduces the combined total.

Improving the final MYP Physics grade

Start by finding the next boundary. A profile of A6, B5, C5, and D6 totals 22, which is grade 5. Reaching 24 requires two additional criterion levels and would move the student into grade 6 territory.

Improvement should target the skills named in the descriptors:

For Criterion A, explain reasoning, apply formulas in unfamiliar contexts, include units, and check whether answers are physically plausible.
For Criterion B, formulate precise questions, identify variables, and design replicable methods with suitable data ranges.
For Criterion C, process data accurately, select appropriate graphs, interpret patterns, and connect evaluations to specific limitations.
For Criterion D, analyse benefits and limitations, consider consequences, use scientific terminology, and document sources consistently.

The RevisionDojo MYP Physics hub supports topic review and criterion-focused preparation. Students can use MYP Physics lessons and study guides to strengthen understanding and the MYP Physics Questionbank for targeted practice. Broader explanations are available in RevisionDojo's guides to MYP grade boundaries and MYP assessment criteria.

Conclusion

For school-based MYP Physics, teachers determine one best-fit level for each criterion, add the four levels to obtain a total out of 32, and apply the standard boundary table. The final criterion levels are based on descriptors and evidence, not necessarily averages of task scores.

The external eAssessment follows a separate process using raw marks and session-specific IB boundaries. In both settings, balanced preparation across all four criteria is essential. RevisionDojo's Study Notes, Questionbank, and Jojo AI can support focused practice based on individual criterion weaknesses.

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