What Are the Final Grade Components in the IB Diploma?
The IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) awards students a final score out of 45. This score is based on:
- Six subject grades (up to 42 points total)
- Bonus points from Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Extended Essay (EE)
- A pass/fail CAS requirement
Want a full breakdown? Start with RevisionDojo’s detailed article:
👉 How Is the IB Score Calculated?
1. Six IB Subject Grades (Max 42 Points)
Each of the six subjects you take is graded from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest), contributing up to 42 points.
Grades are calculated from:
- External exams (typically 70–80% of the final mark)
- Internal Assessments (IAs) like essays, lab reports, or oral tasks (weighted 20–30%)
For subject-specific grading methods, check out:
👉 IB Grading Scale Explained
2. Core Components: TOK and EE (Up to 3 Bonus Points)
You complete both:
- A Theory of Knowledge essay and presentation
- An Extended Essay (EE) on a topic of your choice
These are graded A–E, and combined using an IB matrix to award up to 3 additional points.
See how the TOK/EE matrix works here:
👉 Bonus Points Breakdown: TOK + EE
3. CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) – Required for Diploma
CAS is mandatory, but it doesn’t earn you extra points. You must:
- Participate in creativity, physical activity, and service
- Complete a CAS project
- Show evidence of 7 learning outcomes
Understand CAS requirements in full here:
👉 What Happens If You Don’t Complete CAS?
4. Summary: IB Diploma Point System
Component Points Contribution Six subjects Up to 42 points (7 each) TOK + EE Up to 3 bonus points CAS Required (no points)
To earn the Diploma, you must:
- Score at least 24 points
- Achieve a minimum number of points at HL and SL
- Complete all core components (CAS, TOK, EE)
- Avoid any failing conditions (e.g., a grade E in TOK or EE)
For a full passing checklist, see:
👉 IB Diploma Passing Rules: Complete Guide
FAQs
Q: Can you fail the IB if you pass all subjects but miss CAS?
Yes. CAS is required to earn the full Diploma.
Q: What’s the highest possible IB score?
45 points: 7 points in each of six subjects + 3 bonus points from TOK and EE.
Q: Are all subjects weighted equally?
Yes. Each subject contributes a max of 7 points, whether HL or SL.
Conclusion
To succeed in the IBDP, you need to:
- Score highly in your six subjects
- Earn bonus points in TOK and the EE
- Fully complete the CAS requirement
📘 Ready to track your scores and boost performance across subjects?
Start with RevisionDojo’s tools and guides:
👉 Explore IB Scoring Tools on RevisionDojo
👉 How Is the IB Score Calculated?
