The short answer
A 7 has never needed more than 83% in any of these six subjects, and in most sessions it sits between 65% and 75%. The 6 is usually 10 to 15 marks below the 7 on the 100-mark scale, and that gap is where most students who miss the 7 actually lose it.
Each subject page shows every session on record, the paper-by-paper thresholds of the most recent session with a full IB document, and what those numbers mean for how to revise.
Latest session, all six subjects
| Subject | Session | 7 from | 6 from | 4 from | Range of the 7 | Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 TZ3reported | 72% | 60% | 33% | 63% to 79% | 21 | |
| May 2026 TZ3reported | 73% | 59% | 30% | 63% to 80% | 22 | |
| May 2026 TZ3reported | 74% | 62% | 37% | 61% to 77% | 19 | |
| May 2026 TZ3reported | 76% | 63% | 37% | 66% to 83% | 22 | |
| May 2026 TZ3reported | 72% | 60% | 35% | 61% to 74% | 30 | |
| May 2026 TZ3reported | 69% | 58% | 35% | 58% to 73% | 30 |
Every other IB subject: the 7 in the latest session, and its range since 2017
The same documents cover every Diploma subject. Each link opens the full history of that subject and level, paper-by-paper thresholds and a mark checker. Or use the
Studies in language and literature
| Subject | Latest session | 7 from | 6 from | 4 from | Range of the 7 | Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | 83% | 69% | 43% | 74% to 83% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 83% | 68% | 40% | 74% to 83% | 8 | |
| May 2018 | 86% | 75% | 50% | 83% to 86% | 2 | |
| May 2025 | 83% | 68% | 41% | 68% to 85% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 84% | 71% | 46% | 80% to 87% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 86% | 73% | 48% | 86% to 88% | 3 | |
| May 2025 TZ1 | 81% | 68% | 44% | 79% to 84% | 8 | |
| November 2025 | 81% | 70% | 45% | 77% to 87% | 16 | |
| May 2025 TZ1 | 83% | 69% | 45% | 77% to 86% | 8 | |
| May 2025 TZ1 | 81% | 69% | 44% | 77% to 84% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 88% | 74% | 50% | 88% to 88% | 3 | |
| May 2025 | 89% | 77% | 53% | 89% to 89% | 3 | |
| May 2025 | 81% | 69% | 45% | 79% to 85% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 85% | 73% | 47% | 74% to 86% | 3 | |
| May 2024 | 85% | 71% | 45% | 74% to 87% | 5 | |
| May 2025 | 86% | 71% | 44% | 68% to 88% | 8 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 81% | 68% | 41% | 77% to 84% | 16 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 80% | 68% | 42% | 71% to 85% | 16 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 76% | 64% | 40% | 74% to 82% | 16 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 75% | 63% | 37% | 68% to 81% | 16 | |
| May 2025 | 82% | 68% | 41% | 75% to 87% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 81% | 66% | 37% | 74% to 83% | 8 | |
| May 2025 TZ3 | 79% | 67% | 41% | 73% to 82% | 8 | |
| May 2025 TZ3 | 79% | 67% | 40% | 74% to 82% | 8 | |
| May 2025 TZ3 | 82% | 68% | 42% | 77% to 87% | 8 | |
| May 2025 TZ2 | 86% | 71% | 41% | 82% to 86% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 82% | 68% | 40% | 80% to 86% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 79% | 65% | 33% | 77% to 83% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 82% | 69% | 43% | 78% to 84% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 81% | 70% | 44% | 77% to 82% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 86% | 71% | 45% | 80% to 86% | 7 | |
| May 2025 | 87% | 71% | 44% | 85% to 87% | 8 | |
| May 2022 (exam route) | 82% | 68% | 43% | 82% to 85% | 4 | |
| May 2025 | 86% | 72% | 45% | 77% to 86% | 7 | |
| May 2025 | 87% | 74% | 46% | 71% to 87% | 6 | |
| May 2025 | 85% | 71% | 44% | 80% to 85% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 87% | 72% | 44% | 78% to 87% | 7 | |
| November 2025 | 76% | 65% | 42% | 70% to 86% | 12 | |
| November 2025 | 74% | 63% | 41% | 63% to 85% | 9 | |
| November 2025 | 77% | 66% | 44% | 69% to 84% | 10 | |
| November 2025 | 75% | 65% | 43% | 72% to 75% | 2 | |
| November 2025 | 80% | 68% | 43% | 69% to 86% | 7 | |
| May 2025 | 83% | 69% | 42% | 71% to 86% | 8 | |
| May 2019 | 84% | 73% | 47% | 84% to 85% | 3 | |
| May 2025 | 83% | 69% | 42% | 74% to 84% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 81% | 67% | 42% | 79% to 83% | 4 | |
| May 2025 | 88% | 74% | 49% | 82% to 90% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 82% | 68% | 41% | 79% to 85% | 7 | |
| May 2025 | 85% | 72% | 45% | 71% to 85% | 8 | |
| May 2022 (exam route) | 80% | 66% | 43% | 75% to 84% | 5 | |
| May 2025 | 86% | 71% | 44% | 77% to 86% | 7 | |
| May 2025 | 82% | 69% | 44% | 79% to 84% | 7 | |
| May 2025 | 82% | 68% | 42% | 79% to 84% | 8 | |
| November 2025 | 83% | 70% | 43% | 79% to 86% | 13 | |
| May 2025 | 83% | 69% | 42% | 79% to 85% | 8 | |
| May 2024 | 83% | 69% | 43% | 83% to 83% | 2 | |
| May 2025 | 85% | 70% | 44% | 74% to 87% | 6 | |
| May 2025 | 86% | 72% | 46% | 75% to 86% | 7 | |
| May 2025 | 85% | 70% | 42% | 79% to 85% | 8 | |
| November 2025 | 82% | 68% | 40% | 69% to 85% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 80% | 68% | 41% | 71% to 86% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 82% | 68% | 41% | 75% to 86% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 83% | 72% | 45% | 79% to 85% | 16 | |
| May 2025 | 78% | 64% | 37% | 74% to 86% | 8 | |
| May 2022 (exam route) | 74% | 61% | 36% | 74% to 82% | 5 | |
| May 2025 | 78% | 64% | 37% | 77% to 82% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 86% | 71% | 44% | 79% to 87% | 7 | |
| November 2025 | 78% | 67% | 45% | 72% to 86% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 81% | 69% | 45% | 55% to 83% | 13 | |
| May 2025 · self-taught | 83% | 70% | 36% | 83% to 83% | 2 | |
| May 2025 | 82% | 70% | 44% | 82% to 85% | 3 | |
| May 2022 (exam route) | 82% | 71% | 46% | 82% to 82% | 2 |
Language acquisition
| Subject | Latest session | 7 from | 6 from | 4 from | Range of the 7 | Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | 87% | 76% | 55% | 81% to 87% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 88% | 71% | 44% | 77% to 91% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 90% | 77% | 50% | 71% to 90% | 8 | |
| November 2025 | 84% | 72% | 46% | 78% to 88% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 83% | 69% | 43% | 76% to 86% | 16 | |
| May 2025 | 88% | 71% | 45% | 83% to 90% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 87% | 72% | 45% | 85% to 87% | 2 | |
| May 2025 | 83% | 70% | 44% | 78% to 88% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 86% | 73% | 45% | 82% to 89% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 82% | 69% | 43% | 82% to 86% | 2 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 90% | 73% | 41% | 79% to 91% | 16 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 87% | 74% | 46% | 82% to 90% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 84% | 71% | 46% | 77% to 89% | 12 | |
| November 2025 | 87% | 73% | 48% | 77% to 88% | 16 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 84% | 68% | 37% | 79% to 87% | 16 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 78% | 66% | 42% | 76% to 84% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 81% | 67% | 39% | 80% to 89% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 79% | 65% | 34% | 75% to 87% | 15 | |
| May 2025 TZ3 | 87% | 71% | 42% | 80% to 88% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 85% | 73% | 51% | 79% to 86% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 84% | 68% | 36% | 78% to 87% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 89% | 76% | 48% | 81% to 90% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 85% | 70% | 39% | 83% to 90% | 8 | |
| November 2025 | 80% | 66% | 38% | 70% to 87% | 6 | |
| May 2025 TZ3 | 83% | 67% | 38% | 78% to 89% | 8 | |
| May 2025 TZ3 | 83% | 68% | 37% | 78% to 90% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 84% | 69% | 38% | 79% to 88% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 82% | 68% | 43% | 82% to 90% | 7 | |
| November 2025 | 82% | 67% | 36% | 75% to 88% | 16 | |
| May 2025 TZ2 | 81% | 67% | 37% | 74% to 87% | 14 | |
| May 2025 | 75% | 63% | 39% | 70% to 79% | 8 | |
| May 2025 TZ3 | 72% | 60% | 38% | 57% to 83% | 8 | |
| November 2024 | 73% | 61% | 36% | 65% to 86% | 7 | |
| November 2025 | 74% | 60% | 34% | 70% to 86% | 16 | |
| May 2025 | 81% | 63% | 32% | 81% to 89% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 78% | 67% | 44% | 78% to 81% | 2 | |
| May 2025 | 79% | 67% | 41% | 76% to 82% | 5 | |
| May 2024 | 83% | 67% | 37% | 79% to 87% | 7 | |
| May 2021 (exam route) | 71% | 58% | 38% | 71% to 84% | 3 | |
| May 2025 TZ3 | 85% | 70% | 39% | 75% to 88% | 8 | |
| November 2025 | 82% | 68% | 40% | 75% to 87% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 82% | 67% | 39% | 73% to 87% | 16 | |
| May 2025 | 85% | 71% | 45% | 81% to 89% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 87% | 72% | 42% | 81% to 88% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 82% | 69% | 40% | 72% to 86% | 5 | |
| November 2025 | 80% | 66% | 37% | 78% to 85% | 7 |
Individuals and societies
| Subject | Latest session | 7 from | 6 from | 4 from | Range of the 7 | Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | 74% | 63% | 41% | 68% to 80% | 8 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 73% | 62% | 40% | 65% to 77% | 16 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 81% | 70% | 47% | 67% to 82% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 70% | 60% | 40% | 70% to 73% | 4 | |
| November 2025 | 66% | 57% | 38% | 66% to 74% | 4 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 79% | 65% | 38% | 65% to 79% | 16 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 81% | 69% | 43% | 69% to 81% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 76% | 66% | 43% | 71% to 76% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 79% | 67% | 43% | 71% to 79% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 72% | 60% | 35% | 58% to 74% | 15 | |
| November 2025 | 67% | 56% | 32% | 53% to 72% | 15 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 · Americas | 74% | 62% | 38% | 69% to 74% | 16 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 76% | 64% | 39% | 71% to 77% | 16 | |
| November 2023 | 73% | 63% | 42% | 64% to 73% | 12 | |
| November 2023 | 69% | 57% | 35% | 61% to 71% | 12 | |
| November 2025 | 79% | 65% | 38% | 74% to 81% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 80% | 65% | 34% | 67% to 80% | 15 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 73% | 61% | 37% | 65% to 75% | 16 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 72% | 60% | 38% | 66% to 75% | 16 | |
| May 2025 TZ3 | 75% | 63% | 42% | 74% to 81% | 11 | |
| May 2025 TZ3 | 81% | 69% | 44% | 73% to 81% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 80% | 67% | 41% | 73% to 81% | 8 |
Sciences
| Subject | Latest session | 7 from | 6 from | 4 from | Range of the 7 | Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2025 TZ3 | 77% | 63% | 34% | 71% to 81% | 16 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 77% | 64% | 39% | 72% to 81% | 16 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 77% | 64% | 37% | 69% to 81% | 16 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 75% | 65% | 43% | 69% to 79% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 70% | 61% | 44% | 63% to 74% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 73% | 64% | 45% | 62% to 75% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 68% | 58% | 38% | 58% to 76% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 69% | 58% | 38% | 46% to 75% | 10 | |
| November 2025 | 76% | 61% | 34% | 68% to 78% | 15 | |
| November 2025 | 81% | 67% | 39% | 69% to 81% | 16 |
Mathematics
| Subject | Latest session | 7 from | 6 from | 4 from | Range of the 7 | Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2019 | 72% | 62% | 42% | 72% to 75% | 3 | |
| November 2020 | 80% | 69% | 45% | 76% to 85% | 6 | |
| November 2020 · Calculus | 80% | 68% | 44% | 73% to 83% | 6 | |
| November 2020 | 82% | 69% | 43% | 76% to 83% | 6 |
The arts
| Subject | Latest session | 7 from | 6 from | 4 from | Range of the 7 | Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | 81% | 69% | 50% | 81% to 88% | 8 | |
| November 2025 | 81% | 71% | 51% | 81% to 87% | 9 | |
| November 2025 | 83% | 70% | 41% | 81% to 85% | 16 | |
| May 2025 | 83% | 69% | 41% | 82% to 87% | 8 | |
| November 2025 | 81% | 67% | 39% | 77% to 88% | 11 | |
| November 2025 | 78% | 65% | 39% | 77% to 78% | 8 | |
| November 2025 | 83% | 68% | 37% | 76% to 84% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 85% | 69% | 36% | 76% to 86% | 14 | |
| November 2025 | 81% | 66% | 39% | 77% to 85% | 16 | |
| November 2025 | 80% | 65% | 34% | 77% to 85% | 16 |
Interdisciplinary and school-based
| Subject | Latest session | 7 from | 6 from | 4 from | Range of the 7 | Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | 81% | 68% | 44% | 75% to 84% | 7 | |
| November 2025 TZ3 | 68% | 57% | 33% | 62% to 71% | 16 | |
| May 2025 TZ3 | 83% | 69% | 41% | 78% to 86% | 8 | |
| May 2025 | 66% | 58% | 39% | 62% to 74% | 8 | |
| May 2024 | 77% | 66% | 46% | 65% to 79% | 7 | |
| May 2025 | 81% | 67% | 44% | 78% to 87% | 7 |
Dataset for every subject, May 2017 to November 2025: CSV or JSON, CC BY 4.0.
How to read a boundary
The overall boundary is on a 100-mark scale built from the papers and the internal assessment, each weighted as the syllabus says. A student does not need the 7 on every paper: a strong paper carries a weaker one, and the component table on each subject page shows exactly how much.
The boundaries are set after marking. When a paper is harder than usual, the thresholds come down. So a low 7 in one session is not good news for the next one: it usually means that paper was hard.
Method
Rows marked with a document were read from the grade boundaries document the IB issues to Diploma coordinators after each session, from May 2024 to November 2025 TZ3. Most of those documents list every component; the most recent one on record lists the overall only.
Sessions for which I do not hold the document are shown as “reported”: overall boundaries only, taken from published compilations of the IB subject reports, to be checked line by line when the document is in hand. The IB does not publish these documents openly; they reach schools through IBIS. If you are a coordinator or a teacher and can share a session document, corrections and additions are welcome at pietro@pietromeloni.com.
Grade boundaries are facts published by the IB. The tables, the percentages and the commentary here are my own work and are not endorsed by the International Baccalaureate. Dataset: CSV or JSON, CC BY 4.0.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage do you need for a 7 in IB Maths AA HL?
+
In May 2026 TZ3 the overall 7 in Maths AA HL started at 72% of the scaled marks. Across the 21 sessions on record it has ranged from 63% (May 2021 TZ1) to 79% (November 2024).
What percentage do you need for a 7 in IB Physics HL?
+
In May 2026 TZ3 the overall 7 in Physics HL started at 72%. Over 30 sessions it has ranged from 61% to 74%. Physics changed syllabus in May 2025, so the paper structure before and after that session is different.
Why do IB grade boundaries change every session?
+
Because the IB sets them after marking, so that a 7 means the same standard whether the paper turned out harder or easier than usual. A harder paper gets lower boundaries. This is why the useful number is the range over several sessions, not a single year.
What are TZ1, TZ2 and TZ3?
+
Time zones. In May the IB sets different papers for different parts of the world, and each paper gets its own boundaries. TZ1 is broadly the Americas, TZ2 Europe, Africa and the Middle East, TZ3 Asia and Oceania. November sessions are usually a single timezone, though some subjects have run two since November 2024.
Where do these numbers come from?
+
From the grade boundaries document the IB sends to Diploma coordinators after each session, for May 2024 to November 2025 TZ3. Sessions without that document in hand are shown as reported, overall only, and are checked when the document arrives.