The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a highly respected educational program for high school students that emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and global-mindedness. The IB exams are taken by students all over the world, and their results are used by universities to evaluate students’ academic abilities. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IB exams were disrupted, leading to changes in the grading system and the setting of the IB grade boundaries. In this article, we will explore the IB grade boundaries for M2023 and how they are affected by the pandemic. We have provided IB grade boundary summaries of popular IB subjects in the article below, and we have alsoattached a pdfof grade boundaries for all IB subjects for M2019 and M2022.
Understanding IB Grade Boundaries
Before we dive into the changes in the IB grade boundaries for 2023, let’s first understand what they are. IB grade boundaries are the minimum marks required to achieve a certain grade on an IB exam. These boundaries are set by a group of examiners who carefully evaluate the exam papers and determine the difficulty level of the exam. The grade boundaries are adjusted every year based on the performance of the students and the difficulty level of the exam.
Changes in the IB Grading System due to COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the education system worldwide, and the IB program was no exception. The pandemic led to the closure of schools, cancellation of exams, and a shift to online learning. In response to these challenges, the IB program made some changes to the grading system to ensure that students were not unfairly disadvantaged. These changes included:
- Cancelation of exams: In 2020, the IB program canceled its exams due to the pandemic. Instead, students were awarded grades based on their IAs, predicted grades, and teacher recommendations.
- Adjustments to the grading system: To ensure that students were not disadvantaged by the cancellation of exams, the IB program adjusted its grading system. This adjustment included a shift in the grade boundaries to reflect the predicted performance of students.
- Introduction of an alternative assessment: In 2021, the IB program introduced an alternative assessment for students who were unable to take the exams due to the pandemic. This assessment was based on the IA students did and other evidence of student performance.
- Prior to May 2020, grade boundaries were published by the IB by component, in other words the IB published grade boundaries for each individual examination paper. During covid, exams were canceled and the IB only published grade boundaries for the overall score of each subject.
IB Grade Boundaries for 2023
With the disruption caused by the pandemic, many students and educators are wondering how the IB grade boundaries will be set for May 2023. Although it is still early to say for sure, May 2023 will be the first examination session since the full recovery of the covid-19 pandemic, and theIB has hintedthat the grade boundaries will be similar to that of May 2019. Assuming that the May 2023 grade boundaries will be similar to that of May 2019, we will compare the May 2019 grade boundaries to the May 2022 grade boundaries in the following section, and examine what students should expect for the May 2023 IB exams.
IB Grade Boundaries Overview of Popular Subjects
In this section, the term “May 2023 Grade Boundaries” or its synonyms should be drawn in parallel to May 2019 grade boundaries. It is important to note that as of now, there is no certainty regarding the specific grade boundaries that will be used for the May 2023 exams. However, based on the information provided by the IB, it is reasonable to assume that the May 2023 grade boundaries will be similar to those used in May 2019.
IB Math Analysis and Approaches
The May 2019 IB Maths syllabus is different to that of the current IB math syllabus. The math course closest to Math AA HL will be the old Maths HL with Calculus option, so a comparison between these 2 courses will be made. The math course closest to Maths analysis and approaches SL will be the old Maths SL, the comparison will be between these 2 math courses as well.
IB Math Analysis and Approaches HL
- May 2022 only requires students to get an overall of 65% for a 7 while May 2023 will need 75%. In general, the grade boundaries for May 2023 will be more difficult than that of May 2022.
- Paper 3 requires only a 68% to get a 7, meaning it will be the most difficult paper out of the 3.
- There is a 10% increase in grade requirements to achieve a 7 for May 2023. However, the grades for IB are scaled, meaning exams could be easier to ensure that a percentage of students can achieve a 7.
IB Math Analysis and Approaches SL
- Similar to the HL, M2023 boundaries will be 10% higher in general.
IB Math Applications and Interpretations
The May 2019 IB Maths syllabus is different to that of the current IB math syllabus. The math course closest to Math AI HL will be the old Maths HL with Statistic option, so a comparison between these 2 courses will be made. The math course closest to Maths applications and interpretations SL will be the old Maths studies, so the comparison will be between these 2 math courses as well.
IB Math Applications and Interpretations HL
IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL
IB Chemistry
IB Biology
- IB Biology SL is one of only 2 subjects in this list of popular IB subjects where the May 2023 exams are expected to have a more lenient boundary compared to the May 2022 exams.
IB Physics
IB English A Language and Literature
IB English A Literature
IB Business Management
- IB Biology SL is one of only 2 subjects in this list of popular IB subjects where the May 2023 exams are expected to have a more lenient boundary compared to the May 2022 exams.
IB Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
In general, the May 2023 IB exams are expected to have a more difficult boundary compared to the May 2022 exams. However it is important to remember that a more difficult boundary does not mean that the difficulty of the exams will higher as IB scales their marking. The IB has to ensure that a certain percentage of students achieve a specific grade, so a harder boundary could in fact suggest that the exams are easier, hence more students are getting higher raw scores.
How the IB Grade Boundaries Affect Students
The IB grade boundaries have a significant impact on students’ academic futures. The grades they receive determine their eligibility for admission to universities and colleges, scholarships, and other opportunities.
With the COVID-19 pandemic causing disruption to the education system, students may be facing additional challenges in achieving the grades they need. The changes in the grading system and the grade boundaries could potentially help to mitigate some of these challenges and ensure that students are not unfairly disadvantaged.
However, it’s important to note that the grade boundaries are not the only factor that determines a student’s academic success. Students should also focus on developing their critical thinking, creativity, and other skills that the IB program emphasizes. This will not only help them achieve better grades but also prepare them for success in their future academic and professional endeavors.
Conclusion
The IB grade boundaries for 2023 are still uncertain as the exams have not been done yet. However, the IB program has hinted that the grade boundaries for the upcoming exam will be similar to that of pre Covid times of May 2019. In general, the boundaries for May 2023 for a majority of subjects should be more strict than that of May 2022, and it is important to note that the boundaries are an indicator of the amount of students that achieve a specific grade, meaning the exams of 2023 could be slightly easier. The IB program remains a highly respected educational program that prepares students for success in their future academic and professional endeavors.
FAQ
What are IB grade boundaries?
IB grade boundaries are the minimum marks required to achieve a certain grade on an IB exam.
How are IB grade boundaries set?
IB grade boundaries are set by a group of examiners who carefully evaluate the exam papers and determine the difficulty level of the exam.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the IB grading system?
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the cancellation of exams and adjustments to the grading system to ensure that students are not unfairly disadvantaged.
Will there be any changes in the IB grade boundaries for 2023?
It’s uncertain at this point, but IB grade boundaries for May 2023 exams is likely to be similar to that of May 2019 exams.
How do IB grade boundaries affect students?
IB grade boundaries have a significant impact on students’ academic futures as they determine their eligibility for admission to universities and colleges, scholarships, and other opportunities.
