The dream of many IB students is to earn the coveted 45-point diploma. But what happens if you don’t do well on one exam? Let’s break down what this means for your final score and how the IB scoring system works.
How IB Scoring Works
- The IB Diploma is scored out of 45 points:
- 42 points come from your six subjects (each scored from 1 to 7).
- Up to 3 bonus points come from your combined Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and Extended Essay (EE) performance.
- To achieve 45 points, you need:
- 7 points in all six subjects (6 x 7 = 42)
- 3 bonus points from TOK and EE combined
Can One Messed-Up Exam Ruin 45 Points?
It depends on the impact of that exam:
- If you score less than 7 in one subject, your maximum subject total drops below 42, meaning you can’t achieve 45 even if you get full bonus points.
- However, “messing up” an exam doesn’t automatically mean you lose your 7. Internal assessments (IAs), oral components, and other parts of the subject grade can balance out a weak exam performance.
- If your overall grade for the subject stays at 7 after all components are considered, you can still achieve 45.
Example:
If you perform poorly on one paper in Math AA HL but score well on other papers and the IA, you might still earn a 7 overall.
What Happens If You Drop Below 7 in One Subject?
- Let’s say you get 7s in five subjects and a 6 in one subject.
- Your subject total = 41 points
- Add full bonus points (3) → 44 points total
In this case, a perfect 45 isn’t possible, but 44 is still an outstanding score.
Key Takeaways
- A perfect 45 requires 7 in all subjects plus 3 bonus points.
- One bad exam won’t necessarily ruin your chance at 45 — it depends on how the final subject grade is calculated.
- Even a 44 or 43 is an exceptional achievement recognized by top universities globally.
FAQ
Can one exam completely ruin my IB score?
Not usually. IB grades combine multiple components, so a poor exam paper can often be balanced by strong coursework, IAs, or other exams.
How much do I need to score for 45 points?
You need 7 points in every subject and 3 bonus points from TOK and EE.
Can I get 45 points if I get a 6 in one subject?
No. Even with full bonus points, the maximum would be 44.
Do universities care about 45 vs 44?
Most top universities value both scores highly. The difference rarely affects admissions.
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