Introduction
IB Philosophy SL introduces students to major philosophical questions and theories, focusing on critical thinking, argumentation, and ethical reasoning. To succeed, students must not only know philosophical content but also demonstrate analysis and evaluation skills in written work.
A key resource for preparation is the IB grade boundaries. These tell you exactly how many marks are required for each grade (1–7) across assessments. Below are the official IB Philosophy SL grade boundaries for 2025 (Timezone 0).
Quick Start Checklist for Philosophy SL
- Learn essay structures: thesis → support → counterargument → conclusion
- Review key philosophers and their core arguments
- Focus on analysis and evaluation—higher marks demand critical depth
- Use grade boundaries to track progress and set realistic goals
IB Philosophy SL 2025 Grade Boundaries
Internal Assessment (out of 25)
- Grade 7: 22–25
- Grade 6: 19–21
- Grade 5: 16–18
- Grade 4: 12–15
- Grade 3: 8–11
- Grade 2: 4–7
- Grade 1: 0–3
Paper One (out of 50)
- Grade 7: 39–50
- Grade 6: 30–38
- Grade 5: 22–29
- Grade 4: 13–21
- Grade 3: 9–12
