
IB Assessment
IB assessment is an integral part of the International Baccalaureate journey, designed to measure students’ knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities. Our approach ensures that students are well-prepared, confident, and equipped to meet the rigorous standards of the programme. By fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment, we help students achieve their best outcomes in all aspects of their IB assessments.
The IB uses both external and internal assessment in the DP to determine the final score of each student.
External Assessment
Final examinations form the basis of assessment for most courses, contributing approximately 80% of the final grade due to their high levels of objectivity and reliability. These exams are only held at the end of the two-year programme and may include:
- Essays
- Structured problems
- Short-response questions
- Data-response questions
- Extended text-response questions
- Case-study questions
- Multiple-choice questions (though these are rarely used)
Internal Assessment (IA)
Teacher assessments are utilised for most courses and contribute around 20% of the final grade. Internal IB assessments are primarily conducted during the second year and are marked by the teacher, with external moderation by the IB to ensure objectivity and reliability. Most subjects include an IA component, which may consist of:
- Oral work in languages
- Fieldwork in geography
- Laboratory work in the sciences (including the Group 4 project)
- Explorations in mathematics
- Artistic performances
how the student and the work are assessed
DP assessment measures the extent to which students have mastered advanced academic skills, including:
- Analysing and presenting information
- Evaluating and constructing arguments
- Creatively solving problems
Basic skills are also assessed, such as:
- Retaining knowledge
- Understanding key concepts
- Applying standard methods
In addition to academic skills, DP assessment aims to evaluate personal competencies and encourages an international outlook and intercultural skills whenever applicable.
Student results are determined by performance against established standards, rather than by each student’s position in the overall rank order.
Students take exams in 3 SL and 3 HL subjects.
Requirements to Obtain the IB Diploma
To achieve the IB Diploma, students must complete a prescribed set of subjects. The overall diploma score is determined by a points system with a maximum of 45 points. Core subjects—Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and the Extended Essay (EE)—contribute up to three points through a points matrix. Most subjects are available at Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL) and equally contribute to the final diploma outcome.
IB Assessments play a critical role in evaluating students’ performance in these subjects and core components.
Diploma Requirements
DP candidates must study six subjects alongside the three core components: EE, TOK, and CAS. They must accumulate at least 24 points from these assessments and meet the following conditions:
- Fulfil all additional requirements.
- Complete all requirements within a maximum of three examination sessions.
- Candidates who successfully meet these criteria will be awarded the diploma.
The IB diploma is based on performance across all parts of the DP. Each subject is graded from 1 to 7, with 7 being the highest. These grades translate into points for the diploma calculation. TOK and the EE are graded on a scale from A to E, with A being the highest. The combined grades contribute between 0 and 3 points to the total score.
CAS is not graded but must be completed to pass the diploma. Thus, the overall maximum score from subject grades, TOK, and the EE is 45 (6 × 7 + 3). The minimum threshold for the diploma is 24 points; candidates scoring below this will not receive the diploma.
Additional Requirements
Several additional criteria must also be met for the diploma award:
- CAS requirements must be fulfilled.
- No “N” grade may be awarded for TOK, the EE, or any contributing subject.
- A grade of E cannot be awarded for TOK and/or the EE.
- A grade of 1 must not be awarded in any subject.
- No more than two grades of 2 may be awarded (SL or HL).
- No more than three grades of 3 or below may be awarded (SL or HL).
- Candidates must earn 12 points or more in HL subjects. (For those taking four HL subjects, only the three highest grades count.)
- Candidates must earn 9 points or more in SL subjects. (Those taking two SL subjects must achieve at least 5 points at SL.)
- Candidates must not receive a penalty for academic misconduct from the final award committee.
IB and University Entry
Many universities base their offers on students’ predicted grades, which are provided by the IB to Australian institutions. Each university has specific conditions and requirements related to these predicted grades. There is a noticeable trend in universities recognising the value of an IB education, regardless of ATAR scores.
In Australia, the Australasian Conference of Tertiary Admissions Centres (ACTAC) calculates an ATAR equivalent for IB Diploma students. Additionally, many universities offer bonus points on top of these ATAR equivalents, often resulting in a favourable conversion for IB students, even considering recent changes.
For more information on the conversion from IB to ATAR, please refer to the ACTAC guidelines: IB and University Entrance.
Recognition of the IB in Australian Universities
*Tables are indicative and are reworked every year
At MMC we are committed to helping every student succeed in their IB assessments. Learn more about our tailored support and how we prepare students for academic and personal success and contact us today.