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Your final IB grade, that all-important 1 to 7, isn't read straight off your raw marks. Your paper and IA marks are weighted into a total out of 100, and the IB sets grade boundaries that turn that total into your grade. And these boundaries change every session, depending on how difficult the papers were and the quality of work examiners saw.
This post pulls data from the official IB Mathematics AA grade boundary documents, covering every May session from 2021 to 2026 and every November session from 2021 to 2025.
Your final IB grade is based on a weighted total out of 100 marks:
Paper 1: 30% (110 marks) + Paper 2: 30% (110 marks) + Paper 3: 20% (55 marks) + Internal Assessment: 20% (20 marks)
Paper 1: 40% (80 marks) + Paper 2: 40% (80 marks) + Internal Assessment: 20% (20 marks)
Your weighted total out of 100 is then compared against the Overall grade boundary. A score of 70 out of 100 might be a 7 in May 2023 but a 6 in another session. The boundary moves because the cohort changes.
| Component | Grade 7 | Grade 6 | Grade 5 | Grade 4 | Grade 3 | Grade 2 |
|---|
May and November grade boundaries for your timezone, tracking how they change year by year.
Grade:
Use this to figure out your target. Pick your level, target grade, and expected IA mark. The calculator tells you what weighted percentage you need on the papers—then converts it to raw marks per paper.
✓ Based on past boundaries. Future sessions will differ.
Grade boundaries are a guide, not a target. They're set after each exam, based on how difficult the papers were and the quality of work examiners saw, so you can't predict them in advance. Aim above the boundary. If a grade 7 typically sits around 70%, target 75–80% to give yourself a buffer for exam-day nerves or a tougher paper.
Use the AI tutor on askhanyong.com to work through past papers and refine your technique.
Source: International Baccalaureate Organization grade boundary documents, 2021 – 2026.