How 45 points are put together
Six subjects — three or four at Higher Level, the rest at Standard Level — are each graded 1–7, for up to 42 points. The final 3 come from the diploma core: your Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay letter grades meet in the official matrix below, and CAS must be completed but earns nothing. The default entries above (6,5,6 HL / 5,6,5 SL with B/B core) give 33 + 2 = 35 points — a total only about three in ten candidates reached in May 2025.
The TOK × EE bonus matrix
| TOK ↓ / EE → | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | Fail |
| B | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | Fail |
| C | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Fail |
| D | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Fail |
| E | Fail | Fail | Fail | Fail | Fail |
Read the E row and column carefully: since 2015, an E in either component fails the diploma outright, no matter how strong your subjects are — the old rule allowing 28+ points to rescue a single E is gone, though outdated articles still describe it. The matrix rewards the core disproportionately at the top: moving TOK from C to B with an A essay buys nothing, but B+A combinations reach the full 3 points.
The failing conditions, in full
Passing is 24 points plus a clean sheet: CAS complete; no N (unfinished) grades; no E in TOK or EE; no subject at grade 1; at most two grade 2s; at most three grades of 3 or below; at least 12 points across your HL subjects (best three count if you take four); and at least 9 across SL (5 if you take four HLs and only two SLs). Most calculators stop at the total — this one names each condition you'd trip, because a 26-point diploma with three 2s fails while a 24-point one with a clean profile passes. That's exactly the distinction results-day appeals turn on.
Where a total sits worldwide
| Total | Share of May 2025 candidates |
|---|---|
| 40–45 | 9.8% |
| 35–39 | 20.4% |
| 30–34 | 27.6% |
| 24–29 | 27.7% |
| Below 24 | 14.5% |
The May 2025 session averaged 30.58 points with a pass rate of about 82%. UK applicants can turn subject grades directly into tariff currency with theUCAS points calculator (an HL 7 carries the same 56 points as an A* at A level); US-bound students should report the /45 total and let colleges recalculate — our GPA calculator shows the scale they'll map you onto.
Frequently asked questions
How is the IB Diploma score out of 45 calculated?
Six subjects graded 1–7 give up to 42 points, and up to 3 bonus points come from the Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay grades combined through the official core matrix (A+A or A+B earns all 3). CAS must be completed but carries no points.
What do I need to pass the IB Diploma?
At least 24 points and no failing condition: CAS complete, no N grades, no E in TOK or the EE, no subject at grade 1, at most two grade 2s, at most three grades of 3 or below, and minimum totals of 12 across your HL subjects and 9 across SL. An E in TOK or EE fails the diploma outright regardless of points — the old 28-point exemption was abolished in 2015.
Is 38 a good IB score?
Yes — in the May 2025 session only about 30% of candidates scored 35 or above, and roughly one in ten reached the 40–45 band, so a 38 sits comfortably in the top quarter worldwide. The global mean total was 30.58, with a pass rate of about 82%.
How does an IB score convert to GPA?
There's no official conversion — US colleges recalculate from your transcript. As a rough, unofficial rule of thumb, subject grades of 6–7 read like A/A+ work (≈4.0), 5 like B+/A− (≈3.3–3.7), 4 like B (≈3.0), and 3 like C-range. State the 45-point total on applications and let each college do its own math.