IB exams 2024 start in May and finish at the end of June. 

These represent the most recent examination schedules set by each IB examination boards. However, it is crucial to bear in mind that these dates could potentially be altered by exam boards. Therefore, students are advised to use these dates merely as a rough guide.

When are the IB Business Management exams in 2024?

When are the IB Psychology exams in 2024?

Students typically take their IB exams during their final year of high school, which is often referred to as Year 12, 12th grade, or Year 13 (UK), depending on the educational system. The exams are usually administered in May.

A student studies fewer subjects when taking the IB Diploma Programme as compared with GCSE. However, the IB Diploma is considered to be significantly harder than GCSE as it is academically more rigorous and comprehensive. The IB Diploma Programme offers a broader and more challenging curriculum designed to promote critical thinking, research skills, and international-mindedness. There are also several challenging components, such as the extended essay, coursework in every subject, and the requirement for all students to engage in service-related activities.

Harvard University, like many other prestigious universities, states that they do not explicitly prefer one curriculum over the other. They evaluate applicants based on various factors, including academic performance, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations. However, according to the UK Independent Schools Directory, IBDP students are 21% more likely to be accepted to universities like Harvard.

With around 170,000 students sitting the exams annually, the pass rate for the IB Diploma Programme is usually around 80%. During the Covid disrupted years, the pass rate rose to 88%. It's essential to note that the IB Diploma Programme emphasizes holistic education and provides various pathways for students to achieve success, even if they may not meet the requirements for the full diploma.

Do UK universities prefer IB or A levels?

UK universities generally accept both the IB Diploma Programme and A levels for admission. However, according to the UK Independent Schools Directory, IBDP students are 57% more likely to be accepted to Russell Group universities.

Both qualifications are rigorous and respected internationally. The IB Diploma Programme is generally considered to be harder due to the number of subjects studied and the amount of project work required for each subject. IBDP students take six subjects (three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level), whereas A-level students usually take three. IBDP students undertake studies in language and literature; language acquisition; individuals and societies; sciences; mathematics; and the arts. They have to take at least one Maths, one Science, and one language. This approach offers a broader and more holistic curriculum. A levels allow students to specialize in specific subjects. Some students may find the IB Diploma Programme more challenging due to its breadth and the requirement to complete a range of assessments, including coursework, exams, and the extended essay. However, others may thrive in the IB's interdisciplinary approach and emphasis on critical thinking and research skills.

IB Exam Dates 2024

To those of you who have made it through the IB, congratulations! You've completed two very tough years of work. Here is some information about IB results day and what to do once you receive your results.

Results will be officially out on the 5th of July 2024, but they'll become accessible to you online on the next day, the 6th of July 2024. It is up to your school whether they opt to distribute the results in print before making them available online.

To view your IB results, you need to log in directly on the 

You'll need your personal identifier and your PIN to log in, which should have been given to you by your IB Coordinator at the start of the year. If you think you may have misplaced this, talk to your IB Coordinator or school and they should be able to give these to you again.

Typically, your results will become available between 12pm and 2pm, but this depends on your timezone. Don't worry if your results don't show up immediately.

The IB (International Baccalaureate) grading system explained

For the 2022 exams, grade boundaries were adjusted slightly to reflect the disruption caused by covid-19. May 2023 will be the first exam session since the full recovery of the covid-19 pandemic which is most likely to be similar to that of pre-covid in May 2019.

Grade boundaries for all subjects are published annually by the IB in subject reports, after the exams have taken place and once grades have been released. Examiners evaluate the exam papers and determine the difficulty of the exam. Depending on the subject, grade boundaries may remain consistent over time, or change year on year, with grade boundaries being different for each subject and for each level within. 

Your final diploma result score is made up of the combined scores for each subject using the appropriate weightings. The diploma is awarded to those who gain at least 24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance including successful completion of the three essential elements of the DP core. 

Overall grade boundaries are applied to give an overall achievement grade on the 1 (lowest) to 7(highest) scale (A-E for Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay).

What to do if you don’t get the grades you wanted? 

Not everyone will get the results they had hoped for, however, there are always options – so don't panic. 

Your university offer may be conditional upon your IB results. If you didn’t get the grades you wanted and would still like to go to your first-choice university, it is possible to take a year out and 

 It is important to note, however, that the deadline for registering for this session is soon - the 28th July, and this does cost money. You may also re-take exams in the following May provided you have not already been registered for three exam sessions.

If you were close to the upper boundary for a particular subject, 

 We recommend not to apply for a remark if you were nearer the lower boundary, as marks can also go down. It is important you apply straight away so that it is likely that the outcome of the re-mark will be published before A Level results are released. If your grade goes up, you will get your money back. It is also important you let your university know you are doing this. If you only very slightly miss the grade for your university, you will have to wait until A Level results day on August 13 before you find out whether the university has rejected or accepted your offer. Your IB coordinator will be the person who can apply for the remark from 5th July until 15th September, so let them know as soon as possible. The results will be sent to the IBDP Coordinator who will pass them on to you.

If you don’t get the grades you need for your original university or didn’t get any conditional offers, 

clearing gives you the chance to get a place on another course

 at either the same or a different university. You can also apply for a university place directly through clearing, even if you haven't already made an application this year or if you get higher grades than expected and want to find a place of a ‘better’ course. You can apply for a place through cleaning until 17th October, provided you are not already holding an offer from a university or college, and the course you're applying to still has space. If you decide that you don’t want to take your firm offer choice, you will need to ask the university to withdraw the offer in order to enable you to go through clearing.

there are also options other than university,

 which may be right for you. Exam results are not the be all and end all! You can still have a successful future. Keep an eye out for a blog post on options other than university coming soon.

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