If you are looking for clear information on IB DP Physics grade boundaries, this guide covers the paper structure for both Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL), the way the IB sets boundaries for the 1–7 scale, recent threshold patterns, and the most-asked question for any IB Physics candidate: what raw mark do I need for a 7 in IB Physics?

The International Baccalaureate sets official grade boundaries for every subject after each examination session (May or November). Boundaries are visible to schools through the IB Coordinator portal and are referenced in Subject Reports. Below we summarise how IB DP Physics is graded, what boundaries usually look like, and how to use them while you revise.

Free tool: Enter your raw mark in Tutopiya’s IB DP Physics grade boundary tracker (HL) or Physics SL tracker to instantly see the most likely IB grade based on recent-session boundary patterns. Pair it with the IB DP Physics revision checklist to target your revision.

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How IB DP Physics grade boundaries work

A grade boundary is the minimum total raw mark required to be awarded a particular grade. For IB DP Physics, grades range from 1 to 7, with 7 the highest and anything below 1 ungraded.

Three points to remember:

1. Boundaries are set after marking. The IB looks at the difficulty of the actual papers sat and the cohort’s performance, then sets thresholds so that a candidate who performed as well as a comparable candidate from a previous session receives the same grade.
2. Boundaries change every session. A May 2025 grade 7 boundary is not the same as a November 2024 grade 7 boundary. They cluster within a band, but the exact mark moves up or down each session.
3. Boundaries are total marks, not percentages. The IB publishes them as raw marks out of the total available across all assessment components.

IB Physics has historically had lower percentage boundaries than Biology or Chemistry — grade 7 boundaries in the high 60s to low 70s of percent are common for Physics, where Biology and Chemistry typically sit higher.

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IB DP Physics paper structure (HL and SL)

IB DP Physics is assessed across written papers and the Internal Assessment (IA), with the structure following the syllabus first examined in May 2025.

Higher Level (HL):

Component	Description	Approx. Weight
Paper 1	Multiple choice + data-based questions	36%
Paper 2	Structured and extended-response questions	44%
Internal Assessment	Individual investigation report	20%

Standard Level (SL):

Component	Description	Approx. Weight
Paper 1	Multiple choice + data-based questions	36%
Paper 2	Structured questions	44%
Internal Assessment	Individual investigation report	20%

The IB combines your raw marks across all three components into a total subject mark, which is mapped to a grade 1–7 using the boundaries set for that session.

For full details, refer to the IB Physics subject brief and your school’s IB Coordinator.

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What raw mark do I need for a 7 in IB DP Physics?

Across recent sessions, the grade 7 boundary for IB DP Physics HL has typically required somewhere in the 66–80% range of total marks — making it one of the more accessible grade 7 thresholds among the IB sciences. The exact figure shifts each session.

Representative bands across recent IB Physics HL sessions:

• Grade 7 has commonly required around 70–78% of total marks.
• Grade 6 has commonly required around 58–66%.
• Grade 5 has commonly required around 46–54%.
• Grade 4 has commonly required around 34–42%.
• Grade 3 has commonly required around 22–30%.

SL boundaries follow a similar percentage pattern. Two caveats apply:

1. These bands are typical, not predictions. A particular session might sit a few marks above or below.
2. The IB publishes thresholds as raw marks, not percentages. Always work from the published raw-mark threshold.

For confirmed boundaries, ask your IB Coordinator for access to the official session boundary table.

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Why IB DP Physics boundaries are typically lower than Chemistry or Biology

Two structural reasons:

• Mathematical density. Physics papers contain longer multi-step calculations than Chemistry or Biology. Compounded errors mean fewer candidates achieve top marks, and the IB sets boundaries lower to maintain comparable grade 7 cohort sizes.
• Demanding HL extension topics. HL options on quantum and nuclear physics, fields, and electromagnetic induction historically attract lower mean marks than equivalent HL extension topics in Chemistry or Biology.

This is why the IB does not publish boundaries before the session — they are set against the cohort’s actual performance.

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How to use IB DP Physics boundaries while you revise

Grade boundaries are most useful before results day. Three practical applications:

1. Convert past-paper marks into a target grade

When you sit a past Paper 2 under timed conditions and score 50/90, that number alone tells you little. Cross-reference with the published boundary for that session and you immediately know whether you are tracking at grade 5, 6 or 7. Add an estimated IA mark to your written-paper total before checking the boundary. The Tutopiya IB Physics grade boundary tracker does this conversion automatically when you enter your combined raw mark.

2. Identify the gap to your next grade

If you are scoring 60% on combined past papers and the historical grade 7 boundary is 72%, you know you need to pick up around twelve percentage points to be on the 7 border. Combine the gap with the IB DP Physics revision checklist to choose where those marks come from — typically capacitors, fields, simple harmonic motion, quantum physics or experimental error analysis.

3. Sanity-check your predicted grade

Schools issue predicted grades for university applications. If your predicted grade looks higher or lower than the boundary maths suggests, raise it with your teacher early.

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How the Internal Assessment affects your IB Physics grade boundary

The Internal Assessment carries 20% of the final mark and is your single biggest opportunity to bank marks before exams begin. Three implications:

• A strong IA (high teens out of 24) lifts your total raw mark before you sit Paper 1 or Paper 2 — you can effectively “carry” marks into the exam.
• A weak IA forces your written papers to do more work, raising the threshold you need to clear on each.
• The IA is moderated, not externally examined — meaning your teacher’s mark may be adjusted up or down by IB moderators.

For Physics IA topic ideas and structuring guidance, see our IB IA topic ideas by subject guide.

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IB Physics grade boundaries: where to find the official numbers

The IB does not publish a single public boundary PDF the way Cambridge does. Four reliable routes:

1. Your IB Coordinator’s portal — official boundaries are visible to coordinators after each session.
2. Subject Reports — the IB publishes detailed Subject Reports after each session.
3. Your teacher — experienced IB Physics teachers track session-by-session boundaries.
4. Tutopiya’s IB Physics HL grade boundary tracker and SL tracker — reference patterns from recent May sessions for quick raw-mark conversion.

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Common mistakes students make with IB Physics grade boundaries

• Comparing Physics to Biology percentages. Physics typically has lower grade 7 thresholds — a 75% on Physics may be a clear 7, where the same percentage on Biology may only be a 6.
• Not including the IA mark. Calculating a boundary based on Paper 1 + Paper 2 alone without adding an IA estimate gives an inflated percentage.
• Mixing HL and SL boundaries. HL and SL have separate thresholds.
• Forgetting the boundary is set per-session. May and November of the same year have separate thresholds.

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IB DP Physics revision: from threshold to grade

Published boundaries tell you the destination. The route is the same set of evidence-based revision habits:

• Past-paper Paper 2 timing practice. Sit full Paper 2s under timed conditions, marked against the official mark scheme. Use the past paper exam timer to enforce timing.
• Topic-by-topic confidence rating. Use the IB DP Physics revision checklist to mark confidence across every syllabus topic.
• Mathematical fluency. Physics rewards arithmetic accuracy. Practice full calculations rather than checking method only — examiners deduct marks for arithmetic errors even when method is correct.
• Data booklet and formula awareness. The IB supplies a data booklet — know which equations are given and which you must derive. Spending revision time memorising a formula already supplied is wasted time.
• Command-term precision. The IB rewards exact wording — state, describe, explain, deduce, show, evaluate. Drill the IB command terms.

For broader IB Physics preparation, see our IB DP Physics common mistakes guide.

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Frequently asked questions

What are IB DP Physics grade boundaries?

Grade boundaries are the minimum total raw marks required for each grade (1 to 7) in IB DP Physics. The IB publishes thresholds after each session through coordinator portals and Subject Reports.

What raw mark do I need for a 7 in IB Physics HL?

The grade 7 boundary has typically required around 70–78% of total marks across recent sessions, but the exact figure changes every session. Physics boundaries are typically lower than Biology or Chemistry. Use the Tutopiya IB Physics HL grade boundary tracker to enter your raw mark and see the most likely grade band, or ask your IB Coordinator for the official boundary table.

Are May 2026 IB Physics grade boundaries published yet?

No — the IB publishes grade boundaries on or shortly after results day (typically early July for the May session). Until then, use the most recent published session as a reference band.

Where can I find the official IB DP grade boundaries?

IB grade boundaries are released to schools through the IB Coordinator portal. They are also discussed in the Subject Report the IB publishes after each session.

Do HL and SL Physics have separate grade boundaries?

Yes. HL and SL are distinct qualifications with separate paper structures, separate mark totals and separate boundary tables.

Does the Internal Assessment count toward the grade boundary?

Yes — the IA contributes 20% of the final mark in IB Physics. Boundaries are applied to the combined total mark across Paper 1, Paper 2 and the IA.

Why are IB Physics boundaries lower than Biology or Chemistry?

Physics papers have higher mathematical density and demanding HL extension topics that historically attract lower mean marks. The IB sets boundaries lower to maintain comparable grade 7 cohort sizes.

Is the IB grade 7 boundary the same as an A* in Cambridge or Edexcel A Level Physics?

Not exactly. Grade 7 in IB and A* in A Level are broadly comparable in terms of university recognition, but the qualifications use different scales, paper structures and assessment models.

What happens if I miss the grade 7 boundary by one mark?

The IB does not round up. A candidate one mark below the grade 7 threshold is awarded grade 6. Enquiries upon results can be requested through your IB Coordinator.

How does my Physics grade contribute to my total IB points?

Each of your six IB subjects is graded 1–7, contributing up to 42 points. The TOK and Extended Essay matrix adds up to 3 bonus points, for a maximum of 45 points. A grade 7 in HL Physics contributes 7 points to your total.

Does the new (first-exams 2025) IB Physics syllabus have different grade boundaries?

Yes — the new syllabus has a different paper structure (two papers + IA) compared with the legacy three-paper structure. The IB resets boundary expectations for new syllabi based on the first cohorts to sit them.

Does the data booklet affect grade boundaries?

The supplied data booklet does not directly affect boundaries. However, candidates who use the data booklet efficiently typically gain a few marks per paper, which over a session-total moves them up a grade band.

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Last reviewed: 29 April 2026. IB grade boundaries are released after each session through the IB Coordinator portal and Subject Reports. Always verify current boundaries with your school’s IB Coordinator.

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