IB Diploma HL Chemistry HL Grade Boundaries

IB Chemistry HL combines Paper 1 (multiple choice + data), Paper 2 (structured/extended response), and the Internal Assessment (24 marks). Your raw mark is the sum across all three components. Unlike other boards, the IB doesn't publish real mark thresholds anywhere public — they're released only to schools via the IBIS/My IB portal. The figures shown here are an unsourced estimate of the typical band each grade falls in, not taken from any official document; your IB Coordinator has the real numbers for your session.

Yes — your raw mark is the sum of your marks from all papers in the subject. For example, if Chemistry HL has two papers and you scored 65/100 on Paper 1 and 72/100 on Paper 2, your total raw mark is 137/200. Enter 137 in the tool to see your grade.

The Internal Assessment (or, for Economics, the IA portfolio of commentaries) typically contributes 20% of the final mark in IB Chemistry HL (30% at SL Economics). Your raw mark on the tool should be the combined total across written papers and the IA. The IA is moderated, not externally examined — your teacher's mark may be adjusted up or down by IB moderators.

This tool has grade boundary data for the following years: 2024, 2023, 2022. All data is from the May/June examination series, which is the main series for most students.

Grade boundaries are adjusted each year so that students who performed as well as an average student from a previous year receive the same grade, regardless of whether that year's paper was harder or easier. This process is called grade protection (Cambridge) or comparable outcomes (Ofqual). A harder paper will have lower boundaries; an easier paper will have higher ones.

If your mark is within 2–3 marks of the next grade boundary, it may be worth asking your school about an Enquiry About Results (EAR) or a clerical check. One mark can sometimes be the difference between grades. Note that mark reviews can result in grades going up, staying the same, or going down — discuss with your teacher before requesting one.

No — and unlike every other board on this tool, the IB doesn't publish real grade boundaries anywhere public at all. Definitive thresholds are released only to schools through the IBIS/My IB portal after each session. The figures shown here are an unsourced estimate of typical grade bands, not taken from any official document — treat them as a rough reference only; your IB Coordinator has the real numbers.

The terms are used interchangeably. A grade threshold (Cambridge terminology) or grade boundary (AQA/Edexcel terminology) is the minimum raw mark needed to achieve a particular grade in that examination series.