How to Raise Your IB Score: A Strategy for 45
"Try hard at everything" and you'll always run out of time in the IB. Understand the structure of the 45 points, then work on the biggest gains first.
The IB Diploma is scored out of 45 points. Most students run out of time by trying to push every subject equally. The key to gaining marks efficiently is to understand the structure of the 45 and start with the biggest gains.
What makes up the 45
| Component | Points |
|---|---|
| Six subjects (7 each) | 42 |
| Core (TOK essay + EE combined) | up to 3 |
| Total | 45 |
So your score is "6 subjects × 7" plus "3 core points." The core is easy to underrate, but it's decided by the TOK + EE combination, and an E grade affects your completion requirements.
A common myth: "the core is a bonus extra." In reality it's 3 of the 45 — and for students aiming around 35, it decides outcomes.
Make grade boundaries work for you
Each subject has grade boundaries — the cut-offs for a 7/6/5… Two things matter:
- You often reach a 7 without full marks (boundaries shift each session).
- Knowing how many marks to the next grade reveals the return on your effort.
The "last few marks to turn a 6 into a 7" are usually harder to get than the few marks to turn a 3 into a 4. Lifting your weakest subject is often the more efficient route to a higher total.
Work in order of biggest gains
The fastest priority order for marks:
- Internal Assessments (IA) — reliable if you invest time. Start early, working back from deadlines, and follow a step-by-step approach to securing IA marks.
- Core (TOK, EE) — worth 3 points. Kill the E-grade risk first.
- Lifting weak subjects — 4→5 and 5→6 are easier than 6→7.
- Topping up strong subjects — the last few marks; lower return.
Don't underrate predicted grades
University applications carry your predicted grades, which feed directly into offers and conditions. Predictions come from your IAs and everyday work, so being steady from early on becomes your application strength. "I'll catch up in the finals" is too late for predictions.
A backward-planned schedule
- DP1: Leave no gaps in the fundamentals. Lock IA topics early.
- Late DP1 – early DP2: First drafts of IAs and the EE. Remove core E-grade risk.
- Early DP2: Past papers with grade boundaries in mind. Run a mistakes log.
- Just before DP2 exams: Focus on lifting weak subjects, maintain strong ones, and pull it together with last-minute exam revision.
In the IB, results turn less on "total effort" and more on where you place that effort. When you can't see where your biggest gains are, having a tutor who's done the IB map out your current position and next move makes the use of your remaining time suddenly clear.
