IB Predicted Grades Explained: A Comprehensive Guide for Students and Guardians on Prediction Methodology
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme offers predicted grades to students, which are based on their performance throughout the course and submitted to universities as part of the application process. These grades are essential for university applications, scholarship decisions, and providing academic feedback for students and families.
Predicted grades are not binding for teachers and can be revised until officially submitted. They are derived from ongoing academic work, including internal assessments, mock exams, and other criterion-referenced rubrics established by the IB Diploma Programme. The school combines these data points to generate the predicted grade.
Schools typically report predicted grades on an official form completed by the IB Coordinator and submit this between early March and late April (March 1 - April 30), in the exam year prior to final results release (usually July). This timeline aligns with university admission cycles.
Universities consider predicted grades as a reliable indicator of final performance. They can offer conditional admissions based on these predicted grades and may remove conditions early if predicted grades meet admission criteria. Once official final IB results are released (usually in July), students must submit their official transcripts by early August. Many universities then confirm or revise offers based on actual final scores.
It's important to note that predicted grades combine evidence from traditional school grading systems and IB-specific standards, with formative assessments (quizzes, assignments) usually having less weight and summative assessments (final projects, IB internal assessments) weighted more heavily.
Some digital tools and AI systems, such as RevisionDojo, support students and schools by estimating internal assessments, Extended Essay, and Theory of Knowledge (TOK) grades based on performance feedback aligned closely with IB rubrics. However, these are supplementary and not official predicted grades submitted to universities.
Universities often use the higher of either the IB predicted/final grades or relevant national secondary school grades for admissions and credit transfer decisions.
Predicted grades serve as a motivational checkpoint for many students, encouraging them to push harder to meet or exceed expectations. However, it's crucial for students to remember that these grades are not the sole determinant of final IB scores, as they are solely based on external assessments and IA moderation.
In conclusion, predicted IB grades are school-generated forecasts submitted in early spring to universities to facilitate conditional admissions. These grades are grounded in a combination of ongoing assessments, weighted towards summative work aligned with IB criteria, and universities leverage these predictions as part of their offers pending final official IB exam results. Once submitted to universities, predicted grades typically cannot be modified except under rare circumstances like administrative errors.
Students can use mock exams and other learning opportunities during the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme to enhance their understanding and performance, as these assessments contribute to predicted grades. These grades play a significant role in education-and-self-development activities, including university applications and scholarship decisions.
Universities consider the predicted grades as a valuable indicator of a student's potential performance in IB exams, using them to offer conditional admissions and make credit transfer decisions. However, it's essential for students to remember that predicted grades primarily reflect a student's work and progress throughout the IB Diploma Programme, and the actual final scores may vary.
