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IB Physics Exam Statistics

Latest data: May 2026Provisional

In May 2026, 19,035 students took IB Physics at HL and 14,461 at SL, with mean grades of 5.0 and 4.3. The grade 7 rate was 20.5% at HL and 11.1% at SL.

Compared with May 2025, the mean grade was up from 4.9 at HL and up from 4.2 at SL, and the grade 7 rate was up from 19.2% at HL and up from 10.3% at SL.

Higher Level (HL), May 2026

Students
19,035
May 2025: 17,984
Mean grade
5.0
May 2025: 4.9
Grade 7 rate
20.5%
May 2025: 19.2%
Grade 6 or 7 rate
39.4%
May 2025: 37.1%

Standard Level (SL), May 2026

Students
14,461
May 2025: 14,442
Mean grade
4.3
May 2025: 4.2
Grade 7 rate
11.1%
May 2025: 10.3%
Grade 6 or 7 rate
23.6%
May 2025: 22.1%

Average Physics grade over time

The mean grade at HL and SL in every May session since May 2022. The average IB Physics grade page adds November sessions and how much the mean changed each year.

Mean grade in IB Physics at HL and SL, May sessions.
IB Physics mean grade in May sessions, newest first
SessionHLSL
May 2026provisional5.04.3
May 20254.94.2
May 20244.94.2
May 20234.814.21
May 20225.094.64
  • The IB states that these results combine examination and non-examination assessment routes, which were used during the COVID-19 disruption. (May 2022)

Physics grade 7 rate over time

The share of students awarded a 7 at HL and SL in every May session since May 2022. For every session, and how the rate compares with other subjects, see what percentage of students get a 7 in IB Physics.

Share of IB Physics students awarded a 7 at HL and SL, May sessions.
IB Physics grade 7 rate in May sessions, newest first
SessionHLSL
May 2026provisional20.5%11.1%
May 202519.2%10.3%
May 202419.6%10.5%
May 202316.6%9.1%
May 202220.2%12.9%
  • These bulletins print no N (no grade) column, so grades 1-7 are shares of the students who received a grade, and N is shown as —. (May 2022, May 2023)
  • These bulletins include N (no grade) in the total, so grades 1-7 add up to less than 100% and are measured on a slightly different basis from sessions without an N column. (May 2024, May 2025, May 2026)
  • The IB states that these results combine examination and non-examination assessment routes, which were used during the COVID-19 disruption. (May 2022)
  • Grade cells the bulletin leaves blank are shown as 0.0%. (May 2022, May 2023, May 2024, May 2025)

Physics grade distribution in May 2026

The share of students at each grade at HL and SL. The IB Physics grade distribution page has every session since November 2021.

Share of IB Physics students at each grade at HL and SL, May 2026.
IB Physics grade distribution, May 2026
Level1234567N6 or 7Mean gradeStudents
HL0.34.414.819.520.518.920.51.139.45.019,035
SL1.57.124.722.119.012.511.11.923.64.314,461

Percentage of students at each grade, as published. The grade 6 or 7 rate is the two shares added.

Historical Physics results

Results at HL and SL for every session since November 2021, newest first, with November sessions alongside May. The chart shows how many students took Physics in each May session.

Students taking IB Physics at HL and SL, May sessions.
IB Physics results by session, newest first
Session and levelStudentsMean gradeGrade 7 rateGrade 6 or 7 rate
May 2026 HLprovisional19,0355.020.5%39.4%
May 2026 SLprovisional14,4614.311.1%23.6%
November 2025 HL2,3545.024.8%42.2%
November 2025 SL2,3274.09.4%18.0%
May 2025 HL17,9844.919.2%37.1%
May 2025 SL14,4424.210.3%22.1%
November 2024 HL2,2135.027.1%44.8%
November 2024 SL2,0903.78.9%18.7%
May 2024 HL16,4704.919.6%36.3%
May 2024 SL13,4984.210.5%23.5%
November 2023 HL1,7485.127.6%45.9%
November 2023 SL1,9573.811.1%21.2%
May 2023 HL15,0304.8116.6%35.2%
May 2023 SL12,8884.219.1%21.7%
November 2022 HL1,6225.4434.7%55.9%
November 2022 SL1,9223.9913.7%22.6%
May 2022 HL14,4655.0920.2%41.6%
May 2022 SL12,9814.6412.9%28.7%
November 2021 HL1,4925.5938.9%57.9%
November 2021 SL2,0564.4615.5%25.4%

Grade 7 rate: the share of students awarded a 7, as published. Grade 6 or 7 rate: the published shares for grades 6 and 7 added.

  • These bulletins print no N (no grade) column, so grades 1-7 are shares of the students who received a grade, and N is shown as —. (November 2021, May 2022, November 2022, May 2023)
  • These bulletins include N (no grade) in the total, so grades 1-7 add up to less than 100% and are measured on a slightly different basis from sessions without an N column. (November 2023, May 2024, November 2024, May 2025, November 2025, May 2026)
  • Grade cells the bulletin leaves blank are shown as 0.0%. (November 2021, May 2022, November 2022, May 2023, May 2024, May 2025)
  • The IB states that these results combine examination and non-examination assessment routes, which were used during the COVID-19 disruption. (May 2022)

More Physics statistics

Compare with other subjects

Source and methodology

These statistics are from the International Baccalaureate's statistical bulletins. The latest data shown is from the May 2026 assessment session.

About this data

  • May and November are separate assessment sessions. November is much smaller and mostly taken by schools in the southern hemisphere, so its figures aren't directly comparable with May's.
  • The May 2026 figures are from the IB's provisional bulletin and may change when the final bulletin is published.
  • Older bulletins call the people sitting the exams “candidates” and newer ones “students”. This site says “students” throughout.
  • “<10” means the IB didn't publish the exact number because fewer than 10 students took the subject. These figures are never estimated or counted as zero.
  • The grade 7 rate is the share of students the bulletin reports at grade 7. The grade 6 or 7 rate is calculated by IBonomics by adding the published shares for grades 6 and 7. Every other figure is as published.
  • From November 2023 the bulletins include students who received no grade (N) in each subject's percentages, so grades 1 to 7 add up to slightly less than 100%. Earlier bulletins give percentages of graded students only.
  • Bulletins up to May 2023 print figures to two decimal places and later ones to one. Each figure is shown as printed, and changes are compared at the lower precision.

IBonomics is not affiliated with or endorsed by the International Baccalaureate.