Book a consultation
IB Diploma Programme · Higher Level · Every session on record

IB Physics HL Grade Boundaries

Every official grade boundary on record for Physics at Higher Level — overall and component by component, straight from the IB's own grade boundary documents.

17 sessions 2018–2026 Grade 7: 61%–74% Free · no signup

Compiled by Evangelos Kotronis, active IB examiner · Updated 22 August 2026

Quick answer

In the most recent session on record (May 2026 TZ3), IB Physics HL students needed 72/100 overall for a Grade 7, 60/100 for a Grade 6, and 35/100 for a Grade 4. Across all 17 sessions listed here the Grade 7 threshold has ranged from 61% to 74%.

IB Physics HL grade boundaries by session

Mark ranges are inclusive — “42–54” means 42, 43 … 54 all earn that grade. Overall is the composite total out of 100 scaled marks. The percentage beneath each range is of that component's own maximum for that session, because paper totals shift slightly from one session to the next.

May 2026 TZ3 — IB Physics HL

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1314–2214%+23–3423%+35–4635%+47–5947%+60–7160%+72–10072%+
Internal Assessment0–34–616.7%+7–1029.2%+11–1345.8%+14–1658.3%+17–1970.8%+20–2483.3%+
Paper 1A0–1011–1428.2%+15–1838.5%+19–2148.7%+22–2556.4%+26–2866.7%+29–3974.4%+
Paper 1B0–23–415%+5–725%+8–940%+10–1250%+13–1465%+15–2075%+
Paper 20–67–137.8%+14–2115.6%+22–3424.4%+35–4838.9%+49–6154.4%+62–9068.9%+

May 2026 TZ2 — IB Physics HL

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1415–2715%+28–3928%+40–5140%+52–6252%+63–7363%+74–10074%+
Internal Assessment0–34–616.7%+7–1029.2%+11–1345.8%+14–1658.3%+17–1970.8%+20–2483.3%+
Paper 1A0–1011–1928.2%+20–2351.3%+24–2761.5%+28–3071.8%+31–3279.5%+33–3984.6%+
Paper 1B0–12–310%+4–520%+6–830%+9–1145%+12–1460%+15–2075%+
Paper 20–910–1811.1%+19–2821.1%+29–3932.2%+40–4944.4%+50–6055.6%+61–9067.8%+

May 2026 TZ1 — IB Physics HL

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1516–2516%+26–3826%+39–4939%+50–6150%+62–7262%+73–10073%+
Internal Assessment0–34–616.7%+7–1029.2%+11–1345.8%+14–1658.3%+17–1970.8%+20–2483.3%+
Paper 1A0–1011–1127.5%+12–1430%+15–1837.5%+19–2247.5%+23–2657.5%+27–4067.5%+
Paper 1B0–34–720%+8–1040%+11–1255%+13–1565%+16–1780%+18–2090%+
Paper 20–910–1911.1%+20–3122.2%+32–4135.6%+42–5246.7%+53–6258.9%+63–9070%+

November 2025 TZ3 — IB Physics HL

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1314–2214%+23–3323%+34–4534%+46–5846%+59–7059%+71–10071%+
Internal Assessment0–34–616.7%+7–1029.2%+11–1345.8%+14–1658.3%+17–1970.8%+20–2483.3%+
Paper 1A0–1011–1327.5%+14–1535%+16–1940%+20–2250%+23–2657.5%+27–4067.5%+
Paper 1B0–12–310%+4–520%+6–730%+8–940%+10–1150%+12–2060%+
Paper 20–89–1610%+17–2618.9%+27–3930%+40–5344.4%+54–6660%+67–9074.4%+

November 2025 TZ1 — IB Physics HL

Higher Level Paper 2 in this session was marked out of 88 (not the usual 90) — factor that in before comparing raw Paper 2 marks to other sessions.

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1314–2114%+22–3322%+34–4534%+46–5646%+57–6957%+70–10070%+
Internal Assessment0–34–616.7%+7–1029.2%+11–1345.8%+14–1658.3%+17–1970.8%+20–2483.3%+
Paper 1A0–1011–1127.5%+12–1330%+14–1735%+18–2145%+22–2555%+26–4065%+
Paper 1B0–12–310%+4–620%+7–835%+9–1045%+11–1255%+13–2065%+
Paper 20–89–1610.2%+17–2619.3%+27–3830.7%+39–4944.3%+50–6156.8%+62–8870.5%+

May 2025 TZ3 — IB Physics HL

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1314–2214%+23–3323%+34–4534%+46–5846%+59–7059%+71–10071%+
Internal Assessment0–34–616.7%+7–1029.2%+11–1345.8%+14–1658.3%+17–1970.8%+20–2483.3%+
Paper 1A0–910–1125.6%+12–1430.8%+15–1838.5%+19–2248.7%+23–2659%+27–3969.2%+
Paper 1B0–23–515%+6–730%+8–940%+10–1250%+13–1465%+15–2075%+
Paper 20–78–158.9%+16–2417.8%+25–3627.8%+37–4841.1%+49–6054.4%+61–9067.8%+

May 2025 TZ2 — IB Physics HL

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1314–2414%+25–3525%+36–4536%+46–5746%+58–6758%+68–10068%+
Internal Assessment0–34–616.7%+7–1029.2%+11–1345.8%+14–1658.3%+17–1970.8%+20–2483.3%+
Paper 1A0–910–1425%+15–1737.5%+18–2045%+21–2452.5%+25–2762.5%+28–4070%+
Paper 1B0–23–415%+5–625%+7–835%+9–1145%+12–1360%+14–2070%+
Paper 20–89–1610%+17–2618.9%+27–3630%+37–4641.1%+47–5652.2%+57–9063.3%+

May 2025 TZ1 — IB Physics HL

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1213–2313%+24–3424%+35–4435%+45–5545%+56–6656%+67–10067%+
Internal Assessment0–34–616.7%+7–1029.2%+11–1345.8%+14–1658.3%+17–1970.8%+20–2483.3%+
Paper 1A0–910–1525%+16–1840%+19–2247.5%+23–2557.5%+26–2965%+30–4075%+
Paper 1B0–23–415%+5–625%+7–835%+9–1145%+12–1360%+14–2070%+
Paper 20–67–137.8%+14–2315.6%+24–3226.7%+33–4236.7%+43–5147.8%+52–9057.8%+

November 2024 — IB Physics HL

This was the last session of the 2016 syllabus (with Paper 3) before the May 2025 rewrite.

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1314–2414%+25–3725%+38–4738%+48–5748%+58–6858%+69–10069%+
Internal Assessment0–34–616.7%+7–1029.2%+11–1345.8%+14–1658.3%+17–1970.8%+20–2483.3%+
Paper 10–1011–1227.5%+13–1432.5%+15–1737.5%+18–2045%+21–2452.5%+25–4062.5%+
Paper 20–89–1810%+19–2921.1%+30–3933.3%+40–5044.4%+51–6056.7%+61–9067.8%+
Paper 30–56–1013.3%+11–1824.4%+19–2242.2%+23–2651.1%+27–3060%+31–4568.9%+

May 2024 TZ2 — IB Physics HL

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1314–2314%+24–3724%+38–4738%+48–5848%+59–6759%+68–10068%+
Internal Assessment0–34–616.7%+7–1029.2%+11–1345.8%+14–1658.3%+17–1970.8%+20–2483.3%+
Paper 10–1011–1228.2%+13–1433.3%+15–1738.5%+18–2046.2%+21–2353.8%+24–3961.5%+
Paper 20–78–158.9%+16–2517.8%+26–3428.9%+35–4438.9%+45–5350%+54–9060%+
Paper 30–56–1113.3%+12–2226.7%+23–2651.1%+27–3160%+32–3571.1%+36–4580%+

May 2024 TZ1 — IB Physics HL

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1415–2315%+24–3724%+38–4938%+50–6050%+61–7261%+73–10073%+
Internal Assessment0–34–616.7%+7–1029.2%+11–1345.8%+14–1658.3%+17–1970.8%+20–2483.3%+
Paper 10–1011–1228.2%+13–1633.3%+17–2043.6%+21–2453.8%+25–2864.1%+29–3974.4%+
Paper 20–78–148.9%+15–2516.7%+26–3728.9%+38–4842.2%+49–6054.4%+61–9067.8%+
Paper 30–67–1215.6%+13–1928.9%+20–2444.4%+25–2955.6%+30–3466.7%+35–4577.8%+

November 2023 — IB Physics HL

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1415–2515%+26–3826%+39–4839%+49–5849%+59–6859%+69–10069%+
Internal Assessment0–34–616.7%+7–1029.2%+11–1345.8%+14–1658.3%+17–1970.8%+20–2483.3%+
Paper 10–1011–1227.5%+13–1532.5%+16–1840%+19–2247.5%+23–2557.5%+26–4065%+
Paper 20–910–2011.1%+21–3123.3%+32–4135.6%+42–5146.7%+52–6157.8%+62–9068.9%+
Paper 30–56–1113.3%+12–1926.7%+20–2244.4%+23–2551.1%+26–2957.8%+30–4566.7%+

November 2022 — IB Physics HL

This November 2022 session ran under COVID-era arrangements; the official document published overall boundaries only.

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1213–2013%+21–2921%+30–3930%+40–5140%+52–6452%+65–10065%+

November 2021 — IB Physics HL

This November 2021 session ran under COVID-era arrangements; the official document published overall boundaries only.

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1112–1712%+18–2618%+27–3627%+37–4737%+48–6048%+61–10061%+

November 2020 — IB Physics HL

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1516–2916%+30–4330%+44–5244%+53–6353%+64–7264%+73–10073%+
Internal Assessment0–34–616.7%+7–1029.2%+11–1345.8%+14–1658.3%+17–1970.8%+20–2483.3%+
Paper 10–1011–1327.5%+14–1635%+17–1942.5%+20–2250%+23–2557.5%+26–4065%+
Paper 20–910–2011.1%+21–3323.3%+34–4437.8%+45–5650%+57–6763.3%+68–9075.6%+
Paper 30–89–1720%+18–2540%+26–2757.8%+28–3062.2%+31–3268.9%+33–4573.3%+

November 2019 — IB Physics HL

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1415–2515%+26–3826%+39–4839%+49–5849%+59–6859%+69–10069%+
Internal Assessment0–34–616.7%+7–1029.2%+11–1345.8%+14–1658.3%+17–1970.8%+20–2483.3%+
Paper 10–1011–1227.5%+13–1532.5%+16–1840%+19–2247.5%+23–2557.5%+26–4065%+
Paper 20–1011–2212.2%+23–3225.6%+33–4236.7%+43–5247.8%+53–6158.9%+62–9068.9%+
Paper 30–45–1011.1%+11–1824.4%+19–2242.2%+23–2551.1%+26–2957.8%+30–4566.7%+

November 2018 — IB Physics HL

ComponentGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7
Overall0–1415–2515%+26–3726%+38–4738%+48–5748%+58–6858%+69–10069%+
Internal Assessment0–34–616.7%+7–1029.2%+11–1345.8%+14–1658.3%+17–1970.8%+20–2483.3%+
Paper 10–1011–1327.5%+14–1635%+17–1942.5%+20–2350%+24–2660%+27–4067.5%+
Paper 20–910–1910.5%+20–2821.1%+29–3930.5%+40–4942.1%+50–6052.6%+61–9564.2%+
Paper 30–67–1215.6%+13–1928.9%+20–2344.4%+24–2653.3%+27–3060%+31–4568.9%+

Source: official IB Diploma Programme grade boundary documents and subject reports.

Is the Grade 7 boundary rising?

Averaged across the record, the Grade 7 threshold in the later sessions sits about 2.4 percentage points higher than in the earlier ones. In practice that means recent cohorts have needed a slightly larger share of the marks for a 7 than students sitting the earlier papers did.

Overall Grade 7 threshold (% of 100 scaled marks) — November 2018 to May 2026 TZ3

55%78%100%November 2018: 69%69November 2018November 2019: 69%69November 2019November 2020: 73%73November 2020November 2021: 61%61November 2021November 2022: 65%65November 2022November 2023: 69%69November 2023May 2024 TZ1: 73%73May 2024 TZ1May 2024 TZ2: 68%68May 2024 TZ2November 2024: 69%69November 2024May 2025 TZ1: 67%67May 2025 TZ1May 2025 TZ2: 68%68May 2025 TZ2May 2025 TZ3: 71%71May 2025 TZ3November 2025 TZ1: 70%70November 2025 TZ1November 2025 TZ3: 71%71November 2025 TZ3May 2026 TZ1: 73%73May 2026 TZ1May 2026 TZ2: 74%74May 2026 TZ2May 2026 TZ3: 72%72May 2026 TZ3

How to read these boundaries

Grade boundaries are not fixed targets. The IB resets them after every session so that each grade represents the same standard of work, whether that session's paper ran hard or easy. That is why the mark needed for a 7 in IB Physics HL can move by several points from one session to the next while the syllabus stays identical.

For revision, use them as a calibration tool: sit a past paper under timed conditions, mark it against the official markscheme, then check what that total would have earned in the session that paper is from — not the most recent one. Comparing your marks component by component, rather than only the overall total, is what tells you where the marks are actually going.

The 6-to-7 gap is small

Across these sessions the distance between a 6 and a 7 has averaged just 11.2 marks out of 100 (narrowest 9, widest 13). On a paper marked out of 100 scaled marks, that is a handful of well-argued sentences.

Use the right session

The Grade 7 boundary here has swung 13 percentage points between November 2021 (61%) and May 2026 TZ2 (74%). Marking a past paper against the wrong session's boundaries can mislead you by a whole grade.

Components move independently

The overall boundary is a composite. Individual papers are graded on their own scales and can be far more or less forgiving than the overall figure suggests, which is why every component is listed separately in the tables above.

Frequently asked questions

What percentage do you need for a 7 in IB Physics HL?

Across the 17 sessions on record, the overall Grade 7 boundary for IB Physics HL has ranged from 61% (November 2021) to 74% (May 2026 TZ2) of the 100 available scaled marks. In the most recent session on this page, May 2026 TZ3, it was 72%. There is no fixed percentage: the IB resets the boundary after every session so that a 7 represents the same standard of work regardless of how hard that particular paper turned out to be.

How many marks separate a 6 from a 7 in IB Physics HL?

On the overall 100-mark scale, the gap between the Grade 6 and Grade 7 boundaries has averaged 11.2 marks, ranging from 9 to 13 marks. In May 2026 TZ3 a 7 started at 72 and a 6 at 60 — a 12-mark gap. That is a much smaller distance than most students assume, and it is usually closed with exam technique rather than extra content.

Do IB grade boundaries change every year?

Yes. They are set after each examination session by the IB's grade award process, once senior examiners have seen how candidates actually performed on that specific paper. For IB Physics HL the overall Grade 7 threshold has moved by 13 percentage points between its lowest and highest session on record. This is why you should always compare a past paper score against the boundaries from the session that paper is from, not the most recent session.

Why are there different timezones (TZ1, TZ2, TZ3) for IB Physics HL?

Candidates in different parts of the world sit different versions of the same examination so that papers cannot be leaked across time zones. Each version is graded separately with its own boundaries, which is why you will see TZ1, TZ2 and TZ3 listed with slightly different thresholds for the same month. Always use the boundaries for the timezone your paper was actually sat in.

Related grade boundaries

Active IB examiner · Online 1:1 · Worldwide

Know the boundary. Now close the gap.

A grade that landed just under a boundary is usually four or five marks of exam technique, not four or five marks of missing knowledge. I mark these papers — I can show you which marks went missing and why.

Book a free consultation