Core requirements

• DP category candidates must study six subjects, plus the three core subjects—EE, TOK and CAS. They must accumulate no fewer than 24 points from assessment in these subjects, in addition to grade stipulations

• They must meet all of the requirements within a maximum of three examination sessions.

• Candidates who successfully meet these conditions will be awarded the diploma.

• Candidates who take the diploma in multiple languages may be eligible for a bilingual diploma.

The IB diploma is awarded based on performance across all parts of the DP.

• Each subject is graded 1–7, with 7 being the highest grade.

• These grades are also used as points (that is, 7 points for a grade 7, 6 points for a grade 6, and so on) in determining if the diploma can be awarded.

• TOK and the EE are graded A–E, with A being the highest grade. These two grades are then combined in the diploma points matrix to contribute between 0 and 3 points to the total.

• CAS is not assessed but must be completed in order to pass the diploma. 

• The overall maximum points from subject grades, TOK and the EE is therefore 45: ((6 × 7) + 3).

• The minimum threshold for the award of the diploma is 24 points. If a candidate scores less than 24 points, the diploma is not awarded.

 Additional requirements

There are a number of additional requirements for the award of the diploma.

• CAS requirements have been met.

• There is no “N” awarded for TOK, the EE or for a contributing subject.

• There is no grade E awarded for TOK and/or the EE.

• There is no grade 1 awarded in a subject/level.

• There are no more than two grade 2s awarded (SL or HL).

• There are no more than three grade 3s or below awarded (SL or HL).

• The candidate has gained 12 points or more on HL subjects. (For candidates who register for four HL subjects, the three highest grades count.)

• The candidate has gained 9 points or more on SL subjects. (Candidates who register for two SL subjects must gain at least 5 points at SL.)

• The candidate has not received a penalty for academic misconduct from the Final Award Committee.