Understanding the scoring for IB exams

This might be a frequently asked question, but how are IB exam scores calculated? I've heard some mentions of components like Internal Assessments, but I'm not quite sure. If someone could explain this to me, I'd very much appreciate it. Also, do colleges look at these scores?

Let's kick off with the basics: the IB (International Baccalaureate) program assesses students' knowledge and skills through external and internal assessments. The external assessment, commonly what we understand as the end-of-course exams, forms the majority of the score. It consists of essays, structured problems, short-response questions, and may include multiple-choice questions.

However, as you suggested, the internal assessment is also a significant component. The internal assessment is an in-depth study of a particular subject, which is evaluated by the classroom teacher and also externally moderated by IB examiners in some cases. The nature of the internal assessment varies by subject but can include things like lab reports for the sciences, oral exercises for language subjects, and investigations for mathematics.

To make it more practical, let's say you're taking IB History. Your final grade would be a combination of written tasks or essays completed during the course (Internal Assessment) and your final written exam (External Assessment).

For calculating final grades, each course (both HL and SL) is graded on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum). The internal and external assessment scores are combined, and these scores, in turn, are scaled to fit into the 1-7 grading scale. If you also complete the "core" components (Theory of Knowledge course and Extended Essay), you can earn up to 3 extra points towards your diploma, making the highest possible total score 45.

Regarding whether colleges look at these scores, in the U.S., the importance of IB scores in the admission process varies. Some institutions might consider the scores for credit or advanced standing, whereas others might not. However, the rigor of IB courses is often looked upon favorably in the admission process. It showcases your commitment to challenging yourself academically. Plus, strong scores can sometimes grant college credit or allow you to skip introductory level courses once you get to uni.

Globally, especially in the UK, Australia, and Canada, universities often have specific grade requirements for admission based on received or predicted IB scores.

Keep in mind the timing, too: since final IB scores aren't available until July, colleges mainly use them for placement and credit purposes for enrolled students, rather than for admissions decisions. Most colleges will make those decisions based on the predicted IB scores provided by your teachers.