How well do IB Diploma Students do at Cambridge University? What IB Grades lead to what class of degree from one of the best universities anywhere in the world? Full story and research.

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How well do IB Diploma Students do at Cambridge University? What IB Grades lead to what class of degree from one of the best universities anywhere in the world? Full story and research.

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As part of our research for this year’s IB results day we came across an enlightening study by Dr Geoff Parks, Senior Tutor, Jesus College, Cambridge University. Whilst conducted using data between 2005 and 2011, the IB gradings are arguably the most consistent of any examining board in the world. An IB grade achieved in any year (excepting anomalies with the Covid years) is likely to share parity with those of the same grade secured before or after it.

What Dr Parks looked at was the relationship between the actual grades achieved by International Baccalaureate students in the Diploma, and the resulting eventual degree class they achieved at Cambridge University.

First the study divides students between those entering the university to study:

Sciences; and,
The Arts and Social Sciences

He then took the following data:

(1) The total IB Diploma score out of 45 achieved by students; and,
(2) The scores achieved by students in their three Higher Level (HL) subjects, each out of 7.

The results are fascinating.

Cambridge University Arts & Social Sciences students

The higher an IB student’s overall points score the greater their likelihood of a good result in Cambridge Arts & Social Sciences courses.
A score of 41 points suggests an average likelihood of a II.1 or a First
A score of 42 points suggests a better-than-average likelihood of a II.1 or a First.
A score above 42 increases noticeably the likelihood of a II.1 or a First.
Higher Level scores of 775, 776 or 777 suggest that a student is likely to exceed average performance in the University.

Cambridge University Science students

For Cambridge Science courses overall scores of 39 or more give better-than average likelihood of a II.1 or a First
The likelihood of a II.1 or a First increases noticeably for scores above 42.
An IB student with only one 7 in their HL subjects has a below-average likelihood of a good result.

Summary of results

Dr Parks writes:

“It is evident that many IB students do well or extremely well at Cambridge. However, the levels of performance in the IB that seem to be needed to predict success at Cambridge with confidence, are high – significantly higher than the levels of offer routinely made at many other universities.”

Only around 200 students each year secure the full 45 points globally, although a relatively significant number of these are from the UAE.