Good IB scores—as with any academic qualifications—are subjective, being highly dependent on a student’s target university (and country) and preferred course. All IB students are required to score a minimum of 24 points for six subjects. The average IB scores throughout the years have varied between 28-30 points.
Top American universities such as Harvard and Yale require candidates to score at least 36-38 points to be considered for placement.
The qualifying process is followed up with the assessment of leadership qualities, sporting accolades, and other non-academic achievements. Prestigious UK universities such as Oxbridge might prioritize national standards such as IGCSE, over IB scores.
On the other hand, some private universities may offer a medical course for 27 IBDP points.
However, a good IBDP score may be generally interpreted as one that creates opportunities to join a fast-track system within a distinguished university. For example, straight 7s in 3 HL subjects might qualify candidates for Harvard’s advanced standing, where students may bypass certain introduction courses and graduate a year earlier than their peers.
While students may acquire the highest possible score of 45 IBDP points (which translates to1% of the total IB graduates), university entry may be ultimately decided through a comprehensive analysis of a candidate’s potential (i.e., social contributions and participation) and the relevance of IB core subjects.