NMNickoMathIB Grade Calculator

Methodology & sources

How the calculator produces an estimate

Maintained by NickoMath. Last reviewed 2 July 2026. This page documents the calculation method, source hierarchy, quality checks, and limits of the current May 2025 dataset.

Current data scope

The calculator is built around the May 2025 grade-boundary file supplied for this project. A subject estimate is matched by course, SL or HL level, and examination time zone where applicable. TZ0 entries are treated as common entries that remain available regardless of the selected global time zone.

Subject calculation

Each assessment component is calculated separately. The entered points are divided by the component maximum and multiplied by that component’s percentage weighting:

Weighted contribution = (points earned ÷ maximum points) × component weight

All weighted contributions are added to create the estimated final subject percentage. That percentage is converted to the subject’s overall mark scale and matched against the selected May 2025 grade boundary to produce an estimated grade from 1 to 7.

Component-level grade boundaries are not used to average component grades. The calculator combines weighted component marks first, then applies the overall subject boundary.

Assessment weightings

Weightings are maintained by subject and level because Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3, internal assessment, oral, portfolio, performance, and project structures differ. The preferred source order is:

  1. Current official IB subject guides or subject briefs.
  2. Official assessment summaries, examiner instructions, or programme documentation.
  3. Publicly available school or assessment documentation that reproduces the applicable IB structure.
  4. Manually reviewed secondary references for pilot or school-based syllabus subjects when complete official public material is unavailable.

Some school-based syllabus and pilot subjects are harder to verify publicly. Their estimates should receive additional confirmation from a DP coordinator and the current course guide.

TOK, EE, and core points

The TOK estimate combines the essay at approximately 66.6% and the exhibition at approximately 33.3%, then converts the result to a TOK letter grade. The extended essay mark is converted separately to an EE letter grade. TOK and EE letters are combined using the Diploma core-points matrix to award zero to three core points.

An E in TOK or EE is treated as a failing Diploma condition. CAS is assumed complete for calculator display because it has no numerical grade; only the school can confirm actual CAS completion.

Diploma condition checks

The result panel checks the main published award conditions, including the 24-point minimum, subject-grade distribution, HL and SL point minimums, completion of all grades, core failing conditions, and assumed CAS completion. It does not validate registration conflicts, academic misconduct decisions, course-overlap restrictions, or every exceptional rule administered by a school.

Quality controls

Known limitations

Primary programme references

These links establish programme context. Individual component weightings should be checked against the current guide for the exact subject and assessment year.

Corrections

If you identify an error, submit the subject, level, time zone, component, expected value, and supporting source through the contact page. NickoMath is independent and is not reviewed or endorsed by the International Baccalaureate Organization.