For students studying for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or Career-Related Programme, the build-up to results day will be a nerve-wracking time. Not least because the programme’s global nature means it works so differently to the A-level system teachers are typically more used to.
But fear not. Here is everything schools need to know about IB results day 2024:
When is IB results day 2024?
Because of the global remit of the IB, students sit exams and receive results in different months according to their location.
For students in the northern hemisphere who sat their exams in May, results are issued to schools on 5 July, but students must wait until 6 July to receive them. These dates are always the same - even if they fall on a weekend, like this year when 6 July is a Saturday.
Students in the southern hemisphere typically sit their exams in November. In 2024 their results will be issued to schools on 16 December and available to students on 17 December. This is a new date - students previously had to wait until January - which the IB hopes will help with university application deadlines.
The majority of the information below will apply to both sets of students.
What time can students access their results?
It depends on the time zone in which their school is located.
In July, results will become available to students from midday GMT, while in December results will become available from 9pm GMT. For both dates, the times will then be staggered according to location.
The IB says it staggers results, rather than releasing them simultaneously worldwide, to avoid any being made available in the middle of the night - which wouldn’t be helpful for students quickly wanting to discuss their grades with teachers.
Students can find out the time they will be able to access their grades by logging into the candidate website and selecting the “results” tab, or by asking their school’s IB coordinator.
How do students access their results?
All results are published online on the IB candidate website. Schools will provide each student with login details, including a personal code and PIN.
The personal code is case-sensitive, but the PIN is not. Students should take care when logging in: after three incorrect attempts, access to the site will be blocked for 30 minutes, when they will then be able to try again.
It isn’t possible to reset login details.
What should students do if they are unable to log in?
If a student is unable to log in, they should contact their school’s IB coordinator. The IB says it will not provide login credentials to students directly for data privacy reasons.
The IB also notes that schools have the right to withhold student access to results at their discretion.
What should a school do if they can’t locate a student’s login details?
If a school coordinator can’t provide a student’s personal code or PIN, they should contact support@ibo.org
What grade information will be available?
Subject grades, extended essay and theory of knowledge bonus points, and total point scores will be available.
At the discretion of their school’s IB coordinator, students may also have access to a more detailed view of their results for each subject, including a scaled total mark, lower- and upper-grade boundaries and the number of marks required for a grade increase. This information may be useful when considering requesting a re-mark.
How can students request a re-mark?
If a student would like their work re-marked, they should speak with their school’s IB coordinator, since the school must place re-mark requests on the candidate’s behalf.
The IB says it will not accept a request for a re-mark from a candidate (or their parent or guardian) directly, and will not communicate the outcome to anyone other than the school coordinator.
What does the re-mark process involve?
The IB advises that there is a deadline for placing a re-mark request and encourages students to approach their school coordinator as soon as possible after results day.
The re-mark service involves a fee. It is the school coordinator’s duty to inform the candidate of this.
Of course, a re-mark could result in a grade being lowered as well as raised. Because of this, written consent from the candidate (or their parent or guardian) is required.
If there is a grade change, the new grade will be published on the candidate website. It is up to the school coordinator to let the student know when that is.
What if a student wants to re-sit an exam?
Candidates can retake individual subjects. They can do so in any future examination session and at any IB World School that offers their programme.
If the subject a candidate would like to re-sit has undergone a curriculum change, they will need to follow the new curriculum.
Can IB students receiving their results in July go through clearing before A-level students?
Not really. Students can apply for a university course via Ucas’s clearing process between 5 July and 21 October 2024, so, in theory, IB students get a head start before their A-level peers, who won’t get their results until 15 August.
However, most universities won’t make their clearing places available until A-level results day, so, in practice, IB students typically have to wait until then.
But the extra time is a benefit. While A-level students often find themselves in a frantic rush to make a decision on results day, IB students get an extra five weeks to navigate their next steps.
When will students receive their IB diploma certificates?
Certificates will be sent to schools. They typically arrive a couple of months after results are published, eg, in September for students due to receive results in July.
More information about exam results can be found on the IB website.
Ellen Peirson-Hagger is senior writer at Tes
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