How To Convert IB to UCAS Points

UCAS Points are universities’ method of translating your grades and qualifications into a numerical value. You need a certain number of Points to get into each UK university.

Most people know the Points value of A-Levels. However, if like 4,500 UK students (and 1.4m worldwide) you take the IB Diploma, you’ll also need to know how to convert your IB to UCAS points.

This article will show you how to calculate the number of UCAS Points your Score is worth.

Explaining IB Scores

To convert IB to UCAS, you have to understand IB Scores. IB Scores are made up of Points. These are awarded according to your assessed performance in each subject – they’re your grades, or marks.

The IB Diploma scores your performance in each subject by awarding between 1 and 7 points, with 7 Points being the best outcome. You can’t receive 1s in any subject, or too many 2s or 3s, if you want to pass. which is why many students choose to hire an IB tutor.

In addition to this, you can get up to 3 more points for your 1,600-word TOK (Theory of Knowledge) essay (which focuses on epistemology) and for your 4,000-word Extended Essay, graded from A to E. That’s a lot of writing!

To recap, the best scores possible in each component of your IB are:

- Higher/Advanced level: 21 IB points

- Standard level: 21 IB points

- IB Core: 3 IB points.

Your Score is your overall accumulation of all of these. A minimum of 24 points is a ‘pass’, allowing you to get your IB Diploma. The best score possible is 45 points.

The ‘holistic’ emphasis of the overall Score in the IB Diploma is why you can sometimes pass well with quite uneven Points in your subjects! If you get higher marks in your advanced subjects, but relatively low marks in your standard subjects, it’ll all even out when you get your overall Score!

This overall score is what we’re working with when we convert IB to UCAS.

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Equivalent Scores and Grades

If we want to convert IB to UCAS points, we can start by working in terms of traditional ‘letter’ grades.

According to UCAS, 5 IB Points is equivalent to 5 grade A*s in A-Levels. They say 40 points, therefore, is the equivalent of 4 grade A*s in A-Levels. Then 35 points is equivalent to 2 grade A*s and 1 grade A, etcetera. The diagram in this article shows universities’ assessments of equivalent ‘letter’ grades.

By this metric, a fair-to-middling score of 30 IB points, only 6 points over a pass, is equivalent to three and a half traditional As! This is high enough in terms of UCAS tariff points to gain admission to most good universities. Only Oxbridge or some Russell Group universities would require higher results.

Have a look at our comprehensive set of IB Resources that include IB Study Notes, IB Past Papers and IB Practice Questions, developed by expert IB teachers and examiners!

How to Directly Convert IB to UCAS

It’s also possible to convert IB points to UCAS tariff points directly! You just need to know your Points in each IB component (see above) and your total Score to easily convert IB to UCAS.

Both UCAS and a lot of universities take your Higher/Advanced subject Points as the most important numbers, so they earn the most UCAS tariff points.

Take a look at how Higher/Advanced subjects convert from IB to UCAS:

- Grade 7 = 56 UCAS points

- Grade 6 = 48 UCAS points

- Grade 5 = 32 UCAS points

- Grade 4 = 24 UCAS points

- Grade 3 = 12 UCAS points

- Grades 2 and 1 = 0 UCAS points.

To convert IB to UCAS on your Higher/Advanced subject Points, take your three subject grades, find the corresponding UCAS tariff points, and add them all up. For example, a promising student with grades 7, 6, 5, would earn a brilliant 136 UCAS points! That’s already an AAB in A-Levels.

We can also convert your Standard subjects in your IB to UCAS points. Standard level grades are worth precisely half the UCAS points as Higher/Advanced subject grades.

Let’s take Standard subject Points and convert IB to UCAS:

- Grade 7 = 28 UCAS points

- Grade 6 = 24 UCAS points

- Grade 5 = 16 UCAS points

- Grade 4 = 12 UCAS points

- Grade 3 = 6 UCAS points

- Grades 2 and 1 = 0 UCAS points

Now, take your three standard subject grades and convert IB to UCAS! You add these onto your Higher/Advanced total. For example, a student with 6, 6, 4 on their Standard subjects would earn 60 more UCAS points to add to their total.

IB Core – the extended essay and Theory of Knowledge components – is normally graded from A to E, and this is how you convert IB to UCAS here:

- Grade A = 12 UCAS points

- Grade B = 10 UCAS points

- Grade C = 8 UCAS points

- Grade D = 6 UCAS points

- Grade E = 4 UCAS points.

This means, for example, a student scoring A in their extended essay, and a B in their Theory of Knowledge (TOK) essay would earn 22 more points to add to their total!

So overall, if we convert IB to UCAS, this imaginary student would have converted their Score into 218 points. That’s almost four A*s at A-Level!

A senior IB tutor in Switzerland said:

"Remember, every point counts in the IB. Prioritise understanding over memorisation, especially in subjects you're less confident in. A solid grasp of the basics can boost your overall score and UCAS points, making a big difference in your university applications."

Preparing for the IB

Successfully navigating the International Baccalaureate (IB) program requires careful preparation and strategic planning. Here are some effective strategies to enhance your IB preparation:

• Utilise IB Resources: Take advantage of specialised IB study materials, including study notes, past papers, and practice questions developed by experienced IB educators and examiners. These resources provide valuable insights into the types and formats of questions you can expect.
• Engage with IB Tutors: Consider hiring a tutor for important subjects, such as an IB Maths tutor for personalised guidance on complex mathematical concepts and problem-solving strategies. Additionally, IB TOK tutors and IB Extended Essay tutors can help enhance your understanding of critical thinking and research skills, vital for success in these core components of the IB curriculum.
• Time Management Skills: Learn to manage your time efficiently, balancing IB coursework with extracurricular activities. Effective time management is crucial for coping with the demanding IB curriculum and can help prevent burnout.
• Regular Practice: Consistent practice is key to mastering IB subjects. Regularly test yourself under timed conditions to improve speed and accuracy, which are crucial during exams.
• Seek Feedback: Regularly seek feedback on your performance from instructors. Constructive feedback can help identify areas of improvement and refine your study approach.
• Develop Study Strategies: Work with your online tutor to develop effective study strategies that cater to your learning style. This can include creating study schedules, summarising information, and practicing active recall.

Incorporating these strategies into your IB preparation plan can significantly increase your chances of success, making the rigorous program more manageable and less stressful.

An expert IB tutor in Netherlands advised that:

"I always advise my students to focus on consistency and balance. While it's essential to excel in Higher Level subjects to maximize UCAS points, don't neglect Standard Level subjects and the Core components. A well-rounded score can make all the difference when converting your IB points to UCAS points. Regular practice, effective time management, and seeking feedback are key strategies to ensure success in every aspect of the IB Diploma."

Final Thoughts

If you're applying to UK universities as an IB student, you can now convert your IB to UCAS Points!

Let’s go back to that imaginary student.

After they convert IB to UCAS, they got 136 points from their Higher/Advanced subjects, 60 from their Standard subjects, and 22 from their IB Core. In total, they gained 218 UCAS points. This score tells them if they’ll meet their dream university’s entry requirements – in fact, it’s enough for Oxbridge. Lucky them!

Remember – whatever number you get after converting your IB to UCAS, it’s always worth feeding into the UCAS tariff calculator, even just to double-check!