IB to UCAS Points: How Your International Baccalaureate Converts

Quick answer: Your IB results convert by adding the points for each component, not by a single total. A Higher Level grade 6 is worth 48 UCAS points, a Standard Level grade 6 is worth 24, and each core element (TOK or the Extended Essay) at grade A adds 12. Sum every part to get your total.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) doesn't map to one neat UCAS number from your 24–45 score. Instead, UCAS scores every Higher Level subject, every Standard Level subject, and each core element separately, then adds them together. That's good news: it means strong grades in the right places are rewarded clearly and exactly. Want the figure without doing the maths? Our IB UCAS points calculator totals it for you in seconds.

How the IB converts to UCAS points (per-component, not your total IB score)

Here's the part that trips most students up. Your final IB Diploma score (the famous figure out of 45) is not what UCAS converts. There is no table that turns "38 points" into one Tariff number — and you shouldn't trust any tool that pretends there is.

Instead, UCAS builds your total from the parts:

• Each Higher Level (HL) subject scores points on its own.
• Each Standard Level (SL) subject scores points on its own.
• The two core elements — Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Extended Essay (EE) — each score points on an A–E scale.
• Everything is then added together for your UCAS total.

This is why two students with the same overall IB score can end up with different UCAS totals — it depends on which subjects sat at HL versus SL. If you want the wider logic behind the Tariff, see how UCAS points are calculated.

IB Higher Level (HL) UCAS points

Higher Level subjects carry the most weight, which makes sense — they're your deepest, most demanding subjects. Here's exactly what each grade is worth.

In plain English: an HL 7 (56 points) lines up with an A-level A*, an HL 6 (48) matches an A-level A, and an HL 5 (32) matches an A-level C. HL grades 1 and 2 carry no Tariff points, but a passing Diploma still depends on them, so don't dismiss them.

IB Standard Level (SL) UCAS points

Standard Level subjects score on a lower scale than HL, reflecting their narrower scope. They still add up meaningfully across three subjects.

So an SL 7 is worth 28 points, an SL 6 is worth 24, and an SL 5 is worth 16. Three solid SL grades can comfortably add 60–80 points to your running total. To understand how the Diploma fits together as a whole, our IB explained guide breaks down the structure.

IB core points: Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay

The IB core is more than a box-tick — it earns real UCAS points. Both Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay are graded A–E, and each one converts on its own.

Each core element scores: A=12, B=10, C=8, D=6, E=4. Score an A in both TOK and the EE and that's 24 points on top of your subjects — roughly half an extra A-level. One thing to note: CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) earns no UCAS points. It's required for the Diploma, but it doesn't feed the Tariff.

Worked example: adding up a full IB Diploma

Let's put the method to work with a realistic Diploma. Imagine you take three HL subjects at 6, 6, 5, three SL subjects at 6, 5, 5, and earn an A in both TOK and the Extended Essay.

The maths is simple once you see it laid out: the HL subjects give 48 + 48 + 32 = 128, the SL subjects give 24 + 16 + 16 = 56, and the core gives 12 + 12 = 24. Add those three blocks — 128 + 56 + 24 — and you reach 208 UCAS points. Copy this exact method with your own grades and you'll have your total in a couple of minutes. Curious what a score like that opens up? See what you can study with your UCAS points.

The big caveat: most IB-recognising universities offer in IB points, not the Tariff

Now the honest bit — and it's genuinely fine, so don't let it worry you. Many UK universities that welcome the IB make their offers in total IB points plus specific HL grades, not in UCAS Tariff points. A typical offer reads something like "36 points including 6,6,5 at HL." This is especially common across the Russell Group and for competitive courses like Medicine and Law.

That doesn't make the conversion useless — far from it. Your Tariff total is a clear, realistic way to compare yourself against courses that *do* list points, and to gauge whether you're in range for a given level of study. Just treat it as a guide, not the final word. The deciding requirement is whatever the course page actually states. To see how widely the Tariff is used, read do all universities use UCAS points, and to size up targets, see how many UCAS points you need.

What to check, and your next step

Before you lean on your converted total, run through this quick checklist:

• Confirm the offer type. Is the course asking for UCAS Tariff points, or for IB points plus HL grades? They are not the same.
• Check for double-counting. Some courses count your subjects but exclude or cap the core — read the small print.
• Verify entry requirements per course. Specific HL subject grades (for example HL 6 in Chemistry) often matter more than your total.

Once you've done that, you'll know whether your Tariff number is the headline figure or just a helpful reference. For other systems and a fuller method, our pillar guide on how to convert grades to UCAS points walks you through it step by step.

Calculate my exact IB UCAS points

Helpful next steps for IB applicants to the UK

Related guides. Once you know your total, the next move is matching it to courses and understanding what UK admissions expects. Use these to plan your application:

• UCAS points calculator — total any mix of qualifications.
• What can I study with my UCAS points — see courses that fit your range.
• Do all universities use UCAS points — understand when the Tariff applies.

Other international qualifications

Studying a different system, or comparing options? Start with convert grades to UCAS points, or jump to a specific one like AP to UCAS points.

Frequently asked questions

For quick answers to common IB conversion questions, see the FAQ section below covering total points, the value of HL 6, the core, university offers, and why your 45-point score doesn't map to one Tariff figure.