How Students Score 44/45 in the IB — And How You Can Do It Too
Dr. Karan Gupta is a Harvard Business School alumnus and career counsellor with 27+ years of experience and 160,000+ students guided. His insights on undergraduate come from decades of hands-on experience helping students achieve their goals.
Most students believe a 44 or 45 in the IB is reserved for prodigies—the ones who’ve always topped their class, speak in bullet points, and somehow enjoy studying. That belief is comforting because it explains away the gap.
It’s also wrong.
Year after year, I work with IB students who start in the 34–36 range and finish with 42–44. They aren’t magically smarter. They don’t study endlessly. What they do have is a system—one that aligns perfectly with how the IB actually awards marks.
If you understand how IB scores are built, where examiners give marks most reliably, and how top scorers structure their weeks, a 44 stops being mysterious. It becomes predictable.
This article breaks down the exact strategies high scorers use—and how students (and parents) can apply them deliberately, without burnout.
Why 44/45 Is Rare—but Repeatable
Before we talk tactics, it’s important to understand what a 44 actually represents.
A 45 is perfection: six 7s plus 3 core points. A 44 allows for one small slip—perhaps a 6 in a subject or 2 core points instead of 3.
Statistically, fewer than 1% of IB candidates globally score a 44 or 45 in a given year. But here’s the key insight: those students are not spread evenly across all schools or preparation styles.
They cluster around strong systems.
1. Play the Grade Boundaries, Not the Syllabus
Most IB students try to “finish the syllabus.” Top scorers try to finish the marks.
A 7 is not about perfection—it’s about crossing a boundary.
Why Grade Boundaries Matter More Than You Think
Grade boundaries tell you:
How many marks are actually required for a 7
Which papers and components historically decide the jump from a 6 to a 7
Where effort delivers the highest return
In many subjects, a 7 might require 68–75%, not 90+. That changes everything.
What 44/45 Students Do Differently
They check past 5–7 years of grade boundaries
They identify high-frequency topics and question types
They prioritise sections where marks are most predictable
For example:
In subjects like Economics or Biology, certain Paper 2 questions repeat in structure every year
In Math or Physics, specific command terms (“justify,” “determine,” “hence”) are consistently rewarded
A 44 happens when you secure guaranteed marks first, then strategically chase the harder ones.
2. Treat Internal Assessments as Guaranteed Marks
Most students treat IAs like background noise—important, but secondary.
Top scorers treat them like an insurance policy.
Why IAs Matter More Than Exams (Strategically)
Internal Assessments can account for 15–30% of a subject’s final score, depending on the course. Unlike exams:
They aren’t affected by exam-day stress
They allow drafting and feedback
They reward precision over speed
For a student aiming at 44/45, losing IA marks is not an option.
How High Scorers Maximise IA Scores
They choose topics they genuinely understand or care about
They start early enough to submit multiple drafts
They use the rubric as a checklist, not a guideline
They reverse-engineer exemplars that scored 6–7
Done properly, IAs can lock in strong marks months before exams begin—reducing pressure and raising confidence.
3. Build a Weekly System (Not Marathon Study Days)
No one scores a 44 by studying randomly.
High scorers don’t rely on motivation. They rely on structure.
What a Typical 44-Scorer’s Week Looks Like
Daily
45–60 minutes of active recall
Short sets of past-paper questions
Zero passive rereading
Weekly
One full timed paper for the weakest subject
Detailed review with the markscheme
Identification of examiner language and rewarded phrasing
Every 2 weeks
Rotate focus between subjects
Audit mistakes: Is this a content gap, command-term issue, or time management problem?
IB exams are pattern-driven. Once students internalise those patterns, scores rise fast.
Consistency beats intensity—every time.
4. Master the Mark scheme (This Is Where 7s Are Won)
Most students glance at mark schemes.
Top scorers study them.
Why Mark schemes Are the IB’s Open Secret
Mark schemes reveal:
Exact phrases examiners look for
How partial credit is awarded
What “enough detail” actually means
High scorers stop asking, “Is this right?” They ask, “Would this earn marks?”
That shift alone can raise scores by 10–15%.
5. Manage Stress Like It’s Part of the Curriculum
Here’s a hard truth: Stress doesn’t ruin IB performance. Disorganisation does.
Students who score 44/45 aren’t calmer by nature. They’re calmer because:
Their IAs are finished early
Their revision is planned months ahead
Their weekly routines eliminate last-minute panic
When systems are in place, anxiety drops naturally.
Parents often underestimate this—thinking stress management is “extra.” In the IB, it’s structural.
6. Build Your Support System Early
No 44-scorer does this alone.
They:
Ask teachers specific, exam-style questions
Seek feedback early—not two weeks before finals
Use mentors or structured guidance to stay accountable
The biggest mistake students make is waiting until March of Year 2 to seek help.
By then, the difference between a 42 and a 44 is already baked in.
What Parents Should Understand About IB Scores
For parents, it’s important to know this:
A 44 is not about pressure or endless tuition
It’s about strategy, timing, and feedback
Students who peak early in the IB often plateau without guidance
Students who plan well often outperform “naturally strong” peers
Supporting systems matter more than raw ability.
FAQs: How Students Score 44/45 in the IB
Is it realistic for an average student to score 44 in the IB?
Yes—if “average” means willing to follow a structured system. Most 44-scorers did not start at the top.
How important are Internal Assessments for a 44/45 score?
Critical. IAs provide stable, predictable marks and can decide the difference between a 42 and a 44.
Do students who score 44 study all the time?
No. They study consistently, not endlessly. Systems replace burnout.
When should IB students start planning for top scores?
Ideally in the first term of Year 1. The earlier the strategy, the higher the ceiling.
Can parents really influence IB scores?
Absolutely—by encouraging early planning, realistic pacing, and the right academic support.
Final Thought: A 44 Is Built, Not Discovered
A 44/45 in the IB isn’t a miracle. It’s the outcome of dozens of small, correct decisions made early and repeated consistently.
When students understand how IB scores are actually awarded—and parents support the system behind the student—exceptional results become far more likely.
If you’re serious about academic excellence and long-term admissions outcomes, the smartest step isn’t studying harder.
It’s studying smarter, earlier, and with intent.
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Dr. Karan Gupta
Harvard Alumnus | Career Counsellor
With 27+ years of experience, Dr. Karan Gupta has helped 160,000+ students achieve their study abroad dreams at top universities worldwide.
