MYP Grading Explained: Understanding Your Grades vs IB DP

Understanding the MYP grading scale can feel confusing at first, especially for families used to traditional letter grades or percentage scores. The IB approach looks different because it focuses on skills, progress, and mastery rather than ranking students against each other.

This article explains how the MYP grading scale works, what MYP grades really mean, and how they compare with the IB Diploma Programme, helping readers feel more confident when reading reports, interpreting achievement levels, and using grades to support learning and future success.

Introduction

The IB Middle Years Programme sits at a key stage in a student’s academic journey, helping build the habits, skills, and understanding needed for more demanding study later on. Its assessment approach reflects this purpose by using a criterion-based grading system that highlights progress over time rather than relying on simple marks, with a focus on meaning, interpretation, and practical use for students and parents seeking clear, accessible guidance.

Why Understanding the MYP Grading Scale Matters

MYP grades matter because they guide learning decisions rather than acting as a final judgement. When families know how grades are awarded, and understand the process itself, they can constructively respond.

The Purpose of This Guide

This guide clarifies how the MYP grading scale works and how it connects to later IB study, translating assessment language into clear, everyday terms that are accurate and easy to read, while helping readers understand how MYP grades are calculated, interpret achievement levels correctly, and compare MYP grades with IB Diploma grades in a realistic way.

Why Understanding Grades Is Important for Students and Parents

Grades influence confidence, motivation, and academic choices. In the MYP, a single score never tells the full story. Understanding the grading scale helps families:

Focus on skill development rather than labels. MYP grades highlight how well specific skills are developing, not whether a student fits into a fixed category.
See progress across different criteria. Looking at criterion scores shows strengths and areas for growth instead of relying on a single overall grade.
Respond appropriately to results that look lower than expected. Understanding the grading scale helps families view lower grades as guidance for improvement rather than a sign of failure.

When grades are read correctly, they support learning instead of causing unnecessary stress.

How MYP Grading Works

MYP grading works through a structured, criterion-based system that evaluates specific skills in each subject. This approach ensures consistency across schools while allowing subjects to assess what matters most.

Criterion-Based Assessment: What It Means

Criterion-based assessment means students are measured against clear standards, not against other students. Every learner can achieve high levels if they meet the criteria. Each MYP subject uses:

Focus on skill development rather than labels. MYP grades highlight how well specific skills are developing, not whether a student fits into a fixed category.
See progress across different criteria. Looking at criterion scores shows strengths and areas for growth instead of relying on a single overall grade.
Respond appropriately to results that look lower than expected. Understanding the grading scale helps families view lower grades as guidance for improvement rather than a sign of failure.

This structure allows teachers to assess knowledge, analysis, communication, and application in a balanced way.

Scoring Each Criterion: The 1–8 Scale

Each criterion is scored using an IB grading scale from 1 to 8. These levels describe the quality and consistency of a student’s work. The scale works as follows:

Scores of 7 to 8 show consistent, thorough achievement
Scores of 5 to 6 show secure and developing mastery
Scores of 3 to 4 show basic understanding
Scores of 1 to 2 show limited evidence

A score of 0 means the work does not meet the descriptor at all. This system encourages students to improve specific skills rather than chase a single mark.

Converting Criterion Scores to Final Grades

Final MYP grades are calculated step by step using a clear and transparent process. Rather than relying on a single test or task, the system looks at performance across all required skills within a subject.

Each of the four criteria is scored out of 8, then added together for a total score out of 32. This total is converted into a final grade from 1 to 7 using set grade boundaries, ensuring the final result reflects overall achievement across skills rather than one particularly strong or weak piece of work.

MYP grading combines clear, criterion-based scores into a final grade that reflects overall skill development and consistent progress.

What MYP Grades Mean

MYP grades describe levels of achievement rather than fixed ability. Each grade shows how consistently a student demonstrates the required skills.

Grade 7: Excellent Performance

A grade 7 shows high-level mastery across all criteria, with consistent understanding, accurate application, and thoughtful analysis. Students at this level meet or exceed expectations, communicate ideas clearly, and apply knowledge confidently in new contexts, reflecting strong academic habits and readiness for more advanced challenges.

Grade 6: Proficient Performance

A grade 6 indicates secure understanding and effective skill use, with strong performance across most criteria and only minor gaps. Students at this level show a clear grasp of key concepts, apply skills accurately, and work with consistent effort and organisation, making it a strong and common result among successful MYP learners.

Grade 5: Solid Performance

A grade 5 shows satisfactory achievement and growing mastery, meaning the student meets most criteria but may perform unevenly at times. At this level, students understand essential content, apply skills correctly in familiar situations, and benefit from targeted feedback, signalling good progress and a solid foundation to build on.

Grade 4: Approaching Proficiency

A grade 4 shows basic understanding with some inconsistencies, meaning the student meets minimum expectations but still needs further development. It often reflects partial understanding of key ideas, uneven application of skills, and clear areas for improvement, and it should be seen as guidance on where additional support and practice are needed rather than as a failure.

Grade 3: Basic Understanding

A grade 3 reflects limited achievement, where the student shows some understanding but struggles to apply skills independently; knowledge may be fragmented, responses may lack structure or clarity, and regular guidance is often needed, making this grade a signal for discussion and support rather than concern.

Grade 2: Limited Performance

A grade 2 shows minimal progress, meaning the student struggles to meet the criteria even with support. This often includes incomplete tasks, weak understanding of key concepts, and limited engagement with feedback, signalling the need for targeted intervention and additional academic support.

Grade 1: Very Poor Performance

A grade 1 indicates that expectations are not met, with little evidence of understanding or skill development. This result calls for a careful review of learning needs, coordinated support from teachers and parents, and clear, manageable next steps to help the student move forward.

MYP grades describe levels of achievement and progress, helping students and families understand current performance while identifying clear areas for development.

The Purpose of MYP Grading Beyond Scores

MYP grading is designed to support learning rather than label students. Its real value lies in how it guides growth over time.

Skill Development and Growth Mindset

The MYP focuses on transferable skills such as analysis, communication, and reflection, with grades highlighting progress rather than fixed ability. This approach encourages students to learn from feedback, set realistic improvement goals, and take responsibility for their learning, while treating mistakes as a natural and valuable part of the learning process.

Preparing Students for the DP Programme

The MYP grading structure prepares students for the demands of the Diploma Programme by helping them understand assessment criteria clearly, respond effectively to structured feedback, and build independence and organisation, so they enter the DP already familiar with IB expectations and academic discipline.

MYP grading places the emphasis on developing skills, tracking progress, and building readiness for future academic challenges rather than simply producing a score.

Comparing MYP Grades with IB DP Grades

MYP and DP grading systems serve different purposes. Understanding the differences helps families understand grades set realistic expectations.

Differences in Grading Scales and Purpose

The most visible difference lies in the grading scale and its purpose. The MYP awards a final grade from 1 to 7 based on performance across four criteria scored on a 1 to 8 scale, with an emphasis on skill development and academic progress. In contrast, the IB Diploma Programme uses a direct 1 to 7 scale for each subject, focusing on summative performance and diploma certification. Both systems are academically rigorous, but they assess achievement in distinct ways.

Assessment Style and Expectations: MYP vs DP

Assessment in the MYP is ongoing and formative, while DP assessment is more exam-focused. There is an e-assessment for MYP, however this is not used by many schools.

In the MYP, assessment is designed to support learning throughout the course rather than focus only on final outcomes.

Teachers use frequent feedback to guide improvement and help students refine specific skills over time.
Coursework and projects play a central role by allowing students to demonstrate understanding through sustained tasks and real-world applications.
Skills are assessed across varied tasks so progress in thinking, communication, and application can be seen in different contexts.

In the DP, assessment places greater emphasis on performance at key assessment points.

Final exams carry significant weight and largely determine a student’s final subject grade.
Internal assessments are externally moderated to ensure consistency and fairness across IB World Schools.
Performance under exam conditions is critical as students must demonstrate depth of knowledge, analysis, and clear expression within strict time limits.

This shift can feel challenging, but MYP habits help ease the transition.

What a Strong MYP Record Suggests for DP Success

A strong MYP record suggests that a student has developed the skills needed for DP success, including time management, critical thinking, structured writing, and independent study habits. While MYP grades do not transfer directly into the Diploma Programme, the skills that underpin them play an important role in long-term academic progress.

Limitations of Direct Grade Comparison

It is important not to compare MYP and DP grades directly, as a grade 6 in MYP does not suggest the same result in the Diploma Programme. The two programmes use different assessment formats, involve a heavier academic workload in DP, and place higher expectations on depth, precision, and exam performance. MYP grades are best viewed as indicators of progress and readiness rather than firm predictions of future results.

The focus in the Middle Years Programme is on learning and skill development, while Diploma Programme grades reflect performance under more demanding academic conditions.

Using MYP Grades to Prepare for DP

MYP grades are most useful when they inform future learning. They highlight strengths and guide preparation for the Diploma Programme.

Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses

Looking beyond the final grade is essential because criterion scores show where a student is strong and where further development is needed. By reviewing criterion-level feedback, identifying recurring patterns, and setting specific improvement goals, students can use assessment information more effectively and make meaningful academic progress.

Building Exam Skills Early

Although MYP exams differ from DP exams, they help students develop essential academic skills such as interpreting command terms, structuring written responses, and managing time under pressure. Building these skills early supports confidence and reduces stress as assessment demands increase later on.

Applying MYP Feedback to DP Challenges

Feedback in the MYP is detailed and specific, and learning to act on it is one of the programme’s greatest strengths. Students who use feedback well tend to improve steadily over time, build academic resilience, and move into the Diploma Programme with greater confidence, making this habit more important than any single grade.

Used thoughtfully, MYP grades help students understand their strengths, address gaps early, and develop the skills and habits needed for a confident transition into the Diploma Programme.

Ready to Master Your MYP Journey? Or Confused About How You Are Doing?

Understanding the MYP grading scale helps students take ownership of their learning, especially when guided by expert MYP tutors who know how to interpret criteria, feedback, and achievement levels accurately. With the right mindset and targeted support, grades become practical tools for reflection and progress rather than labels that define ability.

If you are confused about how to improve academically, our tutors are MYP teachers, so can help you recognise the skills you need to target to improve.

With consistent feedback and structured guidance, MYP grades form a strong foundation for future success. At TutorsPlus, students are supported in using their results to strengthen skills, build confidence, and prepare effectively for the Diploma Programme or other academic pathways where these habits truly matter. Get started with a free trial on +41 22 731 8148 or , and let us support your child throughout their IB Middle Years Programme journey.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What Is the Difference Between MYP and DP Grading?

MYP grading focuses on skill development using criterion-based assessment. DP grading focuses on summative performance linked to diploma qualification.

Can My MYP Grade Predict My DP Success?

MYP grades alone do not predict DP results. However, strong MYP skills and consistent effort support DP success.

How Are Final MYP Grades Calculated?

Each subject uses four criteria scored from 0 to 8. These are added together and converted into a final grade from 1 to 7.

What Does a Grade 5 in MYP Mean?

A grade 5 shows solid achievement. The student meets expectations and has clear areas for further development.

How Can I Use My MYP Grades to Prepare for DP?

Focus on criterion feedback, improve weaker skills, and practise organisation and independent study.

Are MYP Grades Standardised Internationally?

Yes. MYP grading criteria and standards are set by the IB and applied consistently across IB World Schools worldwide.