IB Results Day 2026: Key Dates & What to Expect

Results day is almost here. You've worked hard for two years, and now it's time to see what you've achieved.

Whether you're feeling confident, nervous or somewhere in between, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know—from exactly when results are released to what happens next with your university applications.

Let's break it all down so you can face results day feeling prepared and in control.

Key Takeaways

• Results release: Students taking May exams get their results on 6th July 2026 at 12:00 GMT. Schools and universities receive them the day before.

• Access your results: Log into the IB candidate website using your personal code and PIN (get these from your school coordinator beforehand).

• Check your UCAS Hub: UK students should check their UCAS account to see if they've met their firm or insurance offers.

• Know your options: If your grades are lower than expected, you have several paths forward, including Enquiry Upon Results, clearing, or resits.

• Get support: Speak to your school coordinator, teachers, or trusted adults. You're not alone in this.

When Do IB Results Come Out in 2026?

IB results day depends on which exam session you took and where you’re located. This guide focuses on the May 2026 session—the main exam period for students in the Northern Hemisphere.

When do students get IB results?

IB results day 2026 for the May exam series will be 6th July 2026.

• You'll be able to access your results from 12:00 GMT onwards through the IB candidate website.

When do schools and universities get IB results?

• Schools and universities receive IB results the day before students, on the 5th July 2026.

• This gives them time to process applications and make decisions before you see your grades.

November exam session

If you're taking November exams instead, results are sent to schools at 9 pm GMT 16th December, followed by staggered releases to students by time zone.

What Time Are Results Released?

May results go live at 12:00 GMT (midday UK time) on results day.

Time zone conversions:

• 12:00 GMT (London)

• 13:00 CET (Paris, Berlin, Madrid)

• 14:00 EET (Athens, Cairo)

• 20:00 HKT (Hong Kong)

• 21:00 JST (Tokyo)

• 07:00 EST (New York)

These details can be found on the IB Assessment FAQs (opens in a new tab).

How to Access Your IB Results

The IB releases results through its secure candidate website. Here's exactly how to access yours.

Before Results Day: Get Your Login Details

Contact your school's IB coordinator before results day to get your:

• Personal code

• Individual PIN

Write these down somewhere safe. You'll need them to log in.

Candidate Website Walkthrough

Step 1: Go to the IB candidate website (opens in a new tab)

Step 2: Enter your personal code and PIN in the login fields

Step 3: Read the terms and conditions, then click 'I Accept' at the bottom of the page

Step 4: Click either the 'View results' button or select the 'Results' tab at the top of the screen

Step 5: Your results will display showing your grades for each subject, your TOK/EE points, total score out of 45, and whether you've been awarded the diploma

Troubleshooting & Common Errors

• Forgotten PIN or personal code? Contact your school's IB coordinator immediately. They can provide your details.

• "Account locked" error? This usually means you've entered incorrect details multiple times. Wait 30 minutes and try again, or contact your coordinator.

• Website won't load or is very slow? The site gets extremely busy on results day. Try refreshing the page, or wait 10-15 minutes before trying again. Consider using a different browser or device if problems persist.

• Can't access the site at all? Make sure you're using the correct URL (candidates.ibo.org (opens in a new tab)). If you're still having issues, ask your coordinator to access your results and share them with you directly.

What to Have Ready on Results Day

Being organised makes results day much less stressful. Here's your essential checklist:

✓ Stable internet connection – Test your WiFi beforehand. Have mobile data as backup.

✓ Charged device (plus charger) – Whether it's your laptop, tablet or phone, make sure it's fully charged. Keep your charger nearby.

✓ Login credentials – Your IB personal code and PIN, written down clearly.

✓ UCAS details – Your UCAS ID number, firm and insurance choices, and offer conditions.

✓ University contact numbers – Save admissions office numbers for your firm and insurance choices in your phone.

✓ Notepad and pen – For jotting down next steps, advice from teachers, or details from university calls.

✓ A calm space – Find somewhere quiet where you can process your results without distractions.

✓ Support person nearby – Have a parent, guardian, or friend available for emotional support.

Understanding Your IB Results

Your results page shows several important pieces of information. Here's how to read it.

• Subject grades: Each of your six subjects is graded from 1-7, with 7 being the highest.

• TOK and Extended Essay: These are graded separately and combined to give you up to 3 additional points towards your total.

  • Total points: This is your overall score out of 45 maximum.

• CAS completion: You'll see confirmation of whether you've completed your Creativity, Activity, Service requirement.

  • Diploma awarded: The page will clearly state whether you've been awarded the IB Diploma or not.

IB Pass Requirements at a Glance

To pass the IB Diploma, you must meet ALL of these requirements:

• 24 points minimum out of 45 total

• No grade 1 in any subject

• No more than two grade 2s

• At least 12 points from your three Higher Level subjects

• At least 9 points from your three Standard Level subjects

• Not an E grade in both TOK and Extended Essay (one E is allowed, but not both)

• CAS completed

If you meet all these requirements, you've passed and earned your IB Diploma. Well done! We’ve put together plenty of ideas on how to celebrate your IB results for you. If things haven’t gone as planned, there are options, which we will explain below. 

UCAS Points Equivalencies

If you're applying to UK universities, they often state entry requirements in UCAS points. Here's how IB grades convert:

Example: If you score 7 in History HL, 6 in English HL, 5 in Biology HL, plus SL subjects, your HL points alone would be 56 + 48 + 32 = 136 UCAS points.

Most universities also consider your total IB diploma score (out of 45) rather than just UCAS points. Check your specific offer conditions.

What Your UCAS Hub Might Show

UK students should log into their UCAS Hub on results day to see university decisions. Here's what the different statuses mean:

• Unconditional – Congratulations! Your place on the course is confirmed. This could be from your firm choice, insurance choice, or both.

• Unsuccessful – Unfortunately, you haven't been accepted by this choice. If both your firm and insurance show this, you'll automatically be eligible for clearing.

• Unconditional Changed Course (UCC) – You haven't met the required grades for your original course, but the university wants to offer you a place on a different course. You usually have 5 days to accept or decline this offer.

Quick Scripts for Calling Universities

If you need to contact universities on results day, here are some helpful scripts:

For reconsideration (if you've narrowly missed your offer):

"Hello, my name is [Your Name] and my UCAS ID is [ID Number]. I've just received my IB results and scored [Your Score]. I narrowly missed the conditions for [Course Name], and I wondered if there's any flexibility in the offer or if you could reconsider my application?"

For UCC clarification:

"Hi, I'm [Your Name], UCAS ID [Number]. I've received an Unconditional Changed Course offer for [New Course Name]. Could you explain the main differences between this and [Original Course], and whether I'd be able to transfer back to the original course later?"

For clearing enquiries:

"Hello, my name is [Your Name] and I'm interested in [Course Name] through clearing. I've achieved [Your IB Score] points. Do you have spaces available, and what's the next step in the process?"

Stay polite and have your UCAS ID and results ready before calling.

If Your Grades Are Lower Than Expected

First things first: breathe. If your results aren't what you hoped for, you have options.  

Step 1: Speak to your IB coordinator 

Before doing anything else, talk to your coordinator. They can help you understand your grades and discuss next steps.

Step 2: Check your UCAS Hub 

See what your universities have decided. You might still get an offer even if you missed your predicted grades—some universities show flexibility.

Step 3: Contact your firm and insurance choices 

If you've narrowly missed your offer, call the admissions office. Explain your situation. Some universities may still accept you, especially if you're only a point or two short.

Step 4: Consider your options

You have several paths forward:

• Accept your insurance offer if you've been accepted there

• Enter clearing to find alternative university places

• Request an Enquiry Upon Results (EUR) if you think a grade might be wrong

• Take a gap year and reapply next year

• Resit exams in November or next May to improve your grades

All of these are valid choices. What's right depends on your individual circumstances and goals.

Check out our article on what happens if you fail the IB to explore your options more deeply. We also have a handy guide to what happens if you fail TOK or CAS.

Appealing Your IB Results (Enquiry Upon Results)

If you genuinely believe one or more of your grades is incorrect, you can request an Enquiry Upon Results (EUR). This is the IB's official appeals process.

Important: You can't submit an EUR yourself. Your school's IB coordinator must do it on your behalf.

Two categories exist:

• Category 1 (Clerical Re-check): The IB checks for administrative errors like marks being added up incorrectly. 

• Category 2 (Re-mark): Your work is re-marked by a senior examiner.

Critical warning: Your grade can go up, down, or stay the same after an EUR. If it goes down, the lower grade stands. You can't get your original grade back.

Because of this risk, your coordinator will need written consent from you (or your parent/guardian) before submitting an EUR.

EUR Timeline & Costs

Deadline: Typically 2-3 weeks after results day (your coordinator will know the exact deadline)

Processing time: Results usually come back within 2-4 weeks

Who pays: This varies by school. Some schools cover EUR costs, others ask families to pay. Check with your coordinator.

Our guide to appealing the IB exam results will lead you through the process step by step.

Retaking IB Exams

If you want to improve your grades, you can retake one or more subjects in a future exam session.

When can you retake?

• Next May session (one year away)

• Next November session (about 4-5 months away for May candidates)

How to retake: Speak to your school's IB coordinator first. They'll explain whether your school supports retakes or if you need to register through another IB World School.

Costs: Retake fees vary by school and session, but expect to pay exam entry fees plus potential teaching/materials costs.

Do universities care? Most UK universities accept resit grades, though some competitive courses may have policies about this. Check with individual universities.

Your best grade counts: If you resit and score lower, your original higher grade still stands. The IB always uses your best result.

Our ultimate guide to IB retakes will help you navigate the process. For comprehensive revision support, check out Save My Exams' IB resources. Be sure to make an excellent IB revision timetable with the help of our handy guide. 

IB Results Trends

Wondering how your results compare to other students? Here are the key global statistics from May 2024 (opens in a new tab) and the 2023 (opens in a new tab) results for the UK (the most recent UK-specific data available). You will see that UK IB students typically outperform global averages:

These statistics help you understand where your results sit in the broader context, but remember—every student's journey is unique.

Wellbeing & Support

Results day can be emotionally intense, whether your grades are great, disappointing, or somewhere in between.

If you're feeling overwhelmed:

• Talk to a trusted adult—parent, guardian, teacher, or school counsellor

• Remember that grades don't define your worth as a person

• Take breaks from screens and social media if comparisons are making you feel worse

• Reach out to friends who might be feeling similar emotions

Helpful resources:

• Your school's wellbeing team

• Exam anxiety resources - Our exam anxiety support kit will help

• Shout Crisis Text Line (opens in a new tab) – Text SHOUT to 85258 (UK)

• Childline (opens in a new tab) – 0800 1111 (UK)

• The Mix (opens in a new tab) – Support for under-25s

Whatever your results, there are people who care and want to help. Our article on what’s next after IB will help you think ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my university still accept me if I miss my offer?

Yes, possibly. Universities can show flexibility, especially if you've only narrowly missed the required grades. Call the admissions office on results day and explain your situation. Some universities make these decisions on a case-by-case basis. 

Can I see my individual paper marks or breakdowns?

Not directly on your results page. Your IB results show your overall subject grades but not individual paper scores or coursework marks. However, you can ask your IB coordinator to request this information from the IB. 

How many times can I resit IB exams and will universities mind?

You can resit IB exams as many times as you like—there's no limit these days. However, some competitive UK universities or courses may have policies preferring first-time grades. Most universities accept resit grades normally, but it's worth checking with specific institutions if you're concerned.

Will EUR/remark delay my university place?

Potentially yes. EUR results usually take 2-4 weeks to come back. If you're relying on a grade change to meet your university offer, this delay might cause issues with course start dates. Contact your firm choice university immediately to explain you've requested an EUR and ask if they can hold your place pending the outcome. 

I'm overseas on results day—what should I prepare?

Being abroad on results day is manageable with preparation. Before you leave, get your IB login credentials from your coordinator. Make sure you'll have reliable internet access at your destination. Save important phone numbers (school coordinator, university admissions offices) in your phone. Consider time zone differences for when results go live. Most importantly, discuss your plans with your coordinator before travelling.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're celebrating brilliant grades or facing unexpected challenges, remember that multiple paths lead to success.

Whatever your results, take a moment to acknowledge everything you've achieved over the past two years. The IB Diploma Programme is demanding, and completing it shows dedication, resilience, and intellectual curiosity.

Next steps:

• Check your UCAS Hub decisions

• Speak to your school coordinator about any concerns

• Contact universities if needed

• Make informed decisions about EUR, clearing, or resits

• Seek support if you're struggling

For comprehensive IB revision resources and resit support, explore Save My Exams' IB materials.

You've got this. Good luck!

References

• The IB Diploma Programme and Career-Related Programme Final Statistical Bulletin (opens in a new tab) 

• IB results 2023: UK beats global average in diploma exams | Tes (opens in a new tab)