What Happens If You Fail an IB Internal Assessment?

Worried you've messed up your Internal Assessment (IA)? You're not alone. Every year, many IB students panic about their IA results, convinced one bad submission has ruined everything. They take months of work, and when they don't go to plan, it feels like your entire diploma is on the line.

However, failing an IA doesn't mean failing the IB. Not even close.

If you’re wondering, “what if I fail an IB Internal Assessment?” - this guide has the answers. You'll learn how much it actually affects your final grade, what your options are, and how to bounce back stronger. 

Key Takeaways

• Your IA is important, but it's not everything -  it typically counts for 20-30% of your final subject grade, meaning your exams still carry most of the weight

• One low IA score won't automatically fail you - the IB diploma considers your overall performance across all subjects and components

• Your marks can recover - strong exam performance can offset a weak IA.

What Does "Failing" an IA Actually Mean?

Let's clear up what "failing" actually means in IB terms. The IB doesn't use traditional pass/fail language for Internal Assessments. Instead, your IA is marked against specific criteria and given a score out of a maximum number of marks (this varies by subject).

According to the IBO Grade Descriptors (opens in a new tab), your IA is marked using subject-specific rubrics with different achievement levels. Getting a low score - marks in the lowest grade bands - might feel like failing, but it doesn't automatically mean you've failed the entire subject.

Your IA mark gets combined with your exam results to create your final subject grade (1-7). Even if your IA score is disappointing, you can still pass the subject overall if your exam performance is strong enough.

So when students say they've "failed" their IA, they usually mean they've scored lower than they hoped, not that they've been given an automatic fail for the subject or diploma.

You can read more about IAs and what they are on Save My Exams. 

How Much Does Your IA Affect Your Final Grade?

Understanding the weighting of your IA helps put things in perspective.

The percentage your IA contributes varies by subject. Here are a few examples:

Sciences

• Biology (opens in a new tab) - 20%

• Chemistry (opens in a new tab) - 20%

• Physics (opens in a new tab) - 20%

• Sports, Exercise and Health Science (opens in a new tab) - 24%

Individuals and Societies

• History SL (opens in a new tab) - 25%

• History HL (opens in a new tab) - 20%

• Social and Cultural Anthropology HL and SL (opens in a new tab) - 25% 

Mathematics: 

• For both Analysis and Approaches and Applications and Interpretation (opens in a new tab) - 20% (this IA is called ‘Exploration’).

Languages (Language & Literature, Language A, Language B): 

• Classical Languages (opens in a new tab) - 20%

• Language B - 25%

Arts: 

• Music (opens in a new tab) - 30% (SL) or 50% (HL)

What Happens If You Get a Low Mark on Your IA?

So, you've submitted your IA, and you're worried the mark is low. What actually happens next?

• Your teacher marks it first. They'll use the official IB criteria to give you a score. 

• The IBO moderates it. For most subjects, the IB doesn't mark every single IA. Instead, they use a moderation process where a sample of IAs from your school are reviewed by external examiners. If your teacher's marking is too harsh or too generous, the IB moderator may adjust all the marks from your school up or down to match IB standards.

• It's combined with your exam results. Once exams are over, your IA mark is weighted (according to the percentages above) and combined with your exam scores to produce your final subject grade out of 7.

• Your subject grade contributes to your diploma total. The IB diploma requires you to:

  • Score at least 24 points overall (across six subjects)

  • Complete your core requirements (TOK, EE, CAS)

A low IA mark will pull your subject grade down slightly, but it won't necessarily stop you from passing the subject or earning the diploma, especially if your exams go well.

Can You Still Pass the Subject or Get the Diploma?

Yes, you can. Here’s how:.

Passing an individual subject: 

• To pass a subject, you need to score at least a grade 4 out of 7. Because your IA is only 20-30% of your grade in most subjects, even a very low IA score can be balanced out by solid exam performance.

For example: 

• If your IA is worth 20% and you score poorly (say 30% of the available IA marks), you'd get 6% towards your final weighted score. 

• But if you score 70% on your exams (worth 80%), that's 56% total — which could still translate to a grade 4 or 5, depending on grade boundaries.

Getting the IB Diploma: 

• The diploma requires a minimum of 24 points across your six subjects, with no subject scored below a 2. 

• You also need to meet other conditions: 

  • Scoring at least 12 points at Higher Level

  • No more than three grade 3s (or below) awarded

  • Successfully completing TOK, EE, and CAS

Head to the IBO DP Passing Criteria page (opens in a new tab) for more information.

What To Do If You Think You've Failed an IA

If you're worried about your IA, here's your 4-step action plan:

1. Talk to your teacher immediately. They can give you honest feedback about where you actually stand. Ask them to explain your mark against the rubric and whether there's room for improvement in other assessments.

2. Review the marking criteria. Go back to the subject guide and look at the IA rubric. Understanding exactly what you missed can help you avoid the same mistakes in future work or exams.

3. Focus on your exams. Remember, your exams carry 75-80% of your grade in most subjects. This is where you can make up ground. Channel your energy into revision, not regret.

4. Get support. Whether it's extra tutoring, revision guides from Save My Exams, or just talking through your worries with friends or family, don't struggle alone.

Can You Retake or Resubmit an IA?

This is one of the most common questions, and the answer is a bit complicated.

During your IB programme: Generally, no. Once you've submitted your IA to the IB (through your school), you can't redo it and resubmit in the same examination session. The IB's academic honesty policy means that your IA submission is final for that session.

If you fail to meet diploma requirements: If you don't meet the conditions for the diploma (for example, if you're awarded a grade 1 in a subject), you may be eligible to retake that subject in a later session, including resubmitting the IA component.

How To Bounce Back From a Disappointing IA Result

Getting a low IA mark stings. But here's how to turn it around:

• Give yourself a moment. 

  • It's okay to feel frustrated or upset. Acknowledge the disappointment, then move forward.

• Reflect honestly on what went wrong. 

  • Did you misunderstand the criteria? Run out of time? Struggle with the research process? Identifying the real issue helps you avoid repeating it.

• Create a focused revision plan. 

  • Your exams are your chance to shine. Explore our bank of revision tips to find the study techniques that work for you.

• Use your IA experience to improve exam technique. 

  • If your IA showed gaps in your understanding, now's the time to fix them. Focus on the skills and content areas that your IA highlighted as weak points.

• Stay positive and realistic. 

  • The IA doesn't define your IB journey. Plenty of students bounce back from low IA marks to achieve fantastic final grades. You can too.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the minimum IA mark I need to pass a subject?

There's no set minimum IA mark to pass a subject. Your final subject grade (1-7) is calculated by combining your IA and exam results, weighted according to the subject's assessment structure.

Can I fail the IA and still get a 6 or 7 overall?

Technically, it's possible, but it would require near-perfect exam results.

If your IA is worth 20% and you score very poorly (say 20% of the IA marks), you'd contribute only 4% to your final weighted percentage. To reach a grade 6 or 7, you'd need to score extremely highly on your exams to compensate.

Will failing an IA stop me getting into university?

Not necessarily.

Universities base offers on your predicted grades and final IB diploma points, not on individual component marks like your IA. They won't see your IA mark separately.

Most UK universities make conditional offers based on overall IB points and specific subject grades (for example, "32 points with 6,6,5 at Higher Level"). As long as you meet those conditions, how you got there (via exams vs IA) doesn't usually matter.

Final Thoughts

A disappointing IA result can feel like the end of the world, but it isn’t.

Yes, your IA matters. Yes, you should take it seriously. But one low mark on one component of one subject doesn't define your IB diploma or your future.

So take a breath. Talk to your teachers. Make a plan. And remember: with focus, support, and determination, there are still plenty of ways to succeed in the IB and achieve your goals.

References

IBO - Grade Descriptors (opens in a new tab)

IBO - Biology Subject Brief (opens in a new tab)

IBO - Chemistry Subject Brief (opens in a new tab)

IBO - Sports, Exercise and Health Science Subject Brief (opens in a new tab)

IBO - History HL Subject Brief (opens in a new tab)

IBO - History SL Subject Brief (opens in a new tab)

IBO - Social and Cultural Anthropology Subject Brief (opens in a new tab)

IBO - Maths (opens in a new tab)

IBO - Classical Languages Subject Brief (opens in a new tab)

IBO - Language B Subject Brief (opens in a new tab)

IBO - Music Subject Brief (opens in a new tab)

IBO - DP Passing Criteria (opens in a new tab)