When is IB Results Day 2026?
Our guide takes you through all of the essential details of the day and explains the options available to your child once they have received their results.
When is the IB (International Baccalaureate) results day?
IB results day is on 6th July 2026 (England and Wales). Schools can access results from 12pm on the 5th July. Waiting for IB results can be stressful for parents and students alike – as well as being the culmination of your high school experience, they are key to your university application. This article explains all the details of the day and what to do if your child’s results aren’t as expected.
How do you collect your child’s IB Results?
- Students can login directly to the IB candidate website – you will need your personal code and individual pin, which is available from your programme coordinator.
- The IB website gives helpful information about how your child scored compared to other students across the world.
- Scores range from 1-7, with 7 being the highest. Most universities look for scores over 40 points for popular courses, including marks from the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and CAS.
How do you prepare for IB Results day?
We advise parents and students to be prepared, focussed and fast moving.
- Have a plan in place to cover every contingency – including higher and lower than expected marks.
- Ensure you have your PIN and personal code readily to hand.
What do I do if my IB marks are lower than expected?
It is natural to feel disappointed if your results are not as good as you hoped – particularly if this means you can’t get onto your choice of university programme. If you feel that a particular results is much lower than you expected, or if you believe there is a general issue with your marks being too low, there are several things you can do:
- You should contact your school immediately. They can request a remark through your school, from the IB Organisation. The deadline for appeals is typically early September. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can escalate your case to the IBO.
- Discuss your university options – many courses may adjust their requirements and may accommodate you. You can contact the university directly to discuss this.
- Consider retaking exams. At SLT, we have expert IB retake tutors who can help increase grades by up to 50% in a few months. You can then reapply to university the following year. The deadline for applying for retakes is 15th October, but fees are lower if you register before 29th July. The retake date is November 2025
- IB students can apply via UCAS clearing from 5th July onwards, although most universities only release places after A Level results are released.
Can my child retake their IB exams?
With IB’s being the key to university admission, the decision about retakes will depend largely on which universities honour their offers, if grades are lower than expected. In many cases, they may still make an offer on marginally lower grades. If you are not made an offer you can apply through clearing and then make a decision to retake based on results.
How do universities get my IB results?
Results can be sent either directly from your school or you can instruct them to be sent from the IB portal yourself. In most UK schools, the examinations team will have set up for the universities to be notified automatically so there is nothing for you to do.
My IB results were lower than I hoped – can I still go to university?
If you are set on starting university this year there are a number of ways that you can make the most of a lower than predicted IB score:
Foundation Courses – many universities offer a Foundation Year that will allow you to develop subject specific skills which will allow you to then progress to a full honours degree at the same or another university. Employers are not particularly interested in how many years it took to get your degree. The final grade is more important.
Alternative Courses – you can pivot to an easier course at your chosen university – many universities will make an offer for a less competitive course. After the first year you MAY be able to move over to your preferred course, possible without repeating the first year again.
Think Globally – the IB is a transferable, global qualification. There may be institutions in different countries that will offer the course you want for a lower IB score.
Apprenticeship – although less well considered academically, changing tack to a more vocational course could give you a much rewarding outcome.
How can SLT help?
- If you and your child decide they should retake, then we can help you to make a plan of action so they can achieve the best possible results.
- We can provide expert tuition with IB subject specialist tutors to boost your mark for a better university placement next year
- Our education consultants are on hand to help with plans for university applications including out UCAS Clearing Service and advice tailored to your unique circumstances.