Are you an International Baccalaureate student and planning to study in the USA or other countries abroad? To study abroad you should convert your IB scores to GPA to match their entry requirements. As an international student, you might be wondering about converting your Baccalaureate to GPA.
No worries, in this guidance we will talk about the Baccalaureate system and the process through which you can convert your Baccalaureate to GPA. So, let’s discuss it.
What is the International Baccalaureate system?
Before jumping into the conversion process, let’s discuss the International Baccalaureate system. In the IB program, students get graded from 1 to 7 for each subject. A 7 is the best score you can get. They figure out these scores by looking at your coursework, exams, and other tests you take. Let’s explore the IB scoring system.
| IB Scores | Description | Letter Grade |
| 7 | Excellent | A |
| 6 | Very Good | B |
| 5 | Good | C |
| 4 | Satisfactory | D |
| 3 | Adequate (Minimum Passing Grade) | E |
| 2 | Fail | F |
| 1 | Fail | F |
What is GPA?
GPA stands for Grade Point Average, and it’s like a score that shows how well students are doing in school. It’s a number that changes as students complete new classes and earn grades.
GPA is used in the US to measure academic performance. It’s calculated by taking into account grades from various subjects and programs like IB or AP. Essentially, it’s a way to track how successful students are during their school years.
Why should you convert Baccalaureate to GPA?
Lots of schools in the US use GPA, which stands for Grade Point Average, to check how well students are doing in their studies. By changing your IB scores into GPA, colleges can understand and compare your academic abilities more easily.
Baccalaureate to GPA conversion table
Before discussing the process of converting Baccalaureate to GPA let’s explore the IB score to GPA conversion table below.
| IB Score | GPA |
| 7 | 4.0 |
| 6 | 3.7 |
| 5 | 3.3 |
| 4 | 3.0 |
| 3 | 2.7 |
| 2 | 2.3 |
| 1 | 2.0 |
How to Convert Baccalaureate to GPA?
Converting Baccalaureate to GPA is not rocket science. You just have to follow some steps to convert your IB scores into GPA. There are basically 3 steps to convert your Baccalaureate to GPA. Such as-
Assign GPA Values
Typically IB score is evaluated on a scale of 1-7. As we mentioned the IB score to GPA conversion table above, assign your IB score to GPA values. Colleges mostly focus on unweighted grades or a 4.0 scale GPA. If you want to see how your grades compare to other US students who haveø weighted GPAs, just add 1.0 to each of your IB classes before calculating GPA. This way, your IB grades will be on a 5.0 scale, which makes them easier to compare. For example, if you have a 7L, 7H, or 7S, it would be considered as 5.0 instead of 4.0.
Calculate GPA
To find your GPA, add up all your IB subject GPAs and then divide by how many subjects you have. For instance, if you have 6 subjects with GPAs like 3.7, 3.3, 4.0, 3.7, 3.0, and 3.3, add them up (3.7 + 3.3 + 4.0 + 3.7 + 3.0 + 3.3) and then divide by 6. This gives you your GPA, like in this case, 3.58.
Round to the nearest tenth
Most GPAs are rounded to the nearest tenth. So, in the example we talked about earlier, your GPA would be rounded to 3.6.
Understanding the Variations in GPA System
Different places might have different ways of converting grades to a GPA. This is important to keep in mind because it can affect how your grades are understood, especially if you’re moving between schools or countries.
Institutional variations
Colleges and universities might use their own GPA scales, and they might also think about things like how hard your IB classes were or if they were Higher Level or Standard Level.
Weighted and unweighted GPA
Some universities calculate two types of GPAs: weighted and unweighted. Weighted GPAs give extra points for honors, AP, or IB classes because they’re harder.
Admissions Process
When international students apply to top universities, they might look closely at how your IB classes went and what grades you got to really understand how well you did in school.
Specific Requirements
Make sure to ask the colleges or universities you’re applying to about how they convert GPAs. They might have special rules for international students.
Final words
It’s really important to convert your IB scores to a 4.0 GPA for college applications, especially in the US. This guide gives you a general idea, but each school might do things differently.
Make sure to ask the colleges you’re applying to about how they convert GPAs. This way, they can see how well you did in the IB program and understand your achievements better. If you find any difficulties in calculating your Baccalaureate to GPA contact AIMS Education soon.
FAQ
What is a 4.0 GPA in IB?
Ans: When you convert IB scores to a 4.0 GPA scale, a score of 7 is like getting an A with a 4.0, and then it goes down from there. So, if you get a 6, it’s like a high B+ with a 3.7, and it keeps going down like that.
How do you convert Baccalaureate to GPA?
Ans: Most colleges focus on unweighted grades or the 4.0 GPA scale. If you want to see how you stack up against US students with weighted GPAs, just add 1.0 to each of your IB scores before calculating your GPA. This makes the IB scores equivalent to a 5.0 scale instead of a 4.0 scale. For example, an IB score of 7L, 7H, or 7S would become 5.0 instead of 4.0.
Is IB on a 5.0 scale?
Ans: When a student gets an ‘A’ in an Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) class, they usually get 5.0 points for that class. If they get a lower grade, they still get some extra points, but not as many as for an ‘A’.
What is a 7 in IB equivalent to?
Ans: The score 7 in IB is equivalent to the GPA 4.0.
Is a 6 bad in IB?
Ans: A good IB grade is usually between 5 and 7. This shows that the student understands the subject well and has mastered its concepts.
What is 90% in IB?
Ans: In the IB system 90% is equivalent to 6.
