Explaining the MYP Grading System: An Insight into MYP Grades and Their Relation to IB DP Grades
The Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) are two renowned educational programmes that offer students a comprehensive learning experience. However, their grading systems and assessment structures differ significantly, as we will explore.
The MYP employs a criterion-related assessment system, where students are evaluated against specific criteria for each subject, and they receive levels from 1 to 8 for each criterion. These levels reflect the degree to which the student has met the stated objectives and criteria of the subject.
On the other hand, the DP grading system is more standardized and uses a scale from 1 to 7 points for each subject, with 7 being the highest. Students are graded externally on exams and internally on coursework. The Diploma score is the sum of six subjects (max 42 points) plus up to 3 bonus points from core components—Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and Extended Essay (EE)—making a maximum of 45 points total.
One key difference between the two programmes is the focus of assessment. The MYP focuses on continuous formative assessment based on strands of learning objectives in each subject group, giving detailed feedback on specific skills and knowledge. Final MYP results give an overall grade from 1 to 7 based on achievement levels across criteria but emphasize criterion-based growth more than summative totals.
In contrast, the DP combines course grades with performance in the three core elements (TOK, EE, CAS), and award of the diploma requires a minimum point threshold (24 points) and meeting certain conditions.
Another contrast is the nature of the assessments. The MYP assessment is internal and school-based, following IB guidelines, while the DP assessment includes external exams that heavily influence final grades.
To achieve top scores in the DP, students should master the syllabus content, practice with past papers and mark schemes, develop strong writing and evaluation skills, and use their MYP habits to stay on top. Similarly, RevisionDojo can guide students towards top marks and university-ready confidence, offering DP subject tutorials, past paper walkthroughs, exam tips, and expert strategies to help students consistently hit level 7 across all subjects.
Understanding these differences is crucial for students preparing to transition from the MYP to the IB DP. The MYP grades are not the end but the foundation for DP success. As students embark on their journey towards the DP, they should remember that the MYP provides a clear picture of how well they have mastered subject-specific skills and knowledge, setting them up for success in the more exam-oriented DP.
The MYP, with its focus on formative assessment and criterion-based growth, provides students with a comprehensive education-and-self-development experience by evaluating their skills and knowledge in specific criteria across subjects. On the other hand, the DP, through its more standardized grading system and external exams, offers students the opportunity for learning in a more exam-oriented environment, while also requiring mastery of the syllabus content, writing and evaluation skills, and the implementation of habits learned in the MYP, to achieve top scores.
