Middle Years Programme
Assessment

Validation of grades

Schools that choose to have the grades of their final-year students validated by the IB are required to submit samples of student work for external moderation. In this way, standardization of assessment according to world standards for the programme is ensured.

Grades are awarded by the school as a result of rigorously applying the prescribed subject group criteria and corresponding achievement levels to the work of students. Samples of this work are reviewed by external moderators, appointed and trained by the IB, who apply the same criteria and achievement levels.

The results of this process are:

• the application of a moderation factor where needed (ie where subject teachers have been too generous or too harsh)
• detailed advice for the school in relation to understanding subject-specific objectives and applying the assessment criteria.

Once the moderation process has been completed, each student receives:

• an official IB record of achievement displaying the grades achieved for each subject and for the personal project
• an official IB certificate (providing certain stated requirements have been met).