MYP Grading Explained: Criteria, the 1–8 Levels and the Final 1–7 Grade
MYP grading confuses a lot of students and parents because it uses two different scales: criteria are marked out of 8, but the final grade is out of 7. Here is how the two connect.
Step 1 — Four criteria, each out of 8
Every MYP subject is assessed against four criteria (A, B, C, D). Each criterion is marked from 0 to 8 using level descriptors — bands of wording (usually 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–8) that describe what a piece of work at that level looks like. Teachers match a student’s work to the descriptor it best fits.
Step 2 — Add the criterion levels
Across a reporting period the four criterion levels are combined to give a total out of 32. A student does not need every task to hit all four criteria; teachers use their professional judgement of the best-fit level for each criterion based on the body of work.
Step 3 — Apply the grade boundaries
The total out of 32 is then converted to a final MYP grade from 1 to 7 using the IB’s general grade boundaries. Grade 7 represents excellent, consistent achievement; grade 4 sits around adequate; grade 1 represents very limited achievement.
Why criterion feedback matters more than a single mark
Because each criterion is separate, feedback tells you exactly where to improve — you might be strong on Knowing and understanding but need work on evaluating or communicating. That is why CritABCD marks practice against each criterion individually rather than giving one percentage.
Frequently asked questions
Each of the four criteria is marked out of 8. The four levels are combined (out of 32) and converted through grade boundaries into a final grade from 1 to 7.
Grade 6–7 is excellent, 4–5 is solid/good, and 3 is around the threshold of adequate achievement. Boundaries are set by the IB.
Yes — the four criteria are equally weighted, each out of 8.