IB Results Day 2021: What You Need to Know

It’s less than two weeks until IB Results Day. Once again, Covid-19 has created new challenges and uncertainties for students taking the IB Diploma Programme. Whilst most UK exam boards cancelled in-school examinations this summer, the International Baccalaureate Organisation decided that schools can choose between examinations or an assessment option. It has created an unusual situation where students in Singapore and Hong Kong were able to sit their IBDP exams in May, while their peers in the UK and the UAE for example will be awarded teacher-predicted grades.

The focus now is on the results, which will be announced on Tuesday, July 6.

If you are currently planning to go to university in the UK this September, exam results day carries significantly more meaning than if you plan, for example, to go to the US (where students will have already been accepted irrespective of results), or India, (where it is the university entry exams that matter).

In this guide we look at what UK university hopefuls need to know, and what you can do if things do not go exactly to plan...

Check WhichSchoolAdvisor.com from July 6 for a comprehensive round-up of IB results in Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK, Vietnam, Thailand, the UAE.

When and how will I get my IB results?

The IB results are published on July 5 and made available to all students on Tuesday, July 6 at 12 pm GMT; your school can decide to issue them to you on paper first on July 5. From July 6, you can access your results online by logging in here; you’ll need your personal code and PIN to log in, which your IB Coordinator will have provided to you earlier in the year.

What do I need to do on results day?

Be prepared by having the below ready:

• If you've applied to a UK university, have your Track sign in details handy and check that your contact details are updated
• Make sure that you're available on results day, because most universities cannot speak to anyone else about your application details unless you have given them access to do so
• Check how your results are sent to the universities you have applied to. Most come directly from the awarding organisations such as the IBO; if not, you will need to send your exam results to your universities or colleges yourself

What happens if my results meet the requirements for my university offer?

In most countries, your chosen university will be notified of your results automatically. In this case you don’t need to do anything.

What happens if I have applied to a UK university?

If you're going to university in the UK, UCAS receives your results directly and will update 'Track' – this is normally about 8am GMT. While Track will tell you whether your chosen university has accepted you, it won't detail your grades. You may well be accepted for your firm choice even if you haven't achieved the exact requirements of your offer.

The Track system will be very busy, so you will need to be patient to find out whether you’ve been successful. Try not to stress too much – although doing so is of course totally understandable. Universities may also take a while to make their decision and for this to show on Track. If Track is not updating, you can always contact them directly over the phone.

When Track updates to show your place is confirmed, UCAS will email an AS12 letter. Follow the instructions as to what your university requires you to do. Some don't need you to do anything else to confirm your place, but others do. Store the email. You'll need it as proof to open a student bank account and other official requirements.

What happens if I do not get the results I want?

University offers are often dependent different factors; for example, it’s possible to score the required overall grade but not the required grades for your HL subjects. So, it’s important to read your original offer requirements carefully so you know where you stand. Seek advice from your chosen university, and in many cases, they can decide to accept you anyway.

The university may wait until after A Level and other results days before deciding on your place, so you’ll need to be patient. (A Level and BTEC results are published on August 10). Read more about A Level Results, Appeals and Resits here. Alternatively, the university may let you know that they will not be holding your place. If so, you need to speak to your second-choice university if you have met their requirements.

If you are not offered the university place you want, students who sat the IB exams can consider getting their exams remarked. However, remember that your results can go down as well as up. You may prefer to retake some of your exams in November or next May; your IB coordinator will be able to advise you the deadline for registering. Or, if applying to a UK university, you can enter the Clearing process.

What is Clearing?

If you do not get the grades you need for your original university course, and you still want to go to university in the UK, then you need to go through Clearing.

UCAS Clearing is for anyone who didn't meet the conditions of their university offer, did better than they expected and wants to see if they can find a 'better' course, didn't receive any offers - or anyone that accepted no offers.

You can apply for a place through Clearing from July 5 until October 19, providing you are not already holding an offer from a university or college, and the course you're applying to still has space. If you decide that the firm offer choice is perhaps not the right one after all, you will need to ask the university to withdraw the offer in order to enable you to go through Clearing.

More than 60,000 applicants obtained places through Clearing last year. These include places at top universities and on sought after courses, for a whole number of reasons – not least because of students failing to get their grades, or last-minute switches from students who perhaps did better than expected.

What does a grade of ‘P’/’N’ mean?

A ‘P’ right next to any subject taken means that the grade is still pending. An ‘N’ right next to any subject taken means that the IB has not been able to provide a grade for this subject as all requirements have not been met. Students should contact their school’s DP/CP coordinator for further information and assistance. 

Will the November 2021 exam session go ahead as planned?

The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) has said that the November 2021 exam session will follow the same dual route model as the May 2021 session. Schools can choose between one of two pathways: written examinations, where they can be administered safely, or an alternative route using a combination of internal assessment coursework and teacher-predicted grades, where the normal examination process is not possible.

The IBO says: “As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an impact across the globe, we recognise the varying challenges that our schools and students continue to manage, including periods of remote and hybrid learning extended well into 2021.

"As we prepare for upcoming assessment sessions during these uncertain times, the IB is planning for the need to provide a dual assessment model again. Our goal is to ensure all students have equal opportunity to progress despite global disruptions due to COVID-19 and we will carefully consider the impact of the pandemic on students."

Read more
Where to study the IB in Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, the UAE.