209,607 students worldwide have received their Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) results from the May 2026 examination session, marking the completion of their two-year DP and CP learning journey. This represents a 3.7% increase in the number of students receiving DP and CP results compared with last year’s results.
The IB celebrates the achievements of all students who have reached this important milestone. Over the course of their two-year DP and CP journey, they have cultivated the skills, curiosity, and open-mindedness required to flourish in a complex and interconnected world, starting with meaningful contributions to their communities.
Today’s IB graduates join a community of 2.9 million lifelong learners across 159 countries worldwide where the DP and CP are offered. The global average DP score for the May 2026 session is 30.88 points.
For the May 2026 examination session, the majority of DP and CP students globally completed all assessment components for each subject, with the IB awarding grades using the standard combination of coursework and examinations. Due to regional conflict affecting parts of the Middle East, DP and CP students registered at schools where exams could not be conducted safely were awarded grades through the IB’s rigorous Non-Exam Contingency Measure (NECM). These grades were based on externally assessed coursework, teacher-predicted grades, and additional supporting evidence reviewed by the IB to ensure comparability and fairness.
Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General of the International Baccalaureate, congratulates all Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme students on this important achievement:
“IB graduates around the world have met the academic challenges of this complex, changing age with resilience, curiosity and compassion. We are immensely proud of what IB students have achieved, and I know they will soon begin to bring about positive change in their communities, both locally and globally.”
The Diploma Programme (DP) offers students a globally respected, transformative education that prepares them for university and beyond. Its balanced, inquiry-based curriculum fosters academic achievement, critical thinking, language development, and personal growth. Offered in over 3,900 IB World Schools across 159 countries, the DP aligns with local education systems while nurturing global perspectives and ethical leadership.
A series of 11 studies compared DP courses to equivalent courses from high-performing education systems worldwide, including the United States, France, Brazil, South Korea and Australia. Collectively, these studies provide strong evidence that the DP offers world class courses that consistently meet and often exceed international comparisons. The research underscores the DP’s ability to foster both significant depth and breadth of learning, while also demonstrating its adaptability across diverse educational contexts.
The Career-related Programme (CP) continues to grow globally, with 457 IB World Schools currently offering the programme in 60 countries. The CP is designed for students aged 16–19 who want to combine academic studies with career-related learning. The CP develops key transferable skills such as confidence, responsibility, and a strong sense of purpose, offering students a practical and future-ready pathway.
For more information on how to access results, visit the Getting Results page
 and Career-related Programme (CP) results from the May 2026 examination session, marking the completion of their two-year DP and CP learning journey. This represents a 3.7% increase in the number of students receiving DP and CP results compared with last year’s results.){kind=icon}