IB Business Management exams

IB Business Management: Exams

IB Business Management is externally assessed across HL and SL Paper 1, HL Paper 2, and SL Paper 2, and HL Paper 1 exams. Paper 1 is based on a largely unseen case study but there is a pre-released statement which gives context and background for the business; there is no HL content assessed. Paper 2 will be based on stimulus material. SL and HL students will sit different examinations. HL Paper 3 this is a decision making paper that requires you to make a recommendation to the business, and this business will be a social enterprise..

Grade boundaries in IB Business Management

The grade boundaries associated with marking IB Business Management examinations and exam practice questions.

IB Business Management exam results

Above is a breakdown of the percentages of all final grades awarded when the IB Business Management HL results are released. About 8% of candidates achieve that magic 7. That compares unfavourably to IB Economics (14% gaining 7s) but favourably to IB Psychology (5% gaining 7s).

How your IB Business Management exam results contribute to your overall IB Diploma results

This is what your final examination results will look like, right hand side. Points are awarded for each subject (6 subjects x 7 = a maximum of 42) and you can be credited up to 3 'bonus' marks for your combined Extended Essay and TOK grades.

A score of 40 or above out of a maximum of 45 is a strong IB Diploma score that enhances a student's chances of being admitted to top universities. Achieving a 7 in IB Business Management goes a long way into setting students up, especially if they do well in their IB Business Management extended essays.

HL Assessment breakdown

SL Assessment breakdown

Exams, mark schemes and command terms

In order to achieve an advanced mark you need to have a really good idea of the types and nature of the questions that are being asked. And, very importantly, what the IB Business Management examiners are looking for and how they are awarding marks. The exams and the mark schemes are obviously an invaluable source of information in this regards.

Pay special attention to the command term in each question. The sooner you know your command terms and the more you know your command terms, the sooner your IB Business Management grades will start to sky-rocket.

Level descriptors for your long-answer IB Business Management exam questions:

Your long-answer questions (e.g., 10 mark answers) are especially important in determining how well you do in each examination paper.
And, before you ask, "NO! – it's not just about common sense." We are looking for specific things in your long answers.
So, what are your IB Business Management examiners looking for when they are grading your examination papers? We are awarding marks for your long answers on the following IB Business Management level descriptors: