Music

If you're searching for the grade boundaries for IB Music, you're in the right place! In this post, we'll break down the points required for each component and the overall score you need to achieve your final grade.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2 style="text-align:center;">IB Music Grade Boundaries</h2>&nbsp;The following grade boundaries are based on official IB May 2025 grade boundaries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>Standard Level</h3>&nbsp;<figure class="table" style="width:98.77%;"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:11.33%;"><col style="width:13.13%;"><col style="width:27.16%;"><col style="width:23.56%;"><col style="width:24.82%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th colspan="5">Points needed</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Grade</td><td>Experimenting with Music</td><td>Exploring Music in Context &nbsp;</td><td>Presenting Music</td><td>Final grade (%)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td style="text-align:center;">0-2</td><td style="text-align:center;">0-2</td><td>0-5</td><td style="text-align:center;">0-10</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td style="text-align:center;">3-4</td><td style="text-align:center;">3-4</td><td>6-10</td><td style="text-align:center;">11-20</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td style="text-align:center;">5-10</td><td style="text-align:center;">5-8</td><td>11-16</td><td style="text-align:center;">21-38</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td style="text-align:center;">11-14</td><td style="text-align:center;">9-11</td><td>17-21</td><td style="text-align:center;">39-51</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td style="text-align:center;">15-17</td><td style="text-align:center;">12-14</td><td>22-27</td><td style="text-align:center;">52-64</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td style="text-align:center;">18-21</td><td style="text-align:center;">15-17</td><td>28-32</td><td style="text-align:center;">65-77</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td style="text-align:center;">22-28</td><td style="text-align:center;">18-24</td><td>33-38</td><td style="text-align:center;">78-100</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2 style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</h2><h3>Higher Level&nbsp;</h3>&nbsp;<figure class="table" style="width:98.77%;"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:11.33%;"><col style="width:13.13%;"><col style="width:13.49%;"><col style="width:13.67%;"><col style="width:23.56%;"><col style="width:24.82%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th colspan="6">Points needed</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Grade</td><td>Experimenting with Music</td><td>Exploring Music in Context &nbsp;</td><td>Presenting Music</td><td>The Contemporary Music-Maker</td><td>Final grade (%)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td style="text-align:center;">0-2</td><td style="text-align:center;">0-2</td><td style="text-align:center;">0-5</td><td>0-3</td><td style="text-align:center;">0-10</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td style="text-align:center;">3-4</td><td style="text-align:center;">3-4</td><td style="text-align:center;">6-10</td><td>4-7</td><td style="text-align:center;">11-21</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td style="text-align:center;">5-10</td><td style="text-align:center;">5-8</td><td style="text-align:center;">11-16</td><td>8-12</td><td style="text-align:center;">22-38</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td style="text-align:center;">11-14</td><td style="text-align:center;">9-11</td><td style="text-align:center;">17-21</td><td>13-17</td><td style="text-align:center;">39-52</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td style="text-align:center;">15-17</td><td style="text-align:center;">12-14</td><td style="text-align:center;">22-27</td><td>18-22</td><td style="text-align:center;">53-66</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td style="text-align:center;">18-21</td><td style="text-align:center;">15-17</td><td style="text-align:center;">28-32</td><td>23-27</td><td style="text-align:center;">67-80</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td style="text-align:center;">22-28</td><td style="text-align:center;">18-24</td><td style="text-align:center;">33-38</td><td>28-32</td><td style="text-align:center;">81-100</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2 style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</h2><h3>&nbsp;</h3>We hope you found this post helpful. For more useful materials associated with the IB check out the wide variety of <a href="/ia" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IA</a>, <a href="/ee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EE </a>and <a href="/tok" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TOK </a>exemplars available at <a href="/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Clastify </a>and other guides available on our <a href="/blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">blog</a>.

thumbnail_Header Banner for Blog (10).png

Header Banner for Blog (10).png

A comprehensive list of IB Music grade boundaries for Experimenting with Music, Exploring Music in Context, Presenting Music, The Contemporary Music-Maker, and the final grade. See what the boundaries are and use this to plan your studying accordingly. 

IB Music Grade Boundaries

If you're trying to understand the Experimenting with Music component of the IB Music syllabus, you've come to the right place. In this post, we’ll break down the assessment and share practical tips to help you succeed.&nbsp;<h2 style="text-align:center;">IB Music Experimenting with Music</h2>&nbsp;<ul><li>At SL, the Experimenting with Music component &nbsp;accounts for 30% of your final grade. At HL, it’s worth 20%. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>At both SL and HL, students devote around 45 hours for this component.</li><li>Students complete and submit an experimentation report.&nbsp;</li><li>The specifics of the Experimenting with Music component are largely determined by the teacher, as explained in our <a href="/blog/ib-music-syllabus-topics" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IB Music syllabus post</a>.</li></ul>&nbsp;<h3>The Experimentation Project &nbsp;</h3>&nbsp;You’ll select two areas of inquiry – for example, music for community, music for identity, or music for interaction. Within those themes, you’ll research and experiment with creating and performing music in ways that stretch your usual style. &nbsp;&nbsp;You’ll also select local and/or global contexts to shape your exploration. That could mean drawing on music from different cultures, time periods, or genres. The focus is on the process of experimentation. That means documenting how your ideas developed, what you tried (musically and technically), what worked or didn’t, and what you learned along the way. You’ll present your thinking through a written commentary and audio clips of your creative and performative experiments.&nbsp;<h3>Tips on succeeding&nbsp;</h3>&nbsp;<ul><li>Choose a focused but flexible idea. Start with a musical concept that interests you – a rhythmic pattern, a mode, a cultural tradition, or a style. It should give you enough room to experiment, but still be specific enough to keep your project coherent. For example, you might explore improvisation in jazz and Indian classical music, or experiment with layering traditional folk melodies over electronic textures. The more thoughtful your idea, the more depth you’ll find in the process.</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>Engage with context. This task isn’t just about music – it’s about understanding music in context. Dig into the cultural, historical, or social background behind the styles or traditions you’re experimenting with. Think about where does this music come from and how can you creatively respond to that.&nbsp;</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>Record everything. You’re being assessed on your process, so keep track of it. Save different drafts of your recordings. Take notes as you go. What did you change? Why? What surprised you? What failed and taught you something?&nbsp;</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>Use musical terminology clearly. The written report should use correct and precise musical language. Describe what you did using terms like: &nbsp;polyphony, modal harmony, syncopation, timbre, motivic development, etc.; performance techniques (e.g., ornamentation, articulation, phrasing); and compositional tools (e.g., layering, texture, structural devices). This shows you understand how musical elements work – and how you’ve manipulated them in your own process.</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>Reflect deeply. Don’t just describe what you did. Analyze and reflect on it. What were your intentions? How did you develop your ideas? What was challenging, and how did you adapt? What new skills or understandings emerged? Your commentary should show thoughtful self-awareness.</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>Connect it all. Your report and your recordings should feel like parts of one story. They should reinforce each other and clearly relate to your chosen areas of inquiry and cultural contexts. &nbsp;In the end, this task is about growth through experimentation.</li></ul>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We hope you found this post helpful. For more useful materials associated with the IB check out the wide variety of <a href="/ia" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IA</a>, <a href="/ee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EE </a>and <a href="/tok" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TOK </a>exemplars available at <a href="/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Clastify </a>and other guides available on our <a href="/blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">blog</a>.&nbsp;

thumbnail_Header Banner for Blog (36).png

Header Banner for Blog (36).png

A comprehensive guide to IB Music Experimenting with Music. Learn about how this component is structured, its weighing, and tips on how to excel.

IB Music Experimenting with Music

If you're trying to understand the Contemporary Music Maker component of the IB Music syllabus, you've come to the right place. In this post, we’ll break down the assessment and share practical tips to help you succeed.&nbsp;<h2 style="text-align:center;">IB Music The Contemporary Music Maker</h2>&nbsp;<ul><li>This is an HL-only component, worth 30% of the final grade.</li><li>Students will devote around 90 hours for this component.&nbsp;</li><li>The Contemporary Music Maker component requires students to submit a continuous multimedia presentation documenting their real-life project in which they create a collaborative music project that explores contemporary music-making techniques.&nbsp;</li><li>The specifics of the Experimenting with Music component are largely determined by the teacher, as explained in our <a href="/blog/ib-music-syllabus-topics" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IB Music syllabus post</a>.</li></ul>&nbsp;<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>The Contemporary Music Maker</h3>&nbsp;Students create and submit a continuous multimedia presentation documenting their real-life project. Students must demonstrate: a) the project proposal b) the process and evaluation c) the realized project, or curated selections of it.&nbsp;This component is designed to mirror real-world music-making and collaboration, giving students a hands-on experience of creating, producing, and presenting original music projects. You’ll work collaboratively with at least one other student to develop a music-making project that reflects contemporary musical practices. &nbsp;&nbsp;Possible project ideas include collaborating with dancers, filmmakers, or other artists, creating music for virtual spaces like social media or streaming platforms, and experimenting with new technologies or innovative performance settings.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is crucial that students document the entire project. Hence, a detailed project proposal is essential. This should outline: the artistic vision and musical goals, why your project is relevant to real-world music-making, the roles and responsibilities in the collaboration, a timeline for preparation, rehearsals, production, and presentation, all the resources needed, including equipment, software, space, and budget considerations.&nbsp;&nbsp;You’ll document your creative process using various media such as audio recordings, video footage, journals, and photos. This documentation should include all your creative choices and innovations, the challenges encountered and the solutions you applied.&nbsp;At the conclusion of your project, you’ll present your final project or curated selections of it to an audience. This could be through a live performance, or even through a digital premiere - the choice is yours.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>Tips on succeeding&nbsp;</h3>&nbsp;<ul><li>Find your artistic purpose. Start by thinking about what kind of music maker you want to be. Consider your musical passions, strengths, and the message you want to share through your work.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Plan thoroughly. Developing a strong project proposal is essential. Outline your goals, timeline, resources, and roles clearly. A well-thought-out plan will keep your project organized and on track, helping you manage rehearsals, recording sessions, and collaboration smoothly.&nbsp;</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>Embrace collaboration. Contemporary music-making thrives on teamwork. Actively communicate and coordinate with your collaborators, respecting each person’s ideas and contributions. Share leadership by taking responsibility for your part of the project while supporting others. Open dialogue and flexibility will help you overcome creative challenges and make the best music possible. &nbsp;</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>Document everything. Your process is as important as your final product. Keep detailed records - audio or video clips, photos, journals, and notes - showing how your ideas evolved. Track challenges you faced and how you solved them. This documentation ensures that you demonstrate your growth and learning, which is a key part of your assessment. &nbsp;</li></ul>&nbsp;<ul><li>Reflect deeply. Don’t just list what you did - analyse it. Consider why you made specific creative choices, how you developed your ideas, and what obstacles you encountered. Think about how you adapted and what new skills or insights you gained.</li></ul>&nbsp;&nbsp;We hope you found this post helpful. For more useful materials associated with the IB check out the wide variety of <a href="/ia" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IA</a>, <a href="/ee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EE </a>and <a href="/tok" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TOK </a>exemplars available at <a href="/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Clastify </a>and other guides available on our <a href="/blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">blog</a>.&nbsp;

thumbnail_Header Banner for Blog (37).png

Header Banner for Blog (37).png

A comprehensive guide to IB Music The Contemporary Music Maker. Learn about how this component is structured, its weighing, and tips on how to excel.

IB Music The Contemporary Music Maker

IB Music examines musical creation, performance, and analysis across global traditions and styles. Students develop musical skills through composition, performance, and critical study, exploring how music reflects cultural identity and human experience.

IB Music

Coursework Exemplars

IA/EE Review

Notes

Syllabus + Topics

1,696 students

4.3 average grade

Difficulty

Grade distribution

Helpful Blog Posts

IB Music The Contemporary Music Maker

IB Music Grade Boundaries

IB Music Experimenting with Music

IB Music The Contemporary Music Maker

IB Music Grade Boundaries

IB Music Experimenting with Music

IB Music The Contemporary Music Maker

1,696 students

4.3 average grade

Difficulty

Grade distribution