How Is MYP Physics Graded From the Criteria to a 1–7?

Your teacher marks four criteria — A Knowing and understanding, B Inquiring and designing, C Processing and evaluating, D Reflecting on impacts — each out of 8 using task-specific rubrics called strands. The four totals are added (maximum 32), and that sum is converted into a single 1–7 grade using the IB's published grade-boundary ranges for MYP.

Criterion A tests scientific knowledge and application. Criterion B assesses your ability to design a scientific investigation. Criterion C looks at how you process, present and evaluate data. Criterion D judges how well you discuss the impact of science on society and the environment. Each is marked out of 8.

Each criterion is marked against strands describing what a level 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 or 7-8 response looks like. Your teacher picks the best-fit level, not an average — so a messy but insightful evaluation can still hit 7-8 on Criterion C even with weaker data presentation.

MYP grades (1-7) and DP grades (1-7) use the same numerical scale but different criteria and rigour — MYP 4-5 is a foundation stage, not a direct predictor. According to the IB's MYP: From Principles into Practice guide, MYP assessment is criterion-related and designed to build the skills DP Physics later examines through Paper 1-3 and internal assessment.

Getting a 7 is achievable but demanding — you need level 7-8 on at least two criteria and no criterion below 5-6, since one weak strand (usually Criterion D, reflecting on impact) drags the total down. In my experience, students lose marks not on content but on skipping the evaluation and impact sections entirely.

The four criteria and 1-8 scale stay identical across MYP 4 and MYP 5 — what changes is task complexity. MYP 5 assessments expect more independent experimental design, more sophisticated data analysis (like error propagation), and deeper discussion of scientific impact, so the same grade 6 in MYP 5 reflects harder work than in MYP 4.

Yes — each criterion contributes an equal maximum of 8 marks toward the 32-point total, so no single criterion is weighted more heavily. That's exactly why students who are strong scientists but weak at Criterion D (reflecting on impacts) often plateau at 5 or 6 rather than reaching 7.

Start by identifying your weakest criterion from your last two reports, then study its command terms specifically — 'evaluate' and 'discuss' need different responses than 'describe' or 'state'. Practising past-style tasks against the actual rubric language, not just revising content, is what moves a 5 to a 7.

Command terms tell you the exact skill expected: 'state' wants a brief answer with no explanation, 'explain' needs reasoning with cause and effect, 'evaluate' requires weighing strengths and limitations, and 'design' asks you to construct your own method. Misreading the command term is one of the most common reasons a strong-content answer still loses marks.

A level 7-8 Criterion C response processes raw data correctly, presents it clearly with appropriate graphs and units, and then evaluates the method — identifying a specific source of error and its effect on the result, not just listing 'human error'.

Both use a 1-7 scale, but MYP grades come from four criterion-based rubrics marked by the classroom teacher, while DP Physics grades combine externally-marked exam papers with an internally assessed, externally moderated investigation. MYP is a skills-building stage; DP is the qualification that universities actually see.

It's a useful indicator, not a gatekeeper. Most schools use MYP 4-5 Physics grades and teacher recommendation to advise on Standard Level versus Higher Level for DP, since HL Physics leans heavily on the maths skills that Criterion B and C already test at MYP level.

The most effective preparation targets criteria directly rather than just re-reading notes — practising past-style tasks against the actual rubric strands, working through topical worksheets by unit, and using structured revision notes to fill specific content gaps. On RevisionPrep, students can work through MYP Physics revision notes and topical worksheets organised by unit and criterion.