The May 2026 IB results were released on Monday 6th July 2026, closing two years of work for this year’s cohort. Our congratulations to every student who has come through it, and to the families who supported them. Results season is also a natural moment to look ahead. With our international outlook and international reach, we pride ourselves on our IB expertise: it is one of the things that distinguishes Figtree.
What an IB specialist brings
Every IB student works with an IB specialist: a tutor with deep, current knowledge of the programme, who understands how each subject is assessed at both Standard and Higher Level and what examiners are looking for. Their strength lies in the IB itself: its structure, its assessment objectives, its mark schemes, and the standards that separate a strong script from an outstanding one. Many have taught and prepared IB students for years, and they keep pace with the syllabus and its criteria as these evolve. That command of the course means teaching is focused and directed from the first session, tailored to the subject, the level and the student.
Beyond the taught subjects, we support students with the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge, which together contribute up to three points to the final score. With the most selective UK courses typically asking for 38 points and above, that margin matters.
The weeks ahead are valuable for two groups of students in particular: those beginning the Diploma in September, and those entering their final year.
Beginning the IB in September
The move into the Diploma is a considerable step up. It asks for more independent study, more extended writing and better organisation than most students have needed before, and the first term arrives quickly. A well-used summer means students start in September ready to progress rather than adjust.
We would always encourage a proper break first. After that, a light and structured introduction to the course repays the effort. Over the coming weeks we can help a student:
- Bridge the gap from GCSE, IGCSE or the MYP to the pace and depth of IB-level study
- Sense-check subject choices, making sure Higher Level selections suit both strengths and university direction, without overloading on the heaviest combinations
- Build the academic writing and independent research habits that the Extended Essay and Internal Assessments will later demand
- Understand the shape of the Diploma, including the core — the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and Creativity, Activity, Service
- Strengthen a language ahead of a Language B or language ab initio course
- Establish the organisation and study routines that make the two years manageable
The aim is a confident start, not preparation at the cost of the summer. We build each plan around the individual student.
Entering the final year
For students moving into the second year, the summer matters for a different reason. Final examinations fall in May 2027, and the autumn and winter in between are the most demanding phase of the Diploma: the Extended Essay, the Theory of Knowledge essay and Internal Assessments across every subject tend to converge between September and February. Work done now is pressure removed later.
The single most valuable use of the summer is the Extended Essay. The research and a first full draft are best completed over July and August, so the essay is close to finished when supervisors give their feedback early in the new term. Students who arrive with a draft in hand free themselves to focus on revision, coursework and university applications. This cohort is the first to be assessed under the IB’s redesigned Extended Essay, marked out of 30 against new criteria, and our tutors work to the current guidance.
Beyond the Extended Essay, the summer is the moment to:
- Revisit first-year topics that felt uncertain in end-of-year assessments, while there is time to close the gaps properly
- Move Internal Assessments forward
- Begin structured revision on the highest-weighted topics in each subject
We can shape a summer plan that balances rest with the work that lightens the year ahead.
University planning belongs in the summer too. For students applying this year, researching courses and drafting applications now keeps that work clear of the autumn term. We advise on applications to the UK, the US and Europe, shaped around a student’s subjects and shortlist.
Whether your child is beginning the IB or entering the final stretch, a focused summer sets the tone for everything that follows. If you would like to talk through summer support or our university consultancy services, we would be delighted to arrange a call. Email us at info@figtreelearning.com for further information.
