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IB Score to Percentage: How Indian Universities Convert Your Diploma
12th September, 2026 | Abhishek Malani | 08 Min Read
Introduction
As an IB student, you are no stranger to the fact that applications to Indian universities are different from international applications. While many universities outside India assess IB students directly using their IB results, some Indian universities or application systems may ask for percentage equivalents or other forms of academic equivalence.
Quest For Success’ guide to the score conversion system has all the information you need to know. Read on to learn more about equivalence certificates, the score-to-percentage conversion process, and how exactly you can ensure a smooth application process for Indian universities.
Important: An equivalence certificate and an IB percentage conversion serve different purposes. An equivalence certificate establishes the academic level of a foreign qualification, while a percentage conversion provides an Indian percentage equivalent for an IB grade. Depending on the university and programme, you may need one, both, or neither.
Table of Contents
Can IB students apply to Indian universities?
Yes. The IB Diploma is recognised for admission purposes by Indian universities, but individual universities and programmes may have their own eligibility requirements, subject prerequisites, entrance tests and documentation requirements.
Depending on the university and programme, IB students may also need to provide an equivalence certificate or other documentation establishing the status of their qualification. Students should check the current requirements of the university they are applying to before submitting an application.
What is an equivalence certificate, and who issues it?
An equivalence certificate is a document that certifies that a foreign qualification is equivalent to a certain Indian qualification level. For students with international qualifications, an equivalence document may be used to establish how their qualification compares with the relevant Indian qualification level.
India’s equivalence framework changed in April 2025, when the UGC notified regulations establishing a UGC framework for recognising and granting equivalence to foreign educational qualifications. The UGC now operates an online Equivalence Portal. Because requirements can vary by qualification and university, students should verify the current process directly with the UGC and their university before applying.
Because the equivalence framework changed in 2025, students should rely on the current UGC guidance rather than older references to AIU procedures.
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Why do I need an equivalence certificate?
Different schools and boards have different ways of grading students’ final academic progress and qualifications. The A-Levels assign letter grades, and the IB provides a score from 1 to 7. An equivalence certificate establishes the academic level of a foreign qualification in relation to an Indian qualification. Separately, some Indian universities may ask IB applicants to provide percentage equivalents for their subject grades.
How do I apply for an equivalence certificate?
Conveniently, the entire application process is online. Applications under the UGC’s current framework are submitted through the UGC Equivalence Portal. Before applying, check the portal for the current eligibility requirements, documents, fees and instructions.
What is an IB Indian percentage transcript?
For students applying to Indian universities, the IB offers Indian percentage transcripts, which show percentage equivalents alongside the student’s IB subject grades. If you need an Indian percentage transcript, speak with your school’s DP coordinator about the current request process and deadlines.
How is an IB grade converted to an Indian percentage equivalent?
Each of the 7 possible scores is assigned to a corresponding range of percentages. It looks something like this:
| IB Score | Corresponding Percentage Range |
|---|---|
|
7 |
96% – 100%
|
|
6 |
83% – 95%
|
|
5
|
70% – 82%
|
|
4
|
56% – 69%
|
|
3 |
41% – 55%
|
|
2 |
21% – 40%
|
|
1 |
1% – 20%
|
Therefore, each subject’s final score corresponds to a specific percentage range.
Different universities have different methods for converting IB grades to percentages. For example, the University of Delhi’s published IB conversion scheme assigns a midpoint to each percentage range — such as 98 for an IB 7 and 89 for an IB 6 — for admission purposes. However, students should follow the conversion method specified by the university or application system they are using.
How can Quest For Success help?
Quest For Success provides highly personalised IB coaching, where we work with students and parents to formulate a specific study plan to help your child through their IB preparation journey. Our online classes are taught by experienced subject specialists, and we provide all the guidance and support students need to achieve high scores in their IB exams. To know more, reach out to us and schedule your free demo class today.
Summary
IB students can apply to Indian universities, but admission requirements vary by institution and programme. Some universities may ask for an equivalence certificate or other documentation, while others may specify their own IB score or percentage requirements. IB also provides an Indian percentage transcript for university applications. Students should check the latest requirements of their chosen university before applying.
FAQs
Yes. The IB Diploma is accepted by many Indian universities, but each institution can set its own eligibility, subject, entrance-test and documentation requirements.
An equivalence certificate is a document that certifies that a foreign qualification is equivalent to a certain Indian qualification level.
The UGC introduced its current framework for recognising and granting equivalence to foreign educational qualifications in April 2025. Applications under the UGC framework are handled through the UGC Equivalence Portal. Because requirements can vary, check the current UGC guidance and your university’s admission instructions before applying.
If a university or other authority requires one, an equivalence certificate helps establish how your foreign qualification compares with the relevant Indian qualification level. It is separate from any percentage conversion the university may require.
If your university or other authority requires an equivalence certificate under the UGC’s framework, you can apply through the UGC Equivalence Portal. Check the portal for the current eligibility criteria, required documents, fees and application instructions.
IB grades have published Indian percentage equivalents, such as 7 = 96–100% and 6 = 83–95%. The exact method used to calculate or report an aggregate percentage can depend on the university or application system. Check the admission instructions for your chosen institution before submitting your percentage.
If you’re looking for highly qualified mentors to coach you through your preparation for IB assessments, then Quest For Success can help. Contact us and book your free demo class today.
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