<p>I heard that colleges would have already accepted/rejected you before you even take the IB exam in the end...so does what you receive on the test really matter in the end?</p>
<p>In our school if you don't graduate from the IB Programme (one of the reasons you need the exams) you don't graduate from High School, therefore your college acceptance is rescinded. I don't think you'd need the top grades, but you need to pass.</p>
<p>At my school, as long as you go into the exams with the intent of gettng the diploma, you are still granted your HS diploma. So no, ultimately the grades do not matter (for US colleges at least, which I assume you mean. Foreign colleges frequently make acceptance contingent upon IB scores, in which case they definitely matter.) However, I don't know a single person who did not at least hope/attempt to get their diploma, and most tried to get the highest scores possible on their exams. This is for two reasons. One is personal...you've worked hard, you want that diploma, or that 7, or whatever. Also, people talk when scores come out. We also have a diploma ceremony in January. No one wants to be one of the very few who don't get it.</p>
<p>And one more way they might count: many colleges will give placement/credit for IB exam scores (though generally only HL 6 and 7.)</p>
<p>Yeah, the test scores are mainly for college credit, and bragging rights with your Diploma. Otherwise, they really have no impact on your application (although being a Diploma Candidate probably will)</p>
<p>What if you'll have your Diploma by the time you apply? Will your scores then be important?</p>
<p>No, no one cares about your final IB scores as long as you pass all your exams. They are important for credit and placement purposes. But If you already have the diploma when you apply then the admission decisions will be based on your diploma and scores you got on the IB exam. Like me if you had already been accepted to the university before the IB exam they (the scores) are not worth anything as long as you performed decently and were awarded the diploma.</p>
<p>Okay. That's one more reason for me to work hard.
Another reason is to keep British universities open if I should so choose.</p>