languages Why are language B grade boundaries so high?

[naik38]

I have looked at all the other subject grade boundaries and i have found that all language B subjects have higher grade boundaries then other groups and i was wondering why this is? Because i do German and it is the subject i perform worst in but if my mark was in any other subject then i would be getting a 6 but i German I'm getting a 5.

for example IB May 2013 exams the german grade boundaries for SL is;

1: 0 - 13%

2: 14 - 27%
3: 28 - 42%
4: 43 - 56%
5: 57 - 70%
6: 71 - 85%
7: 86%+

whilst the grade boundaries for something like chemistry SL is

1: 0 - 13%

2: 14 - 25%
3: 26 - 37%
4: 38 - 49%
5: 50 - 61%
6: 62 - 73%
7: 74%+

Source http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2405454

[Gaby]

Grade boundaries are not something set, they depend on how the students writing the paper in a given examination session do. With languages B, I believe, the problem with boundaries being so high comes from the fact that many fluent speakers take a language as B, do really well, and thus inflate the boundary. Boundaries for English B HL are even higher, you needed 90% or so last year to get a 7.