IB Prep Hours vs First-Round Advance Rates (2026)
2026-01-22
Recruiting
Research
Data
• 1 min readAnonymized, aggregated logs show how weekly prep hours relate to first-round advance rates and where extra hours stop paying off for 2026 candidates.
What this dataset is
Answer up top: 8 to 12 hours per week shows the strongest advance lift in this anonymized, aggregated benchmark set; use it as guidance.
Sample and method
- n=2,460 candidates across 2026 recruiting cycles
- Weekly prep hours are self-reported and normalized
- Advance rate reflects first-round pass outcomes
Weekly prep hours vs advance rate
| Weekly hours | First-round advance | Avg technical accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| 0-3 | 16% | 41% |
| 4-7 | 28% | 50% |
| 8-12 | 42% | 61% |
| 13-18 | 47% | 66% |
| 19+ | 48% | 67% |
Key insights
- Consistency beats bursts of late-night cramming
- Technical accuracy rises fastest once structure is stable
- Advance rates flatten after 13 to 18 hours without focus
Related: Prep Hours Offer Rate Benchmarks and Technical Accuracy Benchmarks.
External references: CFA Institute programs and SIFMA research.