The short answer
A useful IB study plan starts with evidence, not equal time for every subject. List your exam dates and remaining coursework, diagnose each subject with a short set of questions, then allocate more blocks to weak, high-impact areas. Review the plan every seven days using completed work and practice results.
Choose the plan that matches your time
| Time remaining | Main objective | Recommended balance |
|---|---|---|
| 90 days | Repair foundations, then build exam performance | Content review → topic questions → timed papers |
| 60 days | Prioritise weak syllabus areas and exam application | Targeted review alongside exam questions |
| 30 days | Triage, practise and protect marks | High-yield review, timed sections and error correction |
Set up your plan in five steps
- Fix the immovable dates. Add exams, coursework deadlines, school commitments and rest days first.
- Map the syllabus. Mark each topic green, amber or red according to what you can currently explain and apply.
- Run a short diagnostic. Use mixed questions to check whether your confidence matches your actual performance.
- Allocate weekly blocks. Give more blocks to weak topics that are important for the assessment, while maintaining stronger subjects.
- Schedule review. At the end of each week, move unfinished work deliberately and adjust priorities from your error log.
The 90-day IB revision plan
| Phase | Focus | Evidence to collect |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–4 | Close prerequisite gaps and organise syllabus coverage | Diagnostic scores and a topic-level weakness list |
| Weeks 5–8 | Apply knowledge through topic and mixed exam questions | An error log showing repeated mistakes |
| Weeks 9–11 | Complete timed sections and full papers | Timing, accuracy and marks by question type |
| Final week | Light recall, selected corrections, sleep and logistics | A short final checklist rather than new content |
The 60-day IB revision plan
Combine review with application from the beginning. Spend the first two weeks diagnosing and repairing the most consequential gaps. Use weeks three to six for mixed questions and timed sections. Reserve the final two weeks for full-paper practice, targeted corrections and exam-day preparation.
Do not compress a 90-day checklist into fewer days. Remove low-impact tasks instead: decorative notes, repeated rereading and question sets that no longer expose a weakness.
If you have exactly six weeks remaining, follow the more detailed six-week IB exam revision schedule instead of trying to scale every 60-day task equally.
The 30-day IB revision plan
- Days 1–3: diagnose, rank subjects and select the topics most likely to return marks.
- Days 4–14: alternate short concept repair with topic-level exam questions.
- Days 15–24: complete timed sections and review every lost mark.
- Days 25–28: rehearse full-paper timing and revisit repeated errors.
- Days 29–30: reduce volume, prepare materials and protect sleep.
A repeatable weekly timetable
Use blocks with a clear output: “answer ten probability questions and review errors” is better than “study maths.” A balanced week normally includes concept repair, retrieval practice, exam questions, one cumulative review, and protected recovery time.
Pair this schedule with the IB exam preparation guide to decide what to do inside each block.
How to know whether the plan is working
- You complete most planned blocks without regularly borrowing from sleep.
- Your error log contains fewer repeated mistakes over time.
- You can retrieve key ideas before opening notes.
- Your timed-question accuracy or completion rate improves.
- The next week changes in response to evidence rather than guilt.
Sources and further reading
This guide combines official IB information with established learning research. Always check your school and current official IB materials for assessment-specific instructions.
- Assessment and exams — International Baccalaureate Organization. Official starting point for current Diploma Programme assessment information.
- Improving Students' Learning With Effective Learning Techniques — Psychological Science in the Public Interest. Evidence review supporting practice testing and distributed practice over passive rereading.
- Test-enhanced learning: Taking memory tests improves long-term retention — Psychological Science. Primary research on retrieval practice and longer-term retention.
Content is maintained under the StudyIB editorial policy. StudyIB is independent and is not affiliated with the International Baccalaureate Organization.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours a day should an IB student revise?
There is no universal number. Start with focused blocks you can repeat consistently: often one or two blocks on school days and more on selected weekend days. Increase time only when sleep, schoolwork and concentration remain stable.
Should I study every IB subject every day?
Usually not. A rotating plan gives each subject enough uninterrupted time while keeping all subjects active across the week. High-priority subjects can appear more often, but avoid abandoning stronger subjects completely.
When should I start doing IB past papers?
Begin topic-level exam questions as soon as you review a topic. Move to timed sections after your main content gaps are mapped, then use full papers during the final phase when you can review each attempt properly.
What should I do if I am already behind?
Triage first. Protect deadlines, identify the highest-impact knowledge gaps, and choose a small number of tasks for the next seven days. Do not try to rebuild every subject at once or compensate by removing sleep.