How to use this schedule
A published session window is not a timetable. These four steps are the difference between knowing when the exams are and knowing when yours are.
- Get your personalised timetable from your DP coordinator, not from a schedule you found online
- Check which exam zone your school sits in: start times differ
- Note the gaps between your own papers; that is where revision actually goes
- Put the first paper of each subject in your study plan, not just the session
Common confusions
Three assumptions that cost students a week of planning every session.
Frequently asked questions
When do the 2026 IB exams start?
The May 2026 session ran from 24 April to 20 May 2026 and the November 2026 session runs from 23 October to 13 November 2026. Your first paper depends on your subjects, session, and exam zone, so check your personalised timetable.