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Exam Schedule

IB Exam Schedule 2026

Official May and November 2026 IB Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme exam schedule, timetable, sessions, and exam-zone start times.

IB Exam Schedule 2026

November 2026 IB Exam Schedule

The upcoming November 2026 DP and CP examination session runs from Friday 23 October to Friday 13 November 2026. The summary below follows the final official timetable for all exam zones.

Last checked against the official IB schedule on 20 July 2026. Paper durations and language exceptions are abbreviated here, so confirm your exact paper list and allocated exam zone with your school coordinator.

DateMorning sessionAfternoon session
Fri 23 Oct 2026
  • No exams
  • School-based syllabus SL paper 1
Mon 26 Oct 2026
  • School-based syllabus SL paper 2
  • Language A Literature HL/SL paper 1
  • Language A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 1
  • Except English and Spanish
Tue 27 Oct 2026
  • Language A Literature HL/SL paper 2
  • Language A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2
  • Except English and Spanish
  • Biology HL/SL paper 1
Wed 28 Oct 2026
  • Biology HL/SL paper 2
  • Business management HL/SL paper 1
  • Business management HL paper 3
Thu 29 Oct 2026
  • Business management HL/SL paper 2
  • Spanish A, Spanish B and Spanish ab initio papers
Fri 30 Oct 2026
  • Spanish language paper 2 listening sessions
  • Computer science HL/SL paper 1
  • Environmental systems & societies HL/SL paper 1
Mon 2 Nov 2026
  • Computer science HL/SL later papers
  • Environmental systems & societies HL/SL paper 2
  • History HL/SL papers 1 and 2
Tue 3 Nov 2026
  • History HL paper 3
  • Language B and language ab initio written papers
  • Latin HL/SL paper 1
  • Except English and Spanish
Wed 4 Nov 2026
  • Language B and language ab initio listening papers
  • Latin HL/SL paper 2
  • Except English and Spanish
  • Physics HL/SL paper 1
  • Sports, exercise & health science HL/SL paper 1
Thu 5 Nov 2026
  • Physics HL/SL paper 2
  • Sports, exercise & health science HL/SL paper 2
  • English A, English B and English ab initio paper 1 and reading sessions
Fri 6 Nov 2026
  • English language paper 2 and listening sessions
  • Literature & performance SL paper 1
  • Digital Society, Geography, Global politics, and Social & cultural anthropology paper 1
Mon 9 Nov 2026
  • Digital Society, Geography, Global politics, and Social & cultural anthropology later papers
  • Mathematics AA HL/SL paper 1
  • Mathematics AI HL/SL paper 1
Tue 10 Nov 2026
  • Mathematics AA HL/SL paper 2
  • Mathematics AI HL/SL paper 2
  • Economics HL/SL paper 2
  • Global politics HL paper 3
Wed 11 Nov 2026
  • Economics HL paper 1 and paper 3
  • Economics SL paper 1
  • Chemistry HL/SL paper 1
  • Design technology HL/SL papers 1 and 2
Thu 12 Nov 2026
  • Chemistry HL/SL paper 2
  • Design technology HL paper 3
  • Philosophy HL/SL paper 1
  • Psychology HL/SL paper 1
Fri 13 Nov 2026
  • Philosophy and Psychology later papers
  • Mathematics AA HL paper 3
  • Mathematics AI HL paper 3
Open the official IB November 2026 examination schedule PDFCheck the IB DP and CP exam schedule page for later revisions

May 2026 Exam Schedule

This guide summarizes the official IB May 2026 examination schedule for all exam zones. It is designed to help you answer the two questions students usually ask first: when a paper happens, and how that timing should affect revision planning.

The schedule is most useful when you treat it as a planning tool rather than just a date list. Once you know your subject order, you can map heavy revision days, rest windows, and the papers that need the most stamina or last-minute review.

1 May 2026 — no exams. Use this gap deliberately if it sits inside your exam run: recover, review weak areas, and prepare for the next cluster instead of overloading yourself.

Examination timetable

Apr – May 2026
DateMorning sessionAfternoon session
Fri 24 Apr 2026
No exams
  • School-based syllabusSLpaper 1
  • Language & cultureSLpaper 1 — 1h 30m
Mon 27 Apr 2026
  • School-based syllabusSLpaper 2
  • Language & cultureSLpaper 2 — 1h 30m
  • Language A LiteratureHLpaper 1 — 2h 15m
  • Language A LiteratureSLpaper 1 — 1h 15m
  • Language A Language & LiteratureHLpaper 1 — 2h 15m
  • Language A Language & LiteratureSLpaper 1 — 1h 15m
  • Except English, French and Spanish
Tue 28 Apr 2026
  • Language A Literature HL/SL paper 2 — 1h 45m
  • Language A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2 — 1h 45m
  • Except English, French and Spanish
  • PhysicsHLpaper 1 (1a and 1b) — 2h
  • PhysicsSLpaper 1 (1a and 1b) — 1h 30m
  • Sports, exercise & health scienceHLpaper 1 (1a and 1b) — 1h 45m
  • Sports, exercise & health scienceSLpaper 1 (1a and 1b) — 1h 30m
Wed 29 Apr 2026
  • PhysicsHLpaper 2 — 2h 30m
  • PhysicsSLpaper 2 — 1h 30m
  • Sports, exercise & health scienceHLpaper 2 — 2h 30m
  • Sports, exercise & health scienceSLpaper 2 — 1h 30m
  • Business management HL/SL paper 1 — 1h 30m
  • Business managementHLpaper 3 — 1h 15m
Thu 30 Apr 2026
  • Business managementHLpaper 2 — 1h 45m
  • Business managementSLpaper 2 — 1h 30m
  • Computer scienceHLpaper 1 — 2h 10m
  • Computer scienceSLpaper 1 — 1h 30m
  • Environmental systems & societiesHLpaper 1 — 2h
  • Environmental systems & societiesSLpaper 1 — 1h
Fri 1 May 2026
No examsNo exams
Mon 4 May 2026
  • Computer scienceHLpaper 2 — 1h 20m
  • Computer scienceHLpaper 3 — 1h
  • Computer scienceSLpaper 2 — 1h
  • Environmental systems & societiesHLpaper 2 — 2h 30m
  • Environmental systems & societiesSLpaper 2 — 2h
  • History HL/SL paper 1 — 1h
  • History HL/SL paper 2 — 1h 30m
Tue 5 May 2026
  • HistoryHLpaper 3 — 2h 30m
  • Language BHLpaper 1 — 1h 30m
  • Language BHLpaper 2 (reading comprehension) — 1h
  • Language BSLpaper 1 — 1h 15m
  • Language BSLpaper 2 (reading comprehension) — 1h
  • Language ab initioSLpaper 1 — 1h
  • Language ab initioSLpaper 2 (reading comprehension) — 1h
  • Except English, French and Spanish
  • LatinHLpaper 1 — 2h
  • LatinSLpaper 1 — 1h 30m
Wed 6 May 2026
  • Language BHLpaper 2 (listening comprehension) — 1h
  • Language BSLpaper 2 (listening comprehension) — 45m
  • Language ab initioSLpaper 2 (listening comprehension) — 45m
  • Except English, French and Spanish
  • LatinHLpaper 2 — 1h 30m
  • LatinSLpaper 2 — 1h 30m
  • PsychologyHLpaper 1 — 2h
  • PsychologySLpaper 1 — 2h
Thu 7 May 2026
  • PsychologyHLpaper 2 — 2h
  • PsychologyHLpaper 3 — 1h
  • PsychologySLpaper 2 — 1h
  • English A LiteratureHLpaper 1 — 2h 15m
  • English A LiteratureSLpaper 1 — 1h 15m
  • English A Language & LiteratureHLpaper 1 — 2h 15m
  • English A Language & LiteratureSLpaper 1 — 1h 15m
  • English BHLpaper 1 — 1h 30m
  • English BHLpaper 2 (reading comprehension) — 1h
  • English BSLpaper 1 — 1h 15m
  • English BSLpaper 2 (reading comprehension) — 1h
  • English ab initioSLpaper 1 — 1h
  • English ab initioSLpaper 2 (reading comprehension) — 1h
Fri 8 May 2026
  • English A Literature HL/SL paper 2 — 1h 45m
  • English A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2 — 1h 45m
  • English BHLpaper 2 (listening comprehension) — 1h
  • English BSLpaper 2 (listening comprehension) — 45m
  • English ab initioSLpaper 2 (listening comprehension) — 45m
  • Literature & performanceSLpaper 1 — 1h 45m
  • GeographyHLpaper 1 — 2h 15m
  • GeographySLpaper 1 — 1h 30m
  • PhilosophyHLpaper 1 — 2h 30m
  • PhilosophySLpaper 1 — 1h 45m
  • Social & cultural anthropologyHLpaper 1 — 2h
  • Social & cultural anthropologySLpaper 1 — 1h 30m
Mon 11 May 2026
  • Geography HL/SL paper 2 — 1h 15m
  • GeographyHLpaper 3 — 1h
  • Philosophy HL/SL paper 2 — 1h
  • PhilosophyHLpaper 3 — 1h 15m
  • Social & cultural anthropologyHLpaper 2 — 2h 30m
  • Social & cultural anthropologySLpaper 2 — 1h 30m
  • BiologyHLpaper 1 (1a and 1b) — 2h
  • BiologySLpaper 1 (1a and 1b) — 1h 30m
Tue 12 May 2026
  • BiologyHLpaper 2 — 2h 30m
  • BiologySLpaper 2 — 1h 30m
  • Economics HL/SL paper 2 — 1h 45m
  • World religionsSLpaper 1 — 1h 15m
Wed 13 May 2026
  • EconomicsHLpaper 1 — 1h 15m
  • EconomicsHLpaper 3 — 1h 45m
  • EconomicsSLpaper 1 — 1h 15m
  • World religionsSLpaper 2 — 1h 30m
  • Classical GreekHLpaper 1 — 2h
  • Classical GreekSLpaper 1 — 1h 30m
  • Spanish A LiteratureHLpaper 1 — 2h 15m
  • Spanish A LiteratureSLpaper 1 — 1h 15m
  • Spanish A Language & LiteratureHLpaper 1 — 2h 15m
  • Spanish A Language & LiteratureSLpaper 1 — 1h 15m
  • Spanish BHLpaper 1 — 1h 30m
  • Spanish BHLpaper 2 (reading comprehension) — 1h
  • Spanish BSLpaper 1 — 1h 15m
  • Spanish BSLpaper 2 (reading comprehension) — 1h
  • Spanish ab initioSLpaper 1 — 1h
  • Spanish ab initioSLpaper 2 (reading comprehension) — 1h
Thu 14 May 2026
  • Classical GreekHLpaper 2 — 1h 30m
  • Classical GreekSLpaper 2 — 1h 30m
  • Spanish A Literature HL/SL paper 2 — 1h 45m
  • Spanish A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2 — 1h 45m
  • Spanish BHLpaper 2 (listening comprehension) — 1h
  • Spanish BSLpaper 2 (listening comprehension) — 45m
  • Spanish ab initioSLpaper 2 (listening comprehension) — 45m
  • Mathematics: analysis and approachesHLpaper 1 — 2h
  • Mathematics: analysis and approachesSLpaper 1 — 1h 30m
  • Mathematics: applications and interpretationHLpaper 1 — 2h
  • Mathematics: applications and interpretationSLpaper 1 — 1h 30m
Fri 15 May 2026
  • Mathematics: analysis and approachesHLpaper 2 — 2h
  • Mathematics: analysis and approachesSLpaper 2 — 1h 30m
  • Mathematics: applications and interpretationHLpaper 2 — 2h
  • Mathematics: applications and interpretationSLpaper 2 — 1h 30m
  • ChemistryHLpaper 1 (1a and 1b) — 2h
  • ChemistrySLpaper 1 (1a and 1b) — 1h 30m
  • Design technologyHLpaper 1 — 1h
  • Design technologySLpaper 1 — 45m
  • Design technology HL/SL paper 2 — 1h 30m
Mon 18 May 2026
  • ChemistryHLpaper 2 — 2h 30m
  • ChemistrySLpaper 2 — 1h 30m
  • Design technologyHLpaper 3 — 1h 30m
  • Digital SocietyHLpaper 1 — 2h 15m
  • Digital SocietySLpaper 1 — 1h 30m
  • Global politics HL/SL paper 1 — 1h 15m
  • Global politics HL/SL paper 2 — 1h 45m
Tue 19 May 2026
  • Digital Society HL/SL paper 2 — 1h 15m
  • Digital SocietyHLpaper 3 — 1h 15m
  • Global politicsHLpaper 3 — 1h 30m
  • French A LiteratureHLpaper 1 — 2h 15m
  • French A LiteratureSLpaper 1 — 1h 15m
  • French A Language & LiteratureHLpaper 1 — 2h 15m
  • French A Language & LiteratureSLpaper 1 — 1h 15m
  • French BHLpaper 1 — 1h 30m
  • French BHLpaper 2 (reading comprehension) — 1h
  • French BSLpaper 1 — 1h 15m
  • French BSLpaper 2 (reading comprehension) — 1h
  • French ab initioSLpaper 1 — 1h
  • French ab initioSLpaper 2 (reading comprehension) — 1h
Wed 20 May 2026
  • French A Literature HL/SL paper 2 — 1h 45m
  • French A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2 — 1h 45m
  • French BHLpaper 2 (listening comprehension) — 1h
  • French BSLpaper 2 (listening comprehension) — 45m
  • French ab initioSLpaper 2 (listening comprehension) — 45m
  • Mathematics: analysis and approachesHLpaper 3 — 1h 15m
  • Mathematics: applications and interpretationHLpaper 3 — 1h 15m

Local start times by exam zone

Start times are shown in local clock time and do not need adjusting for daylight saving.

Exam zoneMorning startAfternoon start
A12–A910:0014:00
A809:3013:30
A7–A309:0013:00
B310:0014:00
B209:3013:30
B1–B009:0013:00
C-310:0014:00
C-409:3013:30
C-5–C-1008:3012:30
Open the official IB May 2026 examination schedule PDF
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Notes

Quick answer

The two 2026 IB examination sessions are 24 April–20 May and 23 October–13 November. Use the timetable to identify your own paper sequence, confirm your local zone start times, and plan revision energy around the most demanding clusters of exams.

How to use this schedule

  • Start by marking your own subjects and paper times, then work backwards to build revision blocks and sleep schedules for each exam week.
  • Check the local start time for your exam zone rather than relying on a friend in another country. Morning and afternoon sessions begin at different clock times by zone.
  • Treat 1 May 2026 as a recovery and reset day if it affects your subject set. It can be a strategic buffer for practice and rest rather than a spare day to waste.

1 May 2026 — no exams. Use this gap deliberately if it sits inside your exam run: recover, review weak areas, and prepare for the next cluster instead of overloading yourself.

Frequently asked questions

When are the IB exams in 2026?

The May 2026 session ran from Friday 24 April to Wednesday 20 May. The November 2026 session runs from Friday 23 October to Friday 13 November. Your school coordinator can confirm which session, subjects, and exam zone apply to you.

When do the IB May 2026 exams start and finish?

The May 2026 session runs from Friday 24 April 2026 to Wednesday 20 May 2026, with papers scheduled across morning and afternoon sessions depending on subject and exam zone.

When do the IB November 2026 exams start and finish?

The November 2026 session runs from Friday 23 October to Friday 13 November, with morning and afternoon sessions scheduled across all exam zones.

Is there an IB exam on 1 May 2026?

No. The official May 2026 schedule shows no exams on Friday 1 May 2026, which makes it an important planning gap for students with papers before and after that date.

More Resources

Reference

IB Grade Boundaries: How to Use the Right Session

Reference

IB Command Terms: Definitions & Answer Patterns

Internal Assessment

IB Internal Assessment Criteria Guide

Extended Essay

IB Extended Essay Requirements: 2026 vs 2027