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IB 2026 Exam Schedule: All exam zones (A, B, C)
The International Baccalaureate (IB) released the IB exam schedule 2026 for the May and October sessions. The IB exams take place in two sessions: May and November. The IB exams for the May 2026 session will begin on April 24, 2026, and will conclude on May 20, 2026. The IB examination for the November 2026 session will be conducted from October 23 to November 13, 2026. Students can download the IB exam schedule from the official website, ibo.org. The IB exam schedule is released in PDF format, and students can directly access it from this page.
This Story also Contains
- IB Exam Schedule 2025-26
- IB Exam Schedule for May and October Session 2026
- IB Exam Schedule for October Session 2026
- IB May and October 2026 Examination Session: Timing
- IB Exam Schedule Preparation
Due to the wide range of countries where the IB Diploma Programme is offered, the IB exam schedule does not factor in public, national, or school holidays. The organisation will strive to accommodate subjects with specific regional or cultural ties for the IB exam schedule. For instance, Arabic literature/language exams will not be scheduled on Fridays.
IB Exam Schedule 2025-26
IB exams are conducted twice a year. Students can check the schedule of the IB exam and prepare accordingly. Download the updated IB exam schedule here
IB Exam Schedule for May Session 2026
Particulars | Dates |
IB exam schedule start date | April 24, 2026 |
IB exam schedule end date | May 20, 2026 |
IB Exam Schedule for October Session 2026
Particulars | Dates |
IB exam schedule exam start date | October 23, 2026 |
IB exam schedule exam end date | November 13, 2026 |
IB Exam Schedule for May and October Session 2026
The IB 2026 exams will be administered in two sessions. Each question is worth 1 mark, and there will be a deduction of ¼ mark for each incorrect answer. The detailed schedule for the IB May and October 2026 examination sessions is provided below.
IB Exam Schedule for May Session 2026
The IB May session will be held from April 24 to May 20, 2025. Students can check out the dates below:
April 24, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
No exam | School-based syllabus SL paper 1 |
Language & culture SL paper 1 -1h 30m |
April 27, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
School-based syllabus SL paper 2 | Language A Literature HL paper 1- 2h 15m Language A Literature SL paper 1- 1h 15m Language A Language & Literature HL paper 1-2h 15m Language A Language & Literature SL paper 1- 1h 15m * Except: English, French & Spanish |
Language & culture SL paper 2- 1h 30m |
April 28, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Language A Literature HL/SL paper 2- 1h 45m Language A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2- 1h 45m * Except: English, French & Spanish | Physics HL paper 1 (1a and 1b)- 2h Physics SL paper 1 (1a and 1b)- 1h 30m Sports, exercise & health science HL paper 1- 1h Sports, exercise & health science HL paper 3- 1h 15m Sports, exercise & health science SL paper 1- 45m Sports, exercise & health science SL paper 3- 1h |
April 29, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Physics HL paper 2- 2h 30m Physics SL paper 2- 1h 30m Sports, exercise & health science HL paper 2- 2h 15m Sports, exercise & health science SL paper 2- 1h 15m | Business management HL/SL paper 1- 1h 30m Business management HL paper 3- 1h 15m |
April 30, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Business management HL paper 2- 1h 45m Business management SL paper 2- 1h 30m | Computer science HL paper 1- 2h 10m Computer science SL paper 1- 1h 30m |
Environmental systems & societies HL paper 1- 2h Environmental systems & societies SL paper 1- 1h |
May 4, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Computer science HL paper 2- 1h 20m Computer science HL paper 3- 1h Computer science SL paper 2- 1h | History HL/SL paper 1- 1h History HL/SL paper 2- 1h 30m |
Environmental systems & societies HL paper 2- 2h 30m Environmental systems & societies SL paper 2- 2h |
May 5, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
History HL paper 3- 2h 30m | Language B HL paper 1- 1h 30m Language B HL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h Language B SL paper 1- 1h 15m Language B SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h Language ab initio SL paper 1- 1h Language ab initio SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h * Except: English, French & Spanish Latin HL paper 1- 2h Latin SL paper 1- 1h 30m |
May 6, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Language B HL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 1h Language B SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 45m Language ab initio SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 45m * Except: English, French & Spanish Latin HL paper 2- 1h 30m Latin SL paper 2- 1h 30m | Psychology HL paper 1- 2h Psychology SL paper 1- 2h |
May 7, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Psychology HL paper 2- 2h Psychology HL paper 3- 1h Psychology SL paper 2- 1h | English A Literature HL paper 1- 2h 15m English A Literature SL paper 1- 1h 15m English A Language & Literature HL paper 1- 2h 15m English A Language & Literature SL paper 1- 1h 15m English B HL paper 1- 1h 30m English B HL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h English B SL paper 1- 1h 15m English B SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h English ab initio SL paper 1- 1h English ab initio SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h |
May 8, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
English A Literature HL/SL paper 2- 1h 45m English A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2- 1h 45m English B HL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 1h English B SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 45m English ab initio SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension - 45m | Geography HL paper 1- 2h 15m Geography SL paper 1- 1h 30m Philosophy HL paper 1- 2h 30m Philosophy SL paper 1- 1h 45m Social & cultural anthropology HL paper 1- 2h Social & cultural anthropology SL paper 1- 1h 30m |
Literature & performance SL paper 1- 1h 45m |
May 11, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Geography HL/SL paper 2- 1h 15m Geography HL paper 3- 1h Philosophy HL/SL paper 2- 1h Philosophy HL paper 3- 1h 15m Social & cultural anthropology HL paper 2- 2h 30m Social & cultural anthropology SL paper 2- 1h 30m | Biology HL paper 1 (1a and 1b)- 2h Biology SL paper 1 (1a and 1b)- 1h 30m |
May 12, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Biology HL paper 2- 2h 30m Biology SL paper 2- 1h 30m | Economics HL/SL paper 2- 1h 45m World religions SL paper 1- 1h 15m |
May 13, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Economics HL paper 1- 1h 15m Economics HL paper 3- 1h 45m Economics SL paper 1- 1h 15m World religions SL paper 2- 1h 30m | Classical Greek HL paper 1- 2h Classical Greek SL paper 1- 1h 30m Spanish A Literature HL paper 1- 2h 15m Spanish A Literature SL paper 1- 1h 15m Spanish A Language & Literature HL paper 1- 2h 15m Spanish A Language & Literature SL paper 1- 1h 15m Spanish B HL paper 1- 1h 30m Spanish B HL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h Spanish B SL paper 1- 1h 15m Spanish B SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h Spanish ab initio SL paper 1- 1h Spanish ab initio SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h |
May 14, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Classical Greek HL paper 2- 1h 30m Classical Greek SL paper 2- 1h 30m Spanish A Literature HL/SL paper 2- 1h 45m Spanish A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2- 1h 45m Spanish B HL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 1h Spanish B SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 45m Spanish ab initio SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 45m | Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL paper 1- 2h analysis and approaches SL paper 1- 1h 30m Mathematics: applications and interpretation HL paper 1- 2h applications and interpretation SL paper 1- 1h 30m |
May 15, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL paper 2- 2h analysis and approaches SL paper 2- 1h 30m Mathematics: applications and interpretation HL paper 2- 2h applications and interpretation SL paper 2- 1h 30m | Chemistry HL paper 1 (1a and 1b)- 2h Chemistry SL paper 1 (1a and 1b)- 1h 30m Design technology HL paper 1- 1h Design technology SL paper 1- 45m Design technology HL/SL paper 2- 1h 30m |
May 18, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Chemistry HL paper 2- 2h 30m Chemistry SL paper 2- 1h 30m Design technology HL paper 3- 1h 30m | Digital society HL paper 1- 2h 15m Digital society SL paper 1- 1h 30m Global politics HL/SL paper 1- 1h 15m |
May 19, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Digital Society HL/SL paper 2 Digital Society HL paper 3 Global politics HL paper 3 | French A Literature HL paper 1 French A Literature SL paper 1 French A Language & Literature HL paper 1 French A Language & Literature SL paper 1 French B HL paper 1 French B HL paper 2 - Reading comprehension French B SL paper 1 French B SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension French ab initio SL paper 1 French ab initio SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension |
May 20, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
French A Literature HL/SL paper 2- 1h 45m French A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2- 1h 45m French B HL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 1h French B SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 45m French ab initio SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 45m | Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL paper 3- 1h 15m Mathematics: applications and interpretation HL paper 3- 1h 15m |
IB Exam Schedule for October Session 2026
The IB October session 2026 examination will commence on October 23, 2026, and will conclude on November 13, 2026. The entire IB October session 2026 exam schedule is given below.
October 23, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
No Exams | School-based syllabus SL paper 1 |
October 26, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
School-based syllabus SL paper 2 | Language A Literature HL paper 1- 2h 15m Language A Literature SL paper 1- 1h 15m Language A Language & Literature HL paper 1- 2h 15m Language A Language & Literature SL paper 1- 1h 15m * Except: English & Spanish |
October 27, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Language A Literature HL/SL paper 2- 1h 45m Language A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2- 1h 45m * Except: English & Spanish | Biology HL paper 1 (1a and 1b)- 2h Biology SL paper 1 (1a and 1b)- 1h 30m |
October 28, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Biology HL paper 2- 2h 30m Biology SL paper 2- 1h 30m | Business management HL/SL paper 1- 1h 30m Business management HL paper 3- 1h 15m |
October 29, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Business management HL paper 2- 1h 45m Business management SL paper 2- 1h 30m | Spanish A Literature HL paper 1- 2h 15m Spanish A Literature SL paper 1- 1h 15m Spanish A Language & Literature HL paper 1- 2h 15m Spanish A Language & Literature SL paper 1- 1h 15m Spanish B HL paper 1- 1h 30m Spanish B HL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h Spanish B SL paper 1- 1h 15m Spanish B SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h Spanish ab initio SL paper 1- 1h Spanish ab initio SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h |
October 30, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Spanish A Literature HL/SL paper 2- 1h 45m Spanish A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2- 1h 45m Spanish B HL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 1h Spanish B SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 45m Spanish ab initio SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 45m | Computer science HL paper 1 - 2h 10m Computer science SL paper 1 - 1h 30m Environmental systems & societies HL paper 1 - 2h Environmental systems & societies SL paper 1 - 1h |
November 2, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Computer science HL paper 2 - 1h 20m Computer science HL paper 3 - 1h Computer science SL paper 2 - 1h | History HL/SL paper 1- 1h History HL/SL paper 2- 1h 30m |
November 3, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
History HL paper 3- 2h 30m | Language B HL paper 1- 1h 30m Language B HL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h Language B SL paper 1- 1h 15m Language B SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h Language ab initio SL paper 1- 1h Language ab initio SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension - 1h * Except: English & Spanish Latin HL paper 1- 2h Latin SL paper 1- 1h 30m |
November 4, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Language B HL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 1h Language B SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 45m Language ab initio SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 45m * Except: English & Spanish Latin HL paper 2- 1h 30m Latin SL paper 2- 1h 30m | Physics HL paper 1 (1a and 1b)- 2h Physics SL paper 1 (1a and 1b)- 1h 30m Sports, exercise & health science HL paper 1- 1h Sports, exercise & health science HL paper 3- 1h 15m Sports, exercise & health science SL paper 1- 45m Sports, exercise & health science SL paper 3- 1h |
November 5, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Physics HL paper 2- 2h 30m Physics SL paper 2- 1h 30m Sports, exercise & health science HL paper 2- 2h 15m Sports, exercise & health science SL paper 2- 1h 15m | English A Literature HL paper 1- 2h 15m English A Literature SL paper 1- 1h 15m English A Language & Literature HL paper 1- 2h 15m English A Language & Literature SL paper 1- 1h 15m English B HL paper 1- 1h 30m English B HL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h English B SL paper 1- 1h 15m English B SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h English ab initio SL paper 1- 1h English ab initio SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension- 1h |
November 6, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
English A Literature HL/SL paper 2- 1h 45m English A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2- 1h 45m English B HL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 1h English B SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 45m English ab initio SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension- 45m | Digital Society HL paper 1 - 2h 15m Digital Society SL paper 1 - 1h 30m Geography HL paper 1 - 2h 15m Geography SL paper 1 - 1h 30m Global Politics HL/SL paper 1 - 1h 15m Social & cultural anthropology HL paper 1 - 2h Social & cultural anthropology SL paper 1 - 1h 30m |
Literature & performance SL paper 1- 1h 45m |
November 9, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Digital Society HL/SL paper 2 - 1h 15m Digital Society HL paper 3 - 1h 15m Geography HL/SL paper 2 - 1h 15m Geography HL paper 3 - 1h Global Politics HL/SL paper 2 - 1h 45m Social & cultural anthropology HL paper 2 - 2h 30m Social & cultural anthropology SL paper 2 - 1h 30m | Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL paper 1- 2h analysis and approaches SL paper 1- 1h 30m Mathematics: applications and interpretation HL paper 1- 2h applications and interpretation SL paper 1- 1h 30m |
November 10, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL paper 2- 2h analysis and approaches SL paper 2- 1h 30m Mathematics: applications and interpretation HL paper 2- 2h applications and interpretation SL paper 2- 1h 30m | Economics HL/SL paper 2 - 1h 45m Global politics HL paper 3 - 1h 30m |
November 11, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Economics HL paper 1 - 1h 15m Economics HL paper 3 - 1h 45m Economics SL paper 1 - 1h 15m | Chemistry HL paper 1 (1a and 1b) - 2h Chemistry SL paper 1 (1a and 1b) - 1h 30m Design technology HL paper 1 - 1h Design technology SL paper 1 - 45m Design technology HL/SL paper 2 - 1h 30m |
November 12, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Chemistry HL paper 2 - 2h 30m Chemistry SL paper 2 - 1h 30m Design technology HL paper 3 - 1h 30m | Philosophy HL paper 1- 2h 30m Philosophy SL paper 1- 1h 45m Psychology HL paper 1- 2h Psychology SL paper 1- 2h |
November 13, 2026
Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
Philosophy HL/SL paper 2- 1h Philosophy HL paper 3- 1h 15m Psychology HL paper 2- 2h Psychology HL paper 3- 1h Psychology SL paper 2- 1h | Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL paper 3- 1h 15m Mathematics: applications and interpretation HL paper 3- 1h 15m |
IB May and October 2026 Examination Session: Timing
Schools are required to confirm their assigned exam zone, which remains constant across IB examination sessions. The table below outlines the local start times for all zones. There are no variations in start times within morning or afternoon sessions. Also, the indicated local start times are based on local time and do not necessitate adjustments for daylight saving.
IB Exam Timing for May Session
IB Exam Timing for October Session
IB Exam Schedule Preparation
The IB exam schedule does not factor in public, national, or school holidays due to the wide range of countries where the IB Diploma Programme is offered.
Registration data has been analysed to minimise disruptions to students globally due to subject timetable conflicts.
To mitigate the impact of absences on any given day and maintain continuity for students, almost all subjects are scheduled on consecutive days.
Subjects with the highest candidature are spread out over four weeks to distribute the student workload. For the same reason, language and science exams are scheduled in each of the four weeks.
The IB exam schedule is kept as concise as possible to strike a balance between the number of scheduling conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What time is the IB exam 2026?
A:
The International Baccalaureate exam 2026 will be held in two sessions: morning and afternoon. Morning exams will commence after 7 AM local time and conclude by 1 PM local time. Afternoon exams will follow the morning session and finish by 6 PM local time.
Q: What IB exam zone in India?
A:
India comes under IB exam zone A – Australia and Asia.
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