Are you an IB student getting ready for your final exams? The International Baccalaureate (IB) has released the final November 2026 examination schedule for the Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP). Knowing exactly when each paper falls is the first step in planning your revision. This guide covers the full timetable, the length of every paper, local start times, and tips from our tutors to help you perform at your best.
Key Takeaways
- The November 2026 IB exams run from Friday 23 October to Friday 13 November 2026 (IB, 2026).
- The main written exams start on Monday 26 October and are held over three weeks, with no exam-free weekdays.
- Start times depend on your school's exam zone. Most schools start between 8:30 am and 10:00 am (morning) and 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm (afternoon) local time.
- Maths, Economics, Chemistry, Philosophy and Psychology are all in the final week, so many students will have their busiest days at the end.
- Results are released on 16 December 2026, with students able to view them from 17 December (Tes, 2026).
IB Exam Schedule November 2026
The schedule below is taken from the IB's official November 2026 examination schedule (final version), which applies to all exam zones (A, B and C). Paper lengths are shown in brackets. Where Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL) papers have different lengths, both are listed.
For Language A, Language B and ab initio exams, English and Spanish are scheduled separately from all other languages. Check the right row for your language.
| Date | Morning session | Afternoon session |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, 23 Oct | No exams | School-based syllabus SL paper 1 |
| Week 1 | ||
| Mon, 26 Oct | School-based syllabus SL paper 2 | Language A Literature paper 1 (HL 2h 15m, SL 1h 15m) Language A Language & Literature paper 1 (HL 2h 15m, SL 1h 15m) Except English and Spanish |
| Tue, 27 Oct | Language A Literature HL/SL paper 2 (1h 45m) Language A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2 (1h 45m) Except English and Spanish | Biology paper 1, parts 1a and 1b (HL 2h, SL 1h 30m) |
| Wed, 28 Oct | Biology paper 2 (HL 2h 30m, SL 1h 30m) | Business Management HL/SL paper 1 (1h 30m) Business Management HL paper 3 (1h 15m) |
| Thu, 29 Oct | Business Management paper 2 (HL 1h 45m, SL 1h 30m) | Spanish A Literature paper 1 (HL 2h 15m, SL 1h 15m) Spanish A Language & Literature paper 1 (HL 2h 15m, SL 1h 15m) Spanish ab initio SL paper 1 (1h) and paper 2 reading (1h) |
| Fri, 30 Oct | Spanish A Literature HL/SL paper 2 (1h 45m) Spanish A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2 (1h 45m) Spanish B paper 2 listening (HL 1h, SL 45m) Spanish ab initio SL paper 2 listening (45m) | Computer Science paper 1 (HL 2h 10m, SL 1h 30m) Environmental Systems and Societies paper 1 (HL 2h, SL 1h) |
| Week 2 | ||
| Mon, 2 Nov | Computer Science HL paper 2 (1h 20m), HL paper 3 (1h) and SL paper 2 (1h) Environmental Systems and Societies paper 2 (HL 2h 30m, SL 2h) | History HL/SL paper 1 (1h) and paper 2 (1h 30m) |
| Tue, 3 Nov | History HL paper 3 (2h 30m) | Language B paper 1 (HL 1h 30m, SL 1h 15m) and paper 2 reading (1h) Language ab initio SL paper 1 (1h) and paper 2 reading (1h) Except English and Spanish Latin paper 1 (HL 2h, SL 1h 30m) |
| Wed, 4 Nov | Language B paper 2 listening (HL 1h, SL 45m) Language ab initio SL paper 2 listening (45m) Except English and Spanish Latin HL/SL paper 2 (1h 30m) | Physics paper 1, parts 1a and 1b (HL 2h, SL 1h 30m) Sports, Exercise and Health Science paper 1, parts 1a and 1b (HL 1h 45m, SL 1h 30m) |
| Thu, 5 Nov | Physics paper 2 (HL 2h 30m, SL 1h 30m) Sports, Exercise and Health Science paper 2 (HL 2h 30m, SL 1h 30m) | English A Literature paper 1 (HL 2h 15m, SL 1h 15m) English A Language & Literature paper 1 (HL 2h 15m, SL 1h 15m) English ab initio SL paper 1 (1h) and paper 2 reading (1h) |
| Fri, 6 Nov | English A Literature HL/SL paper 2 (1h 45m) English A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2 (1h 45m) English B paper 2 listening (HL 1h, SL 45m) English ab initio SL paper 2 listening (45m) Literature & Performance SL paper 1 (1h 45m) | Digital Society paper 1 (HL 2h 15m, SL 1h 30m) Geography paper 1 (HL 2h 15m, SL 1h 30m) Global Politics HL/SL paper 1 (1h 15m) Social & Cultural Anthropology paper 1 (HL 2h, SL 1h 30m) |
| Week 3 | ||
| Mon, 9 Nov | Digital Society HL/SL paper 2 (1h 15m) and HL paper 3 (1h 15m) Geography HL/SL paper 2 (1h 15m) and HL paper 3 (1h) Global Politics HL/SL paper 2 (1h 45m) Social & Cultural Anthropology paper 2 (HL 2h 30m, SL 1h 30m) | Maths: Analysis and Approaches paper 1 (HL 2h, SL 1h 30m) Maths: Applications and Interpretation paper 1 (HL 2h, SL 1h 30m) |
| Tue, 10 Nov | Maths: Analysis and Approaches paper 2 (HL 2h, SL 1h 30m) Maths: Applications and Interpretation paper 2 (HL 2h, SL 1h 30m) | Economics HL/SL paper 2 (1h 45m) Global Politics HL paper 3 (1h 30m) |
| Wed, 11 Nov | Economics HL/SL paper 1 (1h 15m) Economics HL paper 3 (1h 45m) | Chemistry paper 1, parts 1a and 1b (HL 2h, SL 1h 30m) |
| Thu, 12 Nov | Chemistry paper 2 (HL 2h 30m, SL 1h 30m) Design Technology HL paper 3 (1h 30m) | Philosophy paper 1 (HL 2h 30m, SL 1h 45m) Psychology paper 1 (HL 2h, SL 2h) |
| Fri, 13 Nov | Philosophy HL/SL paper 2 (1h) Philosophy HL paper 3 (1h 15m) Psychology paper 2 (HL 2h, SL 1h) Psychology HL paper 3 (1h) | Maths: Analysis and Approaches HL paper 3 (1h 15m) Maths: Applications and Interpretation HL paper 3 (1h 15m) |
Source: IB Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme November 2026 examination schedule, final version. An exam cannot be rescheduled without approval from the IB, so always confirm your personal timetable with your school's IB coordinator.
Local Start Times for Your Exam Zone
Every IB school is given an exam zone (A, B or C). Your zone stays the same from one exam session to the next. Start times depend on your zone and your local time difference from UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). The IB says these times are local and do not need to be adjusted for daylight saving.
| Exam zone | Time difference from UTC | Morning start | Afternoon start |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | +3 to +7 | 9:00 am | 1:00 pm |
| A | +8 | 9:30 am | 1:30 pm |
| A | +9 to +12 | 10:00 am | 2:00 pm |
| B | 0 and +1 | 9:00 am | 1:00 pm |
| B | +2 | 9:30 am | 1:30 pm |
| B | +3 | 10:00 am | 2:00 pm |
| C | −3 | 10:00 am | 2:00 pm |
| C | −4 | 9:30 am | 1:30 pm |
| C | −5 to −10 | 8:30 am | 12:30 pm |
For example, a Zone C school in Lima (UTC −5) starts morning exams at 8:30 am, while a school in Buenos Aires or São Paulo (UTC −3) starts at 10:00 am. Your IB coordinator will confirm your school's zone.
Who Sits the November IB Exams?
Most IB schools around the world sit exams in May. The November session is mainly for schools where the academic year runs from about February to December, which is common in the Southern Hemisphere. This includes IB schools in:
- Australia and New Zealand, including schools in Auckland
- South Africa, including schools in Johannesburg
- South America, including many schools in Lima, Buenos Aires, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro
- Some schools in Asia that follow a January-to-December calendar, such as several schools in Singapore
Students from May-session schools can also use the November session to retake subjects. If you're unsure which session your school follows, ask your IB coordinator.
What's Different in 2026?
If you're comparing with older timetables, such as our November 2024 exam schedule guide, a few things stand out:
- The session is shorter and has no gaps. It runs for three weeks, from 23 October to 13 November, with exams on every weekday. In 2024, there were two exam-free days in the middle of the session.
- Maths has moved to the final week. Maths papers 1 and 2 are on 9 and 10 November, and HL paper 3 is the very last exam, on the afternoon of Friday 13 November.
- Science paper 1 is now split into parts 1a and 1b. This reflects the new Biology, Chemistry and Physics courses, which were first examined in 2025.
- Psychology and Philosophy close the session. Both have paper 1 on 12 November and their remaining papers on the final morning, 13 November.
Worth knowing: The final week is the hardest part of the 2026 timetable. A student taking Maths: Analysis and Approaches HL, Economics HL and Chemistry HL has seven exam sessions in five days, from Monday 9 November to Friday 13 November. If this sounds like your subject combination, finish your full practice papers for these subjects before the session begins. Then use week 1 and week 2 for light, targeted review.
Key Dates After Your Exams
- 16 December 2026: Results are released to schools from 9:00 pm GMT. Students can view their results from 17 December, at different times depending on time zone (Tes, 2026).
- 2027 session: The IB says the November 2027 exams are planned to run from Friday 22 October to Friday 12 November 2027, subject to confirmation.
Not sure how your results work? Read our complete guide to understanding your IB results and our overview of how your IB score is calculated. If a grade is close to a boundary, see our guide on whether you should get your IB scores re-marked.
Study Tips for IB Students
We asked our IB tutors for their most effective exam preparation strategies. Here's what they said:
- Plan backwards from your exam dates: Put every paper on a calendar and give the most time to your earliest exams and your hardest subjects.
- Know your command terms: IB questions use specific instruction words like "explain", "evaluate" and "discuss". Our guide to IB command terms shows what examiners expect for each one.
- Practise under exam conditions: Sit past papers with the correct time limits, and check your answers against the markschemes.
- Prepare for back-to-back papers: Many subjects have paper 1 in the afternoon and paper 2 the next morning. Practise sitting two papers in a row so you are used to the pace.
- Look after your wellbeing: Sleep, food, exercise and short breaks help you stay focused over three weeks of exams. Parents can find advice in our guide to supporting your child through IB exam stress.
💡 Want to build better study habits? Read about the five key habits of high-achieving IB students.
Preparing for Key IB Subjects
Mathematics
IB Maths has two courses: Analysis and Approaches (AA) and Applications and Interpretation (AI). In 2026, all Maths papers are in the final week.
- Practise with past papers: Work through full papers and IB-style questions, focusing on the topics you find hardest.
- Know your calculator: Paper 2 allows a graphing calculator, so learn its functions well before the exam.
- Show all your working: You can earn method marks even if your final answer is wrong.
- Prepare for HL paper 3: HL students sit paper 3 on the last afternoon, four days after paper 1. Keep practising problem-solving questions until the end.
💡 Read our guides on how to score a 7 in Maths AA SL and how to score a 7 in Maths AI.
Sciences: Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Biology is early in week 1, Physics is in the middle of week 2, and Chemistry is late in week 3. Each science has paper 1 in the afternoon and paper 2 the next morning.
- Make concise summary notes: Cover each topic with key concepts, equations and diagrams.
- Practise data analysis: Many marks come from reading graphs and interpreting experimental data.
- Use precise scientific language: Examiners reward accurate terminology in extended responses.
- Prepare for paper 1b: Paper 1 now includes data-based questions in part 1b, so practise these alongside multiple-choice questions.
💡 Read our guides on how to score a 7 in IB Biology, IB Chemistry and IB Physics.
English A: Literature and Language & Literature
English A Literature and English A Language & Literature exams are on 5 and 6 November.
- Practise unseen analysis: Paper 1 asks you to analyse a text you have not seen before. Practise regularly with different text types.
- Know your studied works well: For paper 2, prepare key quotations and themes for each work you might write about.
- Plan before you write: Spend 5 to 10 minutes planning so your essay has a clear argument and structure.
💡 See our list of 200 literary devices every English student should know and our guide on how to score a 7 in English Language and Literature.
History
History papers 1 and 2 are on 2 November, with HL paper 3 the next morning.
- Build timelines: Organise key events and periods in order so you can recall them quickly.
- Practise source analysis: For paper 1, consider each source's origin, purpose, value and limitations.
- Write clear arguments: For essays, state your thesis early and support it with specific evidence.
Business Management
Business Management is one of the first subjects on the timetable, on 28 and 29 October.
- Learn the business tools: Know how to apply tools like SWOT analysis, decision trees and force field analysis to a case.
- Practise with the case study: Paper 1 is based on a pre-released statement, so research the context and organisation well in advance.
- Use the right terms: Define key business terms clearly and apply them to the organisation in the question.
💡 Read our guide on how to score a 7 in IB Business Management.
Geography
Geography paper 1 is on the afternoon of 6 November, with paper 2 and HL paper 3 on the morning of 9 November.
- Know your case studies: Learn specific facts, figures and places for each case study so your answers are detailed.
- Practise maps and graphs: Many questions ask you to describe or interpret maps, graphs and diagrams.
- Use geographical terminology: Accurate terms and concepts help you reach the higher mark bands.
💡 Read our guide on how to score a 7 in IB Geography.
Economics
Economics is in the final week, on 10 and 11 November.
- Master your diagrams: Practise drawing and labelling diagrams accurately and quickly.
- Use real-world examples: Strong answers apply theory to current, specific examples.
- Practise calculations: HL paper 3 includes quantitative questions, so practise these under timed conditions.
💡 Read our guide on how to score a 7 in IB Economics.
Psychology
Psychology is the last subject on the timetable, on 12 and 13 November.
- Learn key studies well: Know their aims, methods, findings and evaluation points.
- Evaluate, don't just describe: Examiners reward critical thinking about studies and theories.
- Practise timed essays: Plan and write full responses in the time you'll have on the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do IB exams start in November 2026?
The November 2026 IB session starts on Friday 23 October 2026 with School-based syllabus SL paper 1. The main written exams begin on Monday 26 October 2026.
When do November 2026 IB exams end?
The final exams are on Friday 13 November 2026. Philosophy and Psychology are in the morning, and Maths HL paper 3 (both AA and AI) is in the afternoon.
What time do IB exams start?
It depends on your school's exam zone and time difference from UTC. Morning exams start between 8:30 am and 10:00 am local time, and afternoon exams between 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm. Your IB coordinator will confirm your exact start times.
When are the November 2026 IB results released?
Results are released to schools on 16 December 2026 from 9:00 pm GMT. Students can view their results from 17 December 2026, at times depending on their time zone.
Can I reschedule an IB exam?
Only with approval from the IB. Your school's IB coordinator must apply on your behalf, following the IB's assessment procedures.
Need Help Preparing for Your IB Exams?
Personalised support can make a real difference in the final weeks before your exams. Our IB exam tutoring gives you one-on-one online support with experienced IB tutors. Sessions cover content revision, past paper practice and exam technique, wherever you are in the world.
