November 2026 IB exam schedule: PDF and exam dates
The November 2026 IB exam schedule runs from 23 October to 13 November 2026. Open the IB timetable PDF below, check your subject’s exam dates, papers and HL/SL durations, then build a personal Google or Apple Calendar at the bottom of this guide.
If you choose IBretake for the school search, see the actual screens, payment stages and checks before official registration in our IB retake booking walkthrough.
Exam schedule PDF
November 2026 final IB examination scheduleOpen the exam schedule PDFThe calendar was transcribed from the final November 2026 PDF hosted on the official International Baccalaureate website. If this page and the PDF ever differ, use the IB PDF and your coordinator’s instructions.
- First scheduled exam
- 23 October 2026
- Last scheduled exams
- 13 November 2026
- PDF source
- IB website · final schedule
How to read your IB exam timetable
Build your personal schedule from your registered subjects and levels—not from the session name alone. A November or May session can begin in the preceding month.
- Match the subject and level Find the exact course, HL or SL, and every paper listed for it. Mathematics AA and AI are different courses; language papers also have language-specific dates and exceptions.
- Read the date and session together Morning and afternoon are separate examination sessions, not universal clock times. Use your school’s allocated exam zone to identify the local start time; your required arrival time may be earlier.
- Plan for every paper One subject can require several papers on different days. Add each paper to your revision plan and leave space for travel and breaks. A paper’s duration is not the total time you will spend at the school.
Worked timetable example
Biology SL has paper 1 on Tuesday 27 October 2026 in the afternoon (1 h 30 min) and paper 2 on Wednesday 28 October in the morning (1 h 30 min). That is 3 hours of written exams across two dates—not one 3-hour appointment. Your exam zone determines the local start times; confirm arrival times with your school.
Complete examination calendar
Morning session
No exams
Afternoon session
-
School-based syllabus SL paper 1
Week 1
Except English and Spanish
Morning session
-
School-based syllabus SL paper 2
Afternoon session
-
Language A Literature HL paper 1
-
Language A Literature SL paper 1
-
Language A Language & Literature HL paper 1
-
Language A Language & Literature SL paper 1
Except English and Spanish
Morning session
-
Language A Literature HL/SL paper 2
-
Language A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2
Afternoon session
-
Biology HL paper 1 (1a and 1b)
-
Biology SL paper 1 (1a and 1b)
Morning session
-
Biology HL paper 2
-
Biology SL paper 2
Afternoon session
-
Business management HL/SL paper 1
-
Business management HL paper 3
Morning session
-
Business management HL paper 2
-
Business management SL paper 2
Afternoon session
-
Spanish A Literature HL paper 1
-
Spanish A Literature SL paper 1
-
Spanish A Language & Literature HL paper 1
-
Spanish A Language & Literature SL paper 1
-
Spanish B HL paper 1
-
Spanish B HL paper 2 - Reading comprehension
-
Spanish B SL paper 1
-
Spanish B SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension
-
Spanish ab initio SL paper 1
-
Spanish ab initio SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension
Morning session
-
Spanish A Literature HL/SL paper 2
-
Spanish A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2
-
Spanish B HL paper 2 - Listening comprehension
-
Spanish B SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension
-
Spanish ab initio SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension
Afternoon session
-
Computer science HL paper 1
-
Computer science SL paper 1
-
Environmental systems & societies HL paper 1
-
Environmental systems & societies SL paper 1
Week 2
Morning session
-
Computer science HL paper 2
-
Computer science HL paper 3
-
Computer science SL paper 2
-
Environmental systems & societies HL paper 2
-
Environmental systems & societies SL paper 2
Afternoon session
-
History HL/SL paper 1
-
History HL/SL paper 2
Except English and Spanish
Morning session
-
History HL paper 3
Afternoon session
-
Language B HL paper 1
-
Language B HL paper 2 - Reading comprehension
-
Language B SL paper 1
-
Language B SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension
-
Language ab initio SL paper 1
-
Language ab initio SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension
-
Latin HL paper 1
-
Latin SL paper 1
Except English and Spanish
Morning session
-
Language B HL paper 2 - Listening comprehension
-
Language B SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension
-
Language ab initio SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension
-
Latin HL paper 2
-
Latin SL paper 2
Afternoon session
-
Physics HL paper 1 (1a and 1b)
-
Physics SL paper 1 (1a and 1b)
-
Sports, exercise & health science HL paper 1 (1a and 1b)
-
Sports, exercise & health science SL paper 1 (1a and 1b)
Morning session
-
Physics HL paper 2
-
Physics SL paper 2
-
Sports, exercise & health science HL paper 2
-
Sports, exercise & health science SL paper 2
Afternoon session
-
English A Literature HL paper 1
-
English A Literature SL paper 1
-
English A Language & Literature HL paper 1
-
English A Language & Literature SL paper 1
-
English B HL paper 1
-
English B HL paper 2 - Reading comprehension
-
English B SL paper 1
-
English B SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension
-
English ab initio SL paper 1
-
English ab initio SL paper 2 - Reading comprehension
Morning session
-
English A Literature HL/SL paper 2
-
English A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2
-
English B HL paper 2 - Listening comprehension
-
English B SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension
-
English ab initio SL paper 2 - Listening comprehension
-
Literature & performance SL paper 1
Afternoon session
-
Digital Society HL paper 1
-
Digital Society SL paper 1
-
Geography HL paper 1
-
Geography SL paper 1
-
Global politics HL/SL paper 1
-
Social & cultural anthropology HL paper 1
-
Social & cultural anthropology SL paper 1
Week 3
Morning session
-
Digital Society HL/SL paper 2
-
Digital Society HL paper 3
-
Geography HL/SL paper 2
-
Geography HL paper 3
-
Global politics HL/SL paper 2
-
Social & cultural anthropology HL paper 2
-
Social & cultural anthropology SL paper 2
Afternoon session
-
Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL paper 1
-
Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL paper 1
-
Mathematics: applications and interpretation HL paper 1
-
Mathematics: applications and interpretation SL paper 1
Morning session
-
Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL paper 2
-
Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL paper 2
-
Mathematics: applications and interpretation HL paper 2
-
Mathematics: applications and interpretation SL paper 2
Afternoon session
-
Economics HL/SL paper 2
-
Global politics HL paper 3
Morning session
-
Economics HL paper 1
-
Economics HL paper 3
-
Economics SL paper 1
Afternoon session
-
Chemistry HL paper 1 (1a and 1b)
-
Chemistry SL paper 1 (1a and 1b)
-
Design technology HL paper 1
-
Design technology SL paper 1
-
Design technology HL/SL paper 2
Morning session
-
Chemistry HL paper 2
-
Chemistry SL paper 2
-
Design technology HL paper 3
Afternoon session
-
Philosophy HL paper 1
-
Philosophy SL paper 1
-
Psychology HL paper 1
-
Psychology SL paper 1
Morning session
-
Philosophy HL/SL paper 2
-
Philosophy HL paper 3
-
Psychology HL paper 2
-
Psychology HL paper 3
-
Psychology SL paper 2
Afternoon session
-
Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL paper 3
-
Mathematics: applications and interpretation HL paper 3
Local start times by exam zone
| Exam zone | Zone offset | Morning start | Afternoon start |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 12 | 10.00 | 14.00 |
| A | 11 | 10.00 | 14.00 |
| A | 10 | 10.00 | 14.00 |
| A | 9 | 10.00 | 14.00 |
| A | 8 | 09.30 | 13.30 |
| A | 7 | 09.00 | 13.00 |
| A | 6 | 09.00 | 13.00 |
| A | 5 | 09.00 | 13.00 |
| A | 4 | 09.00 | 13.00 |
| A | 3 | 09.00 | 13.00 |
| B | 3 | 10.00 | 14.00 |
| B | 2 | 09.30 | 13.30 |
| B | 1 | 09.00 | 13.00 |
| B | 0 | 09.00 | 13.00 |
| C | -3 | 10.00 | 14.00 |
| C | -4 | 09.30 | 13.30 |
| C | -5 | 08.30 | 12.30 |
| C | -6 | 08.30 | 12.30 |
| C | -7 | 08.30 | 12.30 |
| C | -8 | 08.30 | 12.30 |
| C | -9 | 08.30 | 12.30 |
| C | -10 | 08.30 | 12.30 |
Turn the timetable into a personal exam plan
Start with each subject’s exact level and examination language. Two papers in one morning or afternoon do not necessarily start together: the export creates a session-start reminder, not an individual start time for each paper.
- Select the examination location’s time zone, even if you are preparing for the retake in another country.
- Use the IB zone confirmed by your school; do not infer it from the city alone.
- Compare exported subjects with confirmed entries. For languages, check exclusions in the full timetable.
A daylight-saving example. For a New York school assigned zone C−5, Biology HL on 27 October starts at 12:30 local time, equivalent to 16:30 UTC. Mathematics AA HL on 9 November also starts at 12:30 local time, but corresponds to 17:30 UTC after the clock change. Do not apply one fixed UTC offset to the entire examination session.
Before booking travel, compare this plan with the registration checklist and school deadlines. An examination date is not a registration deadline.
How to use this timetable safely
- Your school must know its allocated exam zone. The local start time already accounts for local time and does not need a daylight-saving adjustment.
- IB authorization is required to reschedule an examination. A difficult day or travel plan does not by itself change the published session.
- Confirm your registered subject, level, language, zone, reporting time and venue directly with your coordinator before making travel arrangements.
Source and verification
The calendar was transcribed from the final November 2026 PDF hosted on the official International Baccalaureate website. If this page and the PDF ever differ, use the IB PDF and your coordinator’s instructions.
Your exam calendar
The calendar tool below creates planning entries from your chosen subjects and levels. Check them against your school’s confirmed timetable before arranging travel.
