IB Retake: How to Book with IBretake, Step by Step
An IB retake lets you sit examinations again through an accepting IB World School. With IBretake, you select your preferred countries, subjects, levels and session, review your request and arrange payment. The school search starts once payment is confirmed; school acceptance and official examination registration are separate milestones.
What is an IB retake, and who can use IBretake?
This guide is for students who need a host school for another IB examination session. It explains booking through IBretake, not a shortcut around the IB's rules. The accepting coordinator must confirm eligibility and assessment requirements; schools are not obliged to take external retake candidates.
You can first ask your original school, or contact another willing IB World School yourself. A managed search is an alternative for finding a host, not a compulsory part of an IB retake. If you are under 18, involve your parent or legal guardian before agreeing to the service.
IB: retaking examinations and coordinator responsibilities · IBretake Terms: service, fees and refunds (§§ 5–9)
Main IB retake guide · Private-candidate registration
Retakes in context—not a success-rate claim
The IB's May 2025 provisional bulletin records 2,326 DP retake-category students, versus 2,272 for May 2024. These are session registration counts—not IBretake customers, placement rates or evidence of improved grades.
IB May 2025 provisional bulletin, printed page 29: registration categories
What should you prepare before booking?
Write down the exact request before opening the form. A useful description is ‘Chemistry HL and Mathematics: Analysis and approaches HL, May 2027, Germany’—not simply ‘two exams in Europe’. Our screenshots use that fictional example; it does not imply a school is available.
IB: retaking examinations and coordinator responsibilities · IB November 2026 final examination schedule · IB May 2027 final schedule: school-hosted copy, confirm current edition
May 2027 retake timeline · IB retake registration deadlines · November 2026 exam schedule · May 2027 exam schedule · Retakes after syllabus changes · IB assessment overview
- Your legal name, date of birth, country and existing IB candidate number: check the profile against your school records.
- Exact subjects, HL/SL levels, session and examination language. Mathematics AA and AI are different courses.
- Previous results and the last syllabus you studied. Ask a coordinator whether IA, oral or other components can be carried forward or need new work.
- Countries you can realistically reach, plus travel, accommodation and any visa requirements.
- Your university's subject-grade requirement and deadline for receiving results—not just the date of its application deadline.
Exam dates are not school registration deadlines
The November 2026 schedule runs from 23 October to 13 November. The linked May 2027 final-version copy lists papers from 23 April to 18 May; it is hosted by a school, so confirm the latest edition with your coordinator. Your own subject dates fall within those windows.
School application, document and component deadlines come earlier and can differ. Do not wait until the first exam date to book, and do not assume a session shown on IBretake means registration remains open. Get local start times and your venue from the school before arranging travel.
How do you book an IB retake with IBretake?
Create or access your student account, verify your email where requested and complete your profile. Then start a search. The five-step flow is continent, country, subjects/session, review and payment.
All seven images in this guide show the real application with isolated demonstration records. They are examples, not evidence of an actual booking. Never use payment details from a screenshot; use your own checkout.
IBretake Terms: service, fees and refunds (§§ 5–9)
Steps 1–2: choose the continent and countries
Choose the continent, then select the countries where you are prepared to sit the exams. Use the country list or map and continue to subjects. Choosing Germany in this example sets the search location; it does not reserve a German school or promise a particular city.
Step 3: choose subjects, levels and session
Search for each subject and select its HL or SL button. Review the selected-subject list and remove anything added by mistake. Choose the session explicitly: M27 means May 2027; N26 means November 2026.
The current review screen states that language subjects use the language named in the subject; other selected subjects are currently offered in English only. Switching the website language does not change the examination language. If that does not meet your needs, ask support before paying.
Step 4: review the complete request
Compare the subject names, levels, countries and session with your notes. Read the process and refund notice. The price panel itemises the registration charge and subject charges; an applicable promo code must be accepted here and reflected in the total before you continue.
Use the back/edit link if something is wrong. Do not pay for an approximate request and assume the school can change it later. You can use the booking-call link if you need clarification first.
Step 5: follow your own payment instructions
The current flow displays bank-transfer instructions, the amount, currency and a personal payment reference. Copy these from your own payment page, not from this guide. Review the terms and the acknowledgement that the search starts after receipt and confirmation of funds.
Submitting the transfer notice is not the same as transferring money, and it does not prove that funds have arrived. Retain your bank receipt. If the amount, beneficiary or reference does not match your checkout, resolve it with support before sending funds.
What happens after payment?
The dashboard reports progress in the placement search. Keep these milestones separate: a transfer notice, confirmed receipt of funds, a school's acceptance and an official IB examination entry are not interchangeable.
IBretake Terms: service, fees and refunds (§§ 5–9)
| Milestone / visible status | What it means | Your next check |
|---|---|---|
| Awaiting bank transfer | Transfer notice received; payment not yet confirmed by IBretake. | Check the reference and keep your bank receipt. |
| Payment confirmed → Search in progress | IBretake has confirmed funds and the school search is active. | Monitor the dashboard and email; answer requests for information. |
| School acceptance / Successful application | A host has accepted; contact details appear after required agreement and admin checks. | Contact the coordinator about documents, components and entry arrangements. |
| Official examination registration | The school's registration step, not a payment receipt or a separate guarantee from IBretake. | Obtain confirmation of the exact subjects, levels, session, venue and exam times. |
Payment pending: the search has not started
‘Awaiting bank transfer’ means the platform is waiting for the transfer to be matched and confirmed. The screenshot keeps the application's current wording; some pending-payment labels remain in English in other language settings. A bank debit alone is not the dashboard's payment confirmation.
Active search: schools are being approached
‘Your retake search’ and ‘Search in progress’ identify the active search. The dashboard summarises the session, subjects, countries and amount paid. Schools assess the request against their own capacity and requirements; a listing or selection is not acceptance.
School confirmation: follow through with the coordinator
‘Successful application’ displays the confirmed school's information once the required checks are complete. Where a signed agreement and admin review are required, contact details are released after approval. The search stops when the first eligible school accepts.
Ask the coordinator to confirm official registration and outstanding requirements in writing. Check component arrangements, identity documents, local reporting times and how results will reach your university. Do not treat the dashboard heading as proof that every IB entry requirement is already finished.
How much does an IB retake through IBretake cost?
The current EUR base-price formula is €150 plus €800 for each selected subject. The examples below are IBretake checkout prices before valid promotions—not official IB fees, school quotes or market averages. There is no automatic multi-subject discount in this formula.
IBretake Terms: service, fees and refunds (§§ 5–9)
| Selected subjects | Calculation | IBretake base total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | €150 + €800 | €950 |
| 2 | €150 + 2 × €800 | €1,750 |
| 3 | €150 + 3 × €800 | €2,550 |
Included service and separate costs
The Terms describe the search package as search, request routing, coordinator outreach, dashboard, support and related administration. School fees are included in a checkout total only where expressly shown. Do not interpret the interface's ‘exam fee’ label as an official IB fee schedule or an all-inclusive promise.
Confirm any separate school/IB assessment charges before committing. Tutoring, new coursework supervision, flights, hotels, visas, insurance and local transport are not part of this search walkthrough. Check any tax or other charge disclosed at checkout.
Promotions and currency
A valid promotion can change the displayed amount; check the accepted code and revised total before paying. The website supports currency selection, but the EUR formula above is the reference—not a promise of a fixed USD or GBP amount. Follow the final currency and transfer instructions on your own payment page; bank conversion and transfer charges may differ.
What if a school cannot accept the request?
Payment does not guarantee a place. Under §9.8 of the published Terms, you may request a full refund once 10 calendar days have passed after IBretake admin confirms successful payment processing, provided no school has accepted the request. The clock does not start when you create an account or submit the transfer notice.
Once a school accepts, the placement-search service is completed and the contractual refund entitlement for the search package ends. Mandatory statutory rights are not limited by that policy. If an accepting school later withdraws, or an exam is cancelled, different provisions and any applicable school-fee policy can apply; contact support and read §9 rather than assuming the same rule covers every case.
Keep your dashboard status and correspondence. If your request contains a mistake or your plans change, contact support promptly; do not create duplicate paid searches to try to repair it.
Who operates IBretake, and who registers the student?
Cima Grande sp. z o.o. operates IBretake. IBretake is an independent intermediary, not an IB World School, examination board or tutoring provider, and is not affiliated with the International Baccalaureate. A school remains responsible for accepting and officially registering the student.
IB: retaking examinations and coordinator responsibilities · IBretake Terms: service, fees and refunds (§§ 5–9)
| Party | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| IBretake / Cima Grande | Host-school search, platform communication and administration described in the Terms. |
| Accepting school / coordinator | Eligibility, assessment components, official entry and examination arrangements. |
| Student / guardian | Accurate information, required documents, agreed payments, preparation and travel. |
Booking questions and final checklist
Before you start an IB retake booking, make sure each answer below is clear. A precise request helps the school assess the right examination entry; it does not remove the need for acceptance.
Private-candidate registration
- I have checked my exact subjects, levels, session and examination language.
- I have raised any IA, oral, syllabus-change or university-deadline question with the appropriate coordinator or institution.
- My profile is accurate, and I can travel to the selected countries.
- I understand the checkout total, possible separate costs and current refund conditions.
- I know that confirmed payment starts the search, and that school acceptance is separate from official IB registration.
Retake questions
Does paying IBretake register me for IB examinations?
Can I choose an individual school in this booking flow?
Can I change subjects after payment?
Do I need to buy tutoring to use IBretake?
References
- IB: retaking examinations and coordinator responsibilities
- IBretake Terms: service, fees and refunds (§§ 5–9)
- IB May 2025 provisional bulletin, printed page 29: registration categories
- IB November 2026 final examination schedule
- IB May 2027 final schedule: school-hosted copy, confirm current edition
Editorial review
Reviewed against the cited official IB and admissions sources. IBretake does not claim examiner, IB coordinator or alumni credentials unless a named credential is shown.
See something outdated? Email support@ibretake.com so the editorial team can check and correct it.
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