Can you retake IB exams at a different school?

You can retake IB exams through a different school offering the Diploma Programme if it accepts your exact subjects, levels, examination language and session and can register you in time. DP authorization alone does not confirm an external retake place.

Five confirmations to get from a new host school

Authorisation alone is not proof that a school will accept your request. The IB says schools are not obliged to accept retake candidates. Use the following checklist to make an offer of help specific enough to act on.

1. Subject and level: Biology SL is not interchangeable with Biology HL; name every selected subject separately.
2. Session and examination language: ask for the exact session and language of assessment, not just whether the school “offers IB”.
3. Candidate record: confirm how the school will identify and link your previous session results.
4. Coursework position: get coordinator guidance on existing marks, curriculum changes and anything that falls outside exam hosting.
5. Registration evidence: ask what confirmation you will receive, what remains outstanding and the deadline for supplying it.

For example, a two-subject request may involve four or more papers on different days. Check the November 2026 calendar or May 2027 calendar with the school before buying non-refundable transport. The published full windows are 23 October–13 November 2026 and 23 April–18 May 2027; your personal timetable may be shorter.

Keep the document checklist and a travel budget together. School acceptance, official IB entry and travel arrangements are separate milestones, even when they happen close together.

Which school is responsible for the new entry?

The IB permits a future retake at an accepting school offering the DP. Under Article 10 of the 2026 DP regulations, the school registering a retake candidate takes academic and administrative responsibility. A host is therefore more than a room for the papers. Do not arrange registration through both schools unless the IB advises it.

Why Would You Need a Different School?

• School policy: your original school may not accept returning retake candidates.
• A move: you now live in a different city or country.
• Subject or session availability: the original school may not offer the subject, level or session you need.
• Practical fit: another school may offer a workable travel and preparation plan.
• Programme closure: the original school may no longer offer the Diploma Programme.

Step by Step: Registering at a New School

Step 1: Choose countries and subjects

Confirm that the school currently offers the Diploma Programme and accepts your exact subject, level, examination language and session. The five confirmations above establish that fit. If using IBretake, select countries and subjects in one search request; the search can begin after admin confirms payment. For the school-entered route, see external-candidate registration.

Step 2: Track the Search

Use your dashboard case number to track the search and respond to requests. School names may remain private until acceptance. Where a signed placement agreement and admin approval are required, acceptance alone does not release final contact details; complete those steps and check the recorded next instructions.

• Your full name and date of birth
• Your IB candidate number from your original session
• The session you originally sat (e.g., May 2025)
• Which subjects you want to retake, at which level (HL/SL)
• Your selected countries

If support or an accepted coordinator asks for more detail, use your IBretake case number in the message.

Step 3: Provide Documentation

Agree the documents, secure handover method and the school’s document and registration cutoffs. The host decides what it needs; this is a preparation checklist, not a universal IB document list:

• A results statement showing your previous session, subjects, levels and grades.
• Your previous candidate/session identifiers and personal code, as requested for record matching.
• Identity documentation in the form the school requests.
• Original-school records for coursework, carried-forward components and any access arrangements the new coordinator needs to check.
• Any school-specific form or statement, if required.

Step 4: Pay Fees and Confirm Registration

Only the registering school’s coordinator enters or amends your assessment registration through IBIS. Obtain confirmation of the intended subjects, levels, language and session, and ask what remains outstanding. The charges below are IBretake prices, not a universal IB tariff:

• IBretake’s fixed registration component: EUR 150.
• IBretake’s fixed subject fee: EUR 800 per selected subject/level pair, not per timetable paper; no quantity discount.
• Check the quote or checkout for any separate school fee, taxes, currency or payment charges. Budget your own travel, accommodation, visa, courier and document expenses separately.

Full cost breakdown: How much does it cost to retake IB exams?

Step 5: Sit the Exam

You sit under IB assessment standards at the host school's exam centre. Papers and local start times can vary by examination zone, language and session. Obtain your personal timetable from the school; do not reuse the timetable from your original attempt.

What About Internal Assessment?

The host-school search does not include new IA or coursework supervision, tutoring or oral preparation. Any optional preparation service offered separately has its own scope and price; do not treat the search package as tuition.

Ask the original school to provide the relevant component records to the new coordinator. The registering host must confirm current curriculum requirements, any marks that may be retained, and who will supervise or authenticate required new work. Acceptance for written papers does not by itself settle those academic arrangements.

Common Concerns

Will the new school see my previous results?

Give the new coordinator your original session and candidate identifiers with the results statement. Ask how they will verify and match that record, and whether they need information directly from your former coordinator. Do not assume every earlier component can be transferred without review.

Can I retake at a school in a different country?

Yes, another country can be an option if an authorised school accepts you and can register your subjects. Confirm examination language, local timetable, travel documents and any visa requirements before booking travel.

What if no school near me accepts retake candidates?

If local schools cannot accept the entry, compare other regions against the same subject, language and deadline requirements. Calculate the stay from every paper date and local reporting time. Check travel and accommodation costs before accepting a distant option.