At a glance
- Session
- 23 October to 13 November 2026
- Mathematics
- 9 and 10 Nov; HL Paper 3 on 13 Nov
- Sciences
- Biology 27 to 28 Oct; Physics 4 to 5 Nov; Chemistry 11 to 12 Nov
- Results
- Early January 2027
- Main users in the Gulf
- Retake candidates from May 2026
November 2026 IB exam schedule
Morning and afternoon are local sessions. Your coordinator confirms the start time for your school's timezone zone.
| Date | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 23 October | School-based syllabus SL Paper 1 | |
| Mon 26 October | School-based syllabus SL Paper 2 | Language A (Literature, Language and Literature) Paper 1 |
| Tue 27 October | Language A Paper 2 | Biology Paper 1 |
| Wed 28 October | Biology Paper 2 | Business Management Paper 1; HL Paper 3 |
| Thu 29 October | Business Management Paper 2 | Spanish A, Spanish B, Spanish ab initio |
| Fri 30 October | Spanish papers continue | Computer Science Paper 1; ESS Paper 1 |
| Mon 2 November | Computer Science Paper 2; ESS Paper 2 | History Papers 1 and 2 |
| Tue 3 November | History HL Paper 3 | Language B and Latin |
| Wed 4 November | Language B listening and Latin | Physics Paper 1; SEHS Paper 1 |
| Thu 5 November | Physics Paper 2; SEHS Paper 2 | English A, English B, English ab initio |
| Fri 6 November | English papers continue; Literature and Performance | Digital Society, Geography, Global Politics, Anthropology Paper 1 |
| Mon 9 November | Digital Society, Geography, Global Politics, Anthropology Paper 2 | Mathematics AA and AI Paper 1 |
| Tue 10 November | Mathematics AA and AI Paper 2 | Economics Paper 1; Global Politics HL Paper 3 |
| Wed 11 November | Economics Papers 2 and 3 | Chemistry Paper 1; Design Technology |
| Thu 12 November | Chemistry Paper 2; Design Technology Paper 3 | Philosophy and Psychology Paper 1 |
| Fri 13 November | Philosophy and Psychology papers | Mathematics AA and AI HL Paper 3 |
Source: the IB's official November 2026 examination schedule, which the IB issues to schools, as reproduced by Clastify and RevisionDojo; the two copies match. Checked October 2026. Always confirm against your coordinator's copy.
Who sits the November session from the Gulf
Most IB schools in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman enter their Diploma students in the May session. November is used mainly by retake candidates: students who finished in May 2026 and want to raise a subject grade, or who missed the diploma by a few points. Some students also retake to meet a university offer that asked for a specific grade in one subject.
Retake candidates register through a school that runs the November session, usually their own. Internal assessment marks normally carry forward, so the retake is the written papers only. Ask the coordinator early about the registration deadline, the fee and whether any coursework can be resubmitted.
Results and what they change
November 2026 results are released in early January 2027, and the IB confirms the date and time to schools. The higher grade from the two sessions does not combine automatically into a new diploma total in every case, so ask the coordinator how the retake will be reported. Students holding a conditional university offer should tell the admissions office they are retaking in November and when results are due.
What to do in the last three weeks
- Check the timetable above against your coordinator's copy and note your local start times.
- For each paper, do two or three full timed past papers from the current syllabus, and mark them with the official markscheme.
- Revisit the May 2026 paper or mock that went wrong, and list the three errors that cost the most marks.
- In the final week, review summary notes and formula booklets only. Do not start new topics.
How a tutor helps with a November retake
Retake students usually know the content but repeat the same mistakes under time pressure. A tutor who teaches the subject goes through the student's previous paper, identifies where marks were lost, and spends the remaining weeks on those question types with timed practice. Lessons are one to one, online and 60 minutes, so they fit around a gap year, a foundation course or a first university term.
Common questions
When are the IB November 2026 exams?
From Friday 23 October to Friday 13 November 2026. Most mainstream subjects run from 26 October to 13 November.
When is IB Maths in November 2026?
Paper 1 is on Monday 9 November (afternoon), Paper 2 on Tuesday 10 November (morning), and HL Paper 3 on Friday 13 November (afternoon), for both AA and AI.
When do November 2026 IB results come out?
In early January 2027. The IB confirms the exact date and time to schools during the session.
Can I retake IB subjects in November if my school only does May?
Possibly. You need a school that runs the November session to register you. Ask your coordinator first; if your school cannot, they can usually advise which schools can.
How much do IB retake lessons cost?
$15 per 60-minute one-to-one lesson, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.