IB DP Exam Dates 2027-2029 | May & November Session Guide

Date / Period	Event
Sep 2026 - Oct 2026	Subject Selection & Program Start
Oct 2026 - Jan 2027	Internal Assessments (IA) Begin
Oct 2026 - Apr 2027	Extended Essay (EE) Preparation
May 3-31, 2027	May 2027 Exam Session (Year 1)
May-Jun 2027	Predicted Grades Released
Sep 2027 - Jan 2028	Year 2: Final IA & EE Submissions
Nov 8-Dec 6, 2027	November 2027 Exam Session (Optional)
May 2-30, 2028	May 2028 Exam Session (Year 2 - Final)

All IB DP Subjects: Assessment Methods & Exam Dates (2027-2029)

13 subjects with HL/SL designation, exam dates per session (May & November), and university admissions weight.

Subject	Exam Dates 2027-2029
English A: Literature	May 3-5, 2027 \| Nov 9-11, 2027 \| May 2-4, 2028 \| Nov 8-10, 2028 \| May 1-3, 2029
Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches	May 6-8, 2027 \| Nov 12-14, 2027 \| May 5-7, 2028 \| Nov 11-13, 2028 \| May 4-6, 2029
Mathematics: Applications & Interpretation	May 6-8, 2027 \| Nov 12-14, 2027 \| May 5-7, 2028 \| Nov 11-13, 2028 \| May 4-6, 2029
Physics	May 9-11, 2027 \| Nov 15-17, 2027 \| May 8-10, 2028 \| Nov 14-16, 2028 \| May 7-9, 2029
Chemistry	May 12-14, 2027 \| Nov 18-20, 2027 \| May 11-13, 2028 \| Nov 17-19, 2028 \| May 10-12, 2029
Biology	May 15-17, 2027 \| Nov 21-23, 2027 \| May 14-16, 2028 \| Nov 20-22, 2028 \| May 13-15, 2029
History	May 18-20, 2027 \| Nov 24-26, 2027 \| May 17-19, 2028 \| Nov 23-25, 2028 \| May 16-18, 2029
Economics	May 21-23, 2027 \| Nov 27-29, 2027 \| May 20-22, 2028 \| Nov 26-28, 2028 \| May 19-21, 2029
Business Management	May 24-26, 2027 \| Nov 30-Dec 2, 2027 \| May 23-25, 2028 \| Nov 29-Dec 1, 2028 \| May 22-24, 2029
Psychology	May 27-29, 2027 \| Dec 3-5, 2027 \| May 26-28, 2028 \| Dec 2-4, 2028 \| May 25-27, 2029
Visual Arts	Portfolio deadline: April 2027/2028/2029 \| Exams: May 2027/2028/2029 (1.5 hrs)
Spanish B	Written: May 30-Jun 1, 2027 \| Nov 6-8, 2027 \| May 29-31, 2028 \| Nov 5-7, 2028 \| May 28-30, 2029 \| Oral: Ongoing
TOK (Theory of Knowledge)	Exam: May 2027/2028/2029 (1.5 hrs) \| Oral: Feb-Apr each year \| Essay deadline: March 31

When Should Tutoring Support Start?

📅 Tutoring Support Timeline: Sep 2026 → Jul 2028

Sep-Oct 2026

Subject Selection Support. Guide HL vs SL choices (3 HL + 3 SL minimum). Early tutoring Sep 2026 helps with subject transition, especially HL subjects (240 hrs commitment).

Nov 2026 - Jan 2027

Internal Assessment Strategy. IA topics finalized, research begins. EE supervisor meetings. First IA submissions Jan 2027. Tutoring focuses on IA quality, research methods, EE structure.

Feb-Apr 2027

Extended Essay Completion & Exam Technique. Final EE submission April 15, 2027. Mock exams. Intensive tutoring Feb-Apr 2027 for exam technique, practice papers, time management.

May-Aug 2027

May 2027 exams (May 3- 31). Results & predicted grades released May-June. Summer: review Year 1 performance, identify weak subjects, plan Year 2 intensive tutoring.

Sep 2027 - May 2028

Final IA submissions (Sep-Jan), final EE revision. Mock exams (Jan-Feb 2028). Intensive tutoring Sep 2027-Apr 2028. May 2028 exams (May 2-30). Results July 2, 2028 = final university offers.

How to Support Your Child Through IB DP 2027-2029: Complete Strategy

Step 1: Understand DP Structure & Choose Subjects Strategically

Action: Understand HL (240 hrs, 3 papers, deeper) vs SL (150 hrs, 2 papers, foundational). Choose 3 HL (strongest subjects) + 3 SL + TOK + EE. Consider university requirements (pre- med = Chemistry/Biology HL). Start tutoring Sep 2026.

Step 2: Master Internal Assessments (IA) Across All Subjects

Action: IA = 20-30% of final grade. Topics selected by Oct 2026. Research Oct 2026-Jan 2027. IA submissions staggered: first batch Jan 2027, remaining Sep 2027-Jan 2028. Tutoring focuses on IA methodology, research quality, per-subject deadlines

Step 3: Excel in Extended Essay (EE) Writing

Action: EE = mandatory 4,000-word essay (counts as one subject, ~10% of grade). Topic selected by Oct 2026. Supervisor meetings Feb-Mar 2027. Final submission April 15, 2027. Tutoring: topic selection, research strategy, academic writing, structure

Step 4: Ace May 2027 Exams & Build Predicted Grades

Action: May 2027 exams (May 3-31) = first exam window. Predicted grades released May- June (out of 45). Target 40+ for competitive universities. Tutoring intensifies Feb-Apr 2027 for exam technique, practice papers, weak area reinforcement

Step 5: Complete Year 2 & Maximize May 2028 Final Exams

Action: Remaining IA submissions (Sep 2027-Jan 2028). Final EE finalized January 2028. Mock exams Jan-Feb 2028. Intensive tutoring Sep 2027-Apr 2028 for all subjects. Practice papers, exam technique, time management.

Step 6: Achieve 40+ Points & Secure University Admissions

Action:May 2028 exams (May 2-30) = final exams across all subjects. Results July 2, 2028. Target 40-45 points. University final offers made post-results. Celebrate achievement and university placement.

Key Takeaways

✓ IB DP has two exam sessions per year (May & November) — Most students take May only

May exam sessions: May 3-31, 2027 (Year 1) | May 2-30, 2028 (Year 2). November sessions optional (Nov 9-Dec 6, 2027 and Nov 8-Dec 6, 2028). Confirm exam session choice with school. Staggered dates mean students finish exams at different times

✓ Target 40+ points out of 45 for competitive university admissions

Top universities expect 40-45. Diploma requires 24+ points minimum. Each point = ~1 subject grade shift. Strong IA + EE work (30-40% of total) critical to reaching 40+ target.

✓ Subject choice (HL vs SL) locks in by Oct 2026 — Choose carefully

HL = 240 hours, deeper content, 3 papers. SL = 150 hours, foundational, 2 papers. Wrong HL/SL choice = 2-year regret. HL required for STEM university admissions. Tutoring Sep 2026 helps navigate this critical decision.

✓ Internal Assessments (IA) + Extended Essay (EE) count 30-40% of final grade

IA deadlines staggered Oct 2026-Jan 2028. EE final deadline April 15, 2027. These aren't exams but carry heavy weight in final score. Quality IA/EE work is as important as exam performance. Tutoring focus: IA methodology, EE research & writing.

✓ May 2027 predicted grades determine university early offers (May-Jun 2027)

Predicted grades (based on Year 1 exams + IA/EE work) released May-June 2027. Universities extend early conditional offers based on predicted scores. Strong Year 1 + solid IA/EE = strong predicted grades = better university options.

📌 Important: : his page shows the IB DP exam schedule for 2027-2029 as a reference. Exam dates, session options (May vs November), and subject availability vary by school. Individual IB schools set exam session preferences (most choose May only; some offer November). Internal Assessment deadlines and Extended Essay submission dates are set by IB but managed by individual schools. Always confirm your child's exact exam session, IA deadlines, EE timeline, and subject offerings with their IB school. For authoritative exam dates and assessment calendars, check the IB website (ibo.org) or contact your school directly.

Frequently asked questions

When do IB DP exams happen? May or November?

Most schools sit May exams only (May 3-31, 2027 for Year 1; May 2-30, 2028 for Year 2). A few offer optional November sessions — confirm which applies with your child's school

What is the difference between HL and SL subjects?

HL means 240 study hours and deeper content across 3 papers; SL means 150 hours and 2 papers. Students take at least 3 of each, and HL subjects carry more weight for STEM admissions.

What are Internal Assessments (IA) and when are they due?

Internal Assessments are coursework completed throughout the programme, counting 20-30% of the final grade. Deadlines are staggered by subject between Oct 2026 and Jan 2028.

When is the Extended Essay due and how much does it count?

The Extended Essay is a mandatory 4,000-word research essay, counting as roughly one subject (~10% of the final grade). Final submission is April 15, 2027.

What are predicted grades and why do universities care?

Predicted grades (out of 45) are released May-June 2027, based on Year 1 exams and IA/EE work. Universities use them for early conditional offers.

How can tutoring help achieve 40+ points?

Support spans subject selection, IA and EE quality (30% of the grade), and exam technique based on Year 1 results. Consistent 1:1 tutoring across both years builds toward 40+ points.

IB DP Exam Schedule 2027-2029 University Admissions Guide

IB DP Key Dates 2027-2029

All IB DP Subjects: Assessment Methods & Exam Dates (2027-2029)

When Should Tutoring Support Start?

How to Support Your Child Through IB DP 2027-2029: Complete Strategy

Key Takeaways

Starting Early Is The Difference Between Prepared and Rushed

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Frequently asked questions

When do IB DP exams happen? May or November?

What is the difference between HL and SL subjects?

What are Internal Assessments (IA) and when are they due?

When is the Extended Essay due and how much does it count?

What are predicted grades and why do universities care?

How can tutoring help achieve 40+ points?

How often should my child attend tutoring sessions?

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Can I get a private tutor at home?

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