May 2026 IB Exam Schedule (All Subjects) — Printable Timetable & ICS Download
A clean, scannable guide to the May 2026 session with zone start times, a condensed weekly flow, and one-click calendar files for morning/afternoon sessions.
At a glance
- Exam window: Friday 24 April → Wednesday 20 May 2026 (no exams on 1 May).
- Two daily sessions: Morning & Afternoon (times depend on your IB exam zone).
- Languages: English/French/Spanish have slightly different sequencing—double-check your language & level.
- Always confirm: Use your school’s official timetable and coordinator guidance.
Start times by zone (local time)
Zone group | Morning | Afternoon | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
A9–A12, B3, C-3 | 10:00 | 14:00 | Common in Europe/Africa time bands |
A8, B2, C-4 | 09:30 | 13:30 | Check your school’s zone with your coordinator |
A3–A7, B0–B1 | 09:00 | 13:00 | Often Americas/Asia-Pacific overlaps |
C-5 → C-10 | 08:30 | 12:30 | Later C zones (farther east) |
Your school will confirm its zone and exact local start times.
Quick timetable (condensed)
Use this to understand the weekly flow. For subject-by-subject detail, rely on the official PDF and your school.
Week | Dates | What typically lands |
---|---|---|
Week 0 | Fri 24 Apr | PM session only (SBS / Language & Culture SL P1) |
Week 1 | Mon 27 → Thu 30 Apr Fri 1 May = no exams | Language A P1/P2 (except Eng/Fre/Spa), Physics, SEHS, Business Mgmt, Computer Science, ESS |
Week 2 | Mon 4 → Fri 8 May | CompSci P2/P3, History, Language B/Ab initio reading & listening, Latin, English A, English B/Ab initio, Geography, Philosophy, Social & Cultural Anthropology |
Week 3 | Mon 11 → Thu 14 May | Biology, Economics, Spanish (A/B/Ab initio), Mathematics AA/AI Paper 1 & Paper 2 |
Week 4 | Fri 15 → Wed 20 May | Chemistry, Design Technology, Digital Society, Global Politics, French (A/B/Ab initio), Mathematics AA/AI Paper 3 (HL only), final wrap-up |
One-click calendars (.ics)
These add morning/afternoon session blocks for each exam day. After import, rename events with your subject & paper (e.g., “Math AA HL — Paper 1”).
Note: Remember to replace "YOUR_LINK_HERE.ics" with your actual file URLs. Always confirm your schedule with the official PDF.
FAQs
Do all countries get a holiday on 1 May?
IB does not schedule exams on 1 May to account for Labour Day. Other local holidays do not usually affect the IB calendar—follow your school’s instructions.
How strict are start times?
Start times are fixed by IB exam zones and observed locally. Your school will provide the exact times; arrive early with the permitted materials.
Can I rely only on this page?
Use this as a planning aid. For the definitive, subject-by-subject breakdown, always consult the official IB timetable and your coordinator.