Introduction
The IB exam schedule looks simple at first glance — until you actually try to use it.
Students regularly say:
- “I don’t know when my exams really are.”
- “I’m not sure which papers apply to me.”
- “I keep mixing up morning and afternoon sessions.”
- “The timetable just stresses me out.”
The problem isn’t the exams themselves.
It’s misreading the IB timetable, which leads to poor planning, unnecessary stress, and avoidable mistakes.
This guide explains how to read the IB May 2026 exam schedule without getting confused, step by step, so you can turn it into something useful rather than overwhelming.
Start With the Right Page (Most Students Don’t)
The first mistake students make is skipping the front page of the IB exam schedule.
The opening page tells you:
- Which session the schedule applies to (May 2026)
- That it is the final version
- That it applies to all exam zones
If you are not using the final version of the timetable, everything else becomes unreliable.
Understand the Week Structure First (Not the Subjects)
The IB schedule is organised by:
- Weeks
- Days
- Morning and afternoon sessions
Before you look for your subjects, you should:
- Identify how many weeks exams run
- Notice which weeks look heavier
- See where gaps appear
Many students jump straight to their subject and miss the bigger picture, which makes revision planning much harder later.
Morning vs Afternoon Sessions Explained
Every IB exam is scheduled into one of two sessions:
- Morning
- Afternoon
Important things students often misunderstand:
- You only sit one session at a time
- Session labels are not exact clock times
- Start times depend on your exam zone, not your school
Confusing session labels with clock times leads to poor sleep planning and unnecessary anxiety.
How to Find Your Subjects Correctly
Once you understand the structure, then you should look for your subjects.
When reading subject listings:
- Confirm whether you are HL or SL
- Check paper numbers carefully
- Make sure the subject language matches yours
Common mistakes include:
- Reading HL times for SL papers
- Mixing up Language A and Language B
- Assuming Paper 1 and Paper 2 are on the same day
These small errors create big stress later.
Why the IB Schedule Feels Overwhelming
The IB timetable is designed for:
- Global coordination
- Fairness across time zones
- Minimising worldwide subject clashes
It is not designed to feel intuitive to students.
That’s why:
- Subjects jump across weeks
- Some exams are consecutive
- Others feel strangely spaced out
The confusion isn’t your fault — but you still need to manage it properly.
The Biggest Reading Mistakes Students Make
Students often:
- Only look at their first exam
- Ignore later weeks
- Misread exam zone times
- Forget that listening papers are separate
- Assume gaps mean “free days”
These mistakes usually lead to burnout and poor performance later in the exam period.
How to Turn the Schedule Into Something Usable
Reading the timetable is only the first step.
Using it effectively requires planning.
You need to:
- Extract your personal exam dates
- Understand how exams are spaced
- Plan revision backwards from each paper
- Adjust workload week by week
Using the RevisionDojo Study Planner
The RevisionDojo Study Planner helps remove confusion by turning the official timetable into a clear plan.
It allows you to:
- Input your exact subjects
- See your real exam timeline
- Balance revision across weeks
- Avoid overloading heavy exam periods
Instead of guessing, you can revise with clarity and confidence.
You can access it here:
https://www.revisiondojo.com/study-planner
Why Understanding the Schedule Early Matters
Students who misunderstand the IB schedule often:
- Peak too early
- Burn out in Weeks 3 and 4
- Waste revision time
- Lose confidence
Students who understand it:
- Pace themselves properly
- Protect their energy
- Perform more consistently
Clarity is a competitive advantage in the IB.
RevisionDojo Call to Action
If the IB exam schedule feels confusing, that’s normal — but leaving it that way is a mistake.
Use the RevisionDojo Study Planner to:
- Understand your real exam dates
- Build a calm, realistic revision plan
- Avoid last-minute panic
Start here:
https://www.revisiondojo.com/study-planner
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is the IB exam schedule so confusing?
The schedule is designed for global fairness, not individual ease. It prioritises time zones and subject clashes, which makes it less intuitive for students.
Do I need to memorise the entire exam timetable?
No. You only need to clearly understand your own subjects and how they are spaced across weeks.
Can I rely on my school’s exam schedule?
Schools often provide simplified versions, but you should always cross-check with the official IB timetable to avoid mistakes.
What’s the biggest mistake students make when reading the schedule?
Focusing only on the first exam and ignoring later weeks, which leads to burnout and weaker performance.
When should I start using the exam schedule to plan revision?
As soon as the final timetable is released. Early understanding leads to better pacing and lower stress.
