Introduction
When the IB releases a new exam schedule, one of the first questions students and teachers ask is:
“What’s changed compared to previous years?”
This is a smart question. While the IB exam structure is stable, small scheduling changes can significantly affect revision planning, stress levels, and exam performance.
This article explains:
- How the IB May 2026 exam schedule compares to previous years
- What has stayed consistent
- What has changed or shifted
- What students should actually care about
The goal is not to panic about differences, but to adapt intelligently.
What Usually Stays the Same Each Year
Before looking at changes, it’s important to understand what rarely changes.
Across recent IB exam sessions, the IB has remained consistent in:
- A four-week exam window
- Morning and afternoon sessions
- Global exam zones (A, B, and C)
- Consecutive scheduling of papers within subjects
- No adjustments for national or school holidays
Students expecting a completely different structure each year are usually disappointed — the IB prioritises stability.
Typical Types of Changes in IB Exam Schedules
When changes do occur, they usually fall into one of these categories:
- Slight shifts in which week a subject appears
- Reordering of Paper 1, Paper 2, or Paper 3
- Redistribution of high-candidature subjects
- Minor changes to reduce global clashes
These changes are logistical, not academic.
The syllabus, assessment criteria, and grade boundaries are unaffected.
Key Differences in the IB May 2026 Schedule
Compared to recent years, the IB May 2026 exam schedule shows:
- Continued emphasis on spreading sciences and languages across all four weeks
- Mathematics and sciences still clustered toward the middle and later weeks
- Language exams remaining early in the session
- HL-only papers continuing to appear later than SL papers
For students, this means the pressure points remain familiar, even if exact dates shift.
Why the IB Adjusts the Schedule Slightly Each Year
The IB uses global registration data to build each timetable.
Small changes are made to:
- Minimise the number of students with multiple exams in one day
- Balance workload across weeks
- Respond to subject popularity changes
- Maintain exam security
As subject combinations change worldwide, the schedule must adapt — even if only slightly.
What Changes Matter to Students (And What Don’t)
Many students focus on changes that don’t matter, such as:
- A subject moving from Tuesday to Wednesday
- An exam starting 30 minutes earlier or later
- Another country’s timetable looking different
What does matter:
- Which week your hardest subjects fall in
- Whether exams are consecutive
- How fatigue accumulates across weeks
- Where your final exams are placed
Strategic planning depends on patterns, not exact dates.
Why Comparing Too Much Can Be Harmful
Students often:
- Compare their schedule to older siblings
- Look at past schedules online
- Assume last year’s strategy will work again
This can lead to:
- Poor pacing
- Overconfidence
- Underestimating fatigue
Every exam session is similar, but never identical.
Your plan must match this timetable, not a previous one.
How to Adapt to Schedule Changes Properly
Instead of worrying about what’s different, students should:
- Identify their personal pressure weeks
- Note consecutive exam days
- Adjust revision intensity accordingly
- Build flexibility into their plan
The earlier this happens, the calmer the exam period becomes.
Using the RevisionDojo Study Planner to Handle Changes
The RevisionDojo Study Planner is designed to work with any IB exam schedule, including changes from year to year.
Using the planner, students can:
- Input the current IB May 2026 dates
- Automatically see pressure points
- Avoid relying on outdated strategies
- Plan revision based on this session’s structure
Instead of reacting to changes, you plan around them.
Access the planner here:
https://www.revisiondojo.com/study-planner
Good planning makes small changes irrelevant.
What Teachers Notice About Schedule Changes
Teachers consistently report that:
- Students who plan early are less affected by changes
- Stress comes from uncertainty, not differences
- Fatigue patterns matter more than exam order
The schedule doesn’t need to be perfect — students need to be prepared.
RevisionDojo Call to Action
If you’re worried about how the IB May 2026 exam schedule compares to previous years, the solution isn’t comparison — it’s clarity.
Use the RevisionDojo Study Planner to:
- Build a plan around the current timetable
- Avoid outdated assumptions
- Stay calm and focused across all four weeks
Start planning here:
https://www.revisiondojo.com/study-planner
Adaptation is a skill — and planning builds it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the IB May 2026 exam schedule very different from previous years?
No. The overall structure remains consistent, with only small logistical changes in exam placement.
Do schedule changes affect grading or difficulty?
No. All exams are marked using the same criteria regardless of schedule changes.
Should I revise differently because of schedule changes?
Yes, but only in terms of pacing and energy management. Content requirements remain the same.
Why does the IB change the schedule at all?
To minimise clashes, balance workload, and reflect global subject registration patterns.
Is it safe to use last year’s revision plan?
Not entirely. While principles remain useful, your plan should always match the current exam schedule.
