For M28 students: IB exams in May 2028, started DP1 in August 2026.
M28 means the May 2028 IB examination session. If you are described as an M28 student, your main Diploma Programme examinations are expected to take place in May 2028, usually after beginning DP1 around August or September 2026.
The label helps schools and students identify a cohort quickly, but it also has an academic purpose. Your examination session determines which subject guide, assessment model and syllabus version applies to you.
What does M28 mean in the IB?
The shorthand divides into two parts:
- M means the May examination session.
- 28 means the year 2028.
Therefore, M28 = May 2028. In the same way, M27 means May 2027 and M29 means May 2029.
The IB officially refers to May and November examination sessions. Labels such as M28 are convenient shorthand commonly used by schools, teachers, students and study platforms, rather than the name of a separate IB programme or qualification.
The IB confirms that the DP and Career-related Programme have two examination sessions each year, one in May and one in November. Your school normally tells you which session it follows when you enter the programme.
M27, M28 and N28 IB session codes compared
The same pattern applies to other session labels.
| Session code | Meaning | Typical cohort timing |
|---|---|---|
| M27 | May 2027 examinations | DP1 commonly begins around August 2025 |
| N27 | November 2027 examinations | DP1 commonly begins around January 2026 |
| M28 | May 2028 examinations | DP1 commonly begins around August 2026 |
| N28 | November 2028 examinations | DP1 commonly begins around January 2027 |
| M29 | May 2029 examinations | DP1 commonly begins around August 2027 |
These starting points describe common two-year school calendars, not universal rules. A student's exact teaching timetable, registration status and assessment arrangements are controlled by the school and IB coordinator.
May sessions are common in schools whose academic years run from approximately August or September to May or June. November sessions often suit schools with academic years beginning near January, but the letter does not officially identify a hemisphere or country. N28 simply means November 2028, wherever the school is located.
Why your IB session code matters
Your session code is more than a graduation-year label. It identifies the assessment session for which your school prepares and registers you.
It determines your syllabus version
IB subject curricula change periodically. Each revised course has a first teaching date and a first assessment date, and the first-assessment date determines which examination cohort uses the new assessment model.
For example, the IB's curriculum update overview identifies courses first taught in August or September 2026 and first assessed in May 2028. The revised DP History course has first assessment in 2028, so M28 History students belong to that new assessment cycle.
However, syllabus changeovers do not happen across every subject simultaneously. The updated Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches course has first assessment in May 2029. An M28 student may therefore use a newly introduced History guide while still following the Mathematics guide assessed before the 2029 change.
This is why you should verify each subject separately. Do not assume that every resource marked “new syllabus” applies to M28.
It determines the relevant assessment format
A syllabus revision can change:
- Content and prescribed topics
- Paper structure and examination duration
- Internal assessment requirements
- Command terms and assessment objectives
- Weighting of examination papers and coursework
- Permitted materials or supporting documents
Using resources for the wrong session can lead you to revise removed material or overlook a new requirement. Before relying on notes, videos or past-paper collections, check their stated first assessment year against your session.
It identifies the timetable you will eventually follow
The precise dates of individual papers are published in the official IB examination schedule. A session code does not reveal the exact day or time of an examination, and students should not estimate those dates from an earlier year's timetable.
When the May 2028 schedule becomes available, your coordinator will confirm the timetable, examination zone and local start times. Until then, M28 should be treated as the session identifier, not a complete exam calendar.
How M28 students should check their subjects
Create a simple subject record at the beginning of DP1. For each course, write down:
- The full subject name, such as Biology HL or English A: Language and Literature SL.
- The level, either HL or SL.
- The guide's first-assessment year.
- The external assessment papers required.
- The internal assessment component and weighting.
- Any prescribed works, case studies or options confirmed by your teacher.
Your subject teacher and IB coordinator should be the final authorities on the guide used by your school. Third-party resources are useful only when they align with that confirmed version.
When using RevisionDojo, select materials carefully rather than searching only by subject name. Syllabus-aligned Study Notes can support initial learning, while the IB Question Bank is more useful once you can identify the exact topic and assessment style you need. Flashcard revision guidance can also help you build retrieval practice into DP1 without treating memorisation as a substitute for application.
Common misunderstandings about M28
M28 is not your final grade. It does not mean a score of 28 points or predict your diploma result.
M28 is not a subject code. It refers to the examination session for your cohort, while each subject has its own title, level and curriculum documentation.
Every M28 subject does not automatically use a guide first assessed in 2028. Courses are revised on separate schedules, so the applicable first-assessment year must be checked subject by subject.
M28 does not provide exact examination dates. Those appear later in the official May 2028 schedule and are communicated through your school.
N28 is not necessarily a retake label. It means the November 2028 session and can describe a student's normal examination cohort, although November sessions may also include candidates completing further assessments.
Conclusion
The M28 IB meaning is straightforward: May 2028 examinations. The code identifies your main assessment session, distinguishes your cohort from M27 and N28, and helps establish which syllabus and assessment model applies to each subject.
Treat the session code as the starting point, then confirm the first-assessment year for every course with your teachers or coordinator. RevisionDojo can help organise the correct notes, practice and deadlines once those details are recorded.
Sources and referenced URLs
- IB information on May and November examination sessions
- IB curriculum updates and first-assessment dates
- Official DP History curriculum update
- Official Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches update
- Official IB examination schedules
- RevisionDojo IB Study Notes
- RevisionDojo IB Question Bank
- RevisionDojo guide to using flashcards
- RevisionDojo Study Planner
- Create a free RevisionDojo account
As your next step, create a free RevisionDojo account and enter your six M28 subjects in the Study Planner so you can schedule weekly work and track completed topics from the start of DP1.