IB May 2027 Exam Timetable: Subject Dates, HL and SL Papers, and Start Times
The IB May 2027 begins on Friday 23 April and its final examinations will be on Tuesday 18 May 2027.
Your three essential checks: confirm your exact course, your level—HL or SL—and your school’s allocated exam zone. “Morning” does not mean the same clock time in every country.
IB May 2027: the key dates
What to check | Date or detail |
First listed examinations | Friday 23 April 2027 · afternoon |
Final listed examinations | Tuesday 18 May 2027 |
Final afternoon papers | Mathematics AA HL and AI HL Paper 3 |
Schedule coverage | Exam zones A, B and C |
Your first and last exams | Depend on your registered subjects and levels |
Local start times | Depend on your school’s allocated exam zone |
The first day is for School-based Syllabus SL Paper 1 and Language & Culture SL Paper 1. It is not necessarily the first exam day for you.
Likewise, an SL Mathematics student finishes their Maths papers on 14 May, while an HL Mathematics student also has Paper 3 on 18 May.
Find your subject
Mathematics and sciences
Individuals and societies
Languages and other scheduled subjects
How to read this timetable
HL means Higher Level. SL means Standard Level. AM means morning session. PM means afternoon session. All dates below are in 2027.
For subjects with different HL and SL durations, the last column gives HL first, then SL, with each clearly labelled.
Two papers in one session means two papers to prepare for
For example, History Papers 1 and 2 are both scheduled on 3 May afternoon. History HL students then have Paper 3 the following morning.
Do not assume that papers are always taken on separate days—or in numerical order.
Session start time is not necessarily the start of every individual paper
If two papers occupy the same session, they do not both begin at the session’s opening time. Your school will provide the running order, reporting time and any permitted break arrangements.
Mathematics AA and AI
These dates apply to both:
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches — AA
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation — AI
The courses share their scheduled dates and durations, but you must take the papers for your registered course.
Mathematics AA SL and AI SL
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Thu 13 May · PM | 1h 30m |
Paper 2 | Fri 14 May · AM | 1h 30m |
Mathematics AA HL and AI HL
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Thu 13 May · PM | 2h |
Paper 2 | Fri 14 May · AM | 2h |
Paper 3 | Tue 18 May · PM | 1h 15m |
Planning tip: Paper 1 is followed by Paper 2 the next morning. Prepare for both before 13 May; the overnight interval is best used for a short review and rest.
SL students do not take the HL Paper 3 listed on 18 May.
Biology
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1: 1a and 1b | Mon 10 May · PM | HL 2h; SL 1h 30m |
Paper 2 | Tue 11 May · AM | HL 2h 30m; SL 1h 30m |
Biology is scheduled across two consecutive days.
The Paper 1 duration shown covers the listed 1a and 1b assessment together. Do not allocate that full duration separately to each part.
If you also take Economics, Economics Paper 2 follows on 11 May afternoon.
Chemistry
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1: 1a and 1b | Wed 5 May · PM | HL 2h; SL 1h 30m |
Paper 2 | Thu 6 May · AM | HL 2h 30m; SL 1h 30m |
Watch 6 May: Chemistry Paper 2 is in the morning, followed by English assessments in the afternoon.
Prepare for both Chemistry papers before 5 May, particularly if English is also on your timetable.
Physics
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1: 1a and 1b | Wed 28 April · PM | HL 2h; SL 1h 30m |
Paper 2 | Thu 29 April · AM | HL 2h 30m; SL 1h 30m |
Physics finishes in April. Do not postpone final preparation until May simply because this is the “May 2027” session. Students also taking Psychology have Psychology Papers 1 and 2 on 29 April afternoon.
Computer Science
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Fri 30 April · PM | HL 2h; SL 1h 15m |
Paper 2 | Mon 3 May · AM | HL 2h; SL 1h 15m |
There is a weekend between the two papers.
Clash check: Computer Science and Environmental Systems and Societies share both published sessions. If your registered combination includes both, raise it with your coordinator.
Environmental Systems and Societies — ESS
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Fri 30 April · PM | HL 2h; SL 1h |
Paper 2 | Mon 3 May · AM | HL 2h 30m; SL 2h |
Check your level carefully.
If you also take History, History Papers 1 and 2 take place on 3 May afternoon.
Sports, Exercise and Health Science
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1: 1a and 1b | Wed 28 April · PM | HL 1h 45m; SL 1h 30m |
Paper 2 | Thu 29 April · AM | HL 2h 30m; SL 1h 30m |
These dates and sessions coincide with Physics. Check your registered combination with your coordinator if both subjects appear on your entry.
Design Technology
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Wed 5 May · PM | HL 1h 30m; SL 1h |
Paper 2 | Thu 6 May · AM | HL 2h 30m; SL 1h 30m |
Design Technology shares both published sessions with Chemistry.
Planning tip: use the paper structure and durations for your current course when selecting timed practice. Do not assume an older paper has the same format.
Business Management
Standard Level
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Tue 27 April · PM | 1h 30m |
Paper 2 | Wed 28 April · AM | 1h 30m |
Higher Level
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Tue 27 April · PM | 1h 30m |
Paper 3 | Tue 27 April · PM | 1h 15m |
Paper 2 | Wed 28 April · AM | 1h 45m |
Important: HL Paper 3 is scheduled before Paper 2.
HL students have two papers in the Tuesday afternoon session, followed by another paper on Wednesday morning. Finish substantial preparation for all three before 27 April.
Economics
Standard Level
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 2 | Tue 11 May · PM | 1h 45m |
Paper 1 | Wed 12 May · AM | 1h 15m |
Higher Level
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 2 | Tue 11 May · PM | 1h 45m |
Paper 1 | Wed 12 May · AM | 1h 15m |
Paper 3 | Wed 12 May · AM | 1h 45m |
Paper 2 comes first. HL students then have Papers 1 and 3 in the same morning session.
If you also take Spanish, its first assessments begin on 12 May afternoon. That can make Wednesday a particularly demanding day.
Psychology
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 — HL and SL | Thu 29 April · PM | 1h 30m |
Paper 2 — HL and SL | Thu 29 April · PM | 1h 30m |
Paper 3 — HL only | Fri 30 April · AM | 1h 45m |
Both levels have two papers on 29 April afternoon. HL students return for Paper 3 the following morning.
Do not build your plan around one Psychology paper per day.
History
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 — HL and SL | Mon 3 May · PM | 1h |
Paper 2 — HL and SL | Mon 3 May · PM | 1h 30m |
Paper 3 — HL only | Tue 4 May · AM | 2h 30m |
History SL students have both written papers on 3 May. HL students also have Paper 3 the next morning.
For HL, this creates a concentrated assessment period. Prepare the Paper 3 material before Paper 1 rather than relying on Monday evening for substantial revision.
Geography
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Fri 7 May · PM | HL 2h 15m; SL 1h 30m |
Paper 2 — HL and SL | Mon 10 May · AM | 1h 15m |
Paper 3 — HL only | Mon 10 May · AM | 1h |
HL students have two Geography papers in the Monday morning session.
Students also taking Biology have Biology Paper 1 that afternoon.
Global Politics
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 — HL and SL | Fri 14 May · PM | 1h 15m |
Paper 2 — HL and SL | Fri 14 May · PM | 1h 45m |
Paper 3 — HL only | Mon 17 May · AM | 1h 30m |
Watch 14 May: Mathematics Paper 2 is in the morning, followed by both Global Politics Papers 1 and 2 in the afternoon.
Have your final preparation for all three papers ready before that day.
Digital Society
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Fri 14 May · PM | HL 2h 15m; SL 1h 30m |
Paper 2 — HL and SL | Mon 17 May · AM | 1h 15m |
Paper 3 — HL only | Mon 17 May · AM | 1h 15m |
HL students have Papers 2 and 3 in the same morning session.
Clash check: Digital Society and Global Politics share published sessions.
Philosophy
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Fri 7 May · PM | HL 2h 30m; SL 1h 45m |
Paper 2 — HL and SL | Mon 10 May · AM | 1h |
Paper 3 — HL only | Mon 10 May · AM | 1h 15m |
HL students take Papers 2 and 3 during the Monday morning session.
Philosophy shares its dates and sessions with Geography and Social and Cultural Anthropology.
Social and Cultural Anthropology
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Fri 7 May · PM | HL 2h; SL 1h 30m |
Paper 2 | Mon 10 May · AM | HL 2h 30m; SL 1h 30m |
Check your level before choosing a practice-paper time allowance, particularly for Paper 2.
World Religions
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Tue 11 May · PM | 1h 15m |
Paper 2 | Wed 12 May · AM | 1h 30m |
These published sessions overlap with Economics.
Language A: Literature and Language & Literature
Start by checking two things:
Which language are you taking?
Is your course Literature or Language & Literature?
English, French and Spanish have their own dates. They are excluded from the generic “other languages” schedule.
Language A exam dates
These dates apply to the listed Literature and Language & Literature courses at both HL and SL.
Language | Paper 1 | Paper 2 |
English A | Thu 6 May · PM | Fri 7 May · AM |
Spanish A | Wed 12 May · PM | Thu 13 May · AM |
French A | Mon 17 May · PM | Tue 18 May · AM |
Other Language A entries | Mon 26 April · PM | Tue 27 April · AM |
Language A durations
Paper | HL | SL |
Paper 1 | 2h 15m | 1h 15m |
Paper 2 | 1h 45m | 1h 45m |
For example:
English A Language & Literature HL: 6 May afternoon for 2h 15m, then 7 May morning for 1h 45m.
French A Literature SL: 17 May afternoon for 1h 15m, then 18 May morning for 1h 45m.
Do not use the April Language A dates for English, French or Spanish.
Language B and ab initio
Language B and ab initio assessments are spread across two sessions:
The first session contains Paper 1 and Paper 2 Reading comprehension.
The following morning contains Paper 2 Listening comprehension.
Language B and ab initio dates
Language | Paper 1 + Paper 2 Reading | Paper 2 Listening |
English | Thu 6 May · PM | Fri 7 May · AM |
Spanish | Wed 12 May · PM | Thu 13 May · AM |
French | Mon 17 May · PM | Tue 18 May · AM |
Other listed languages | Tue 4 May · PM | Wed 5 May · AM |
Choose the row for your actual registered language and course. The timetable’s generic entries are not a statement that every language is offered in every course.
Language B HL durations
Component | Duration |
Paper 1 | 1h 30m |
Paper 2: Reading | 1h |
Paper 2: Listening | 1h |
Language B SL durations
Component | Duration |
Paper 1 | 1h 15m |
Paper 2: Reading | 1h |
Paper 2: Listening | 45m |
Language ab initio SL durations
Component | Duration |
Paper 1 | 1h |
Paper 2: Reading | 1h |
Paper 2: Listening | 45m |
Important: Paper 2 Reading and Listening are separate timetable entries on different days. Adding only “Language B Paper 2” once to your calendar could cause you to miss a component.
Example: Spanish B SL
Assessment | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Wed 12 May · PM | 1h 15m |
Paper 2 Reading | Wed 12 May · PM | 1h |
Paper 2 Listening | Thu 13 May · AM | 45m |
Your school will confirm the running order and timings within the first session.
Latin and Classical Greek
Latin
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Tue 4 May · PM | HL 2h; SL 1h 30m |
Paper 2 | Wed 5 May · AM | HL and SL 1h 30m |
Classical Greek
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Wed 12 May · PM | HL 2h; SL 1h 30m |
Paper 2 | Thu 13 May · AM | HL and SL 1h 30m |
Literature and Performance
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Fri 7 May · AM | 1h 45m |
Language & Culture and School-based Syllabuses
Language & Culture SL
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Fri 23 April · PM | 1h 30m |
Paper 2 | Mon 26 April · AM | 1h 30m |
School-based Syllabus SL
Paper | Date · session | Duration |
Paper 1 | Fri 23 April · PM | Confirm with your school |
Paper 2 | Mon 26 April · AM | Confirm with your school |
The general schedule does not specify one universal duration for the School-based Syllabus entries.
What time do IB exams start?
There is no single worldwide IB morning or afternoon start time.
Use your school’s allocated zone—not a guessed zone based on your current location.
Zone A
Allocated zone | Morning start | Afternoon start |
A12, A11, A10, A9 | 10:00am | 2:00pm |
A8 | 9:30am | 1:30pm |
A7, A6, A5, A4, A3 | 9:00am | 1:00pm |
Zone B
Allocated zone | Morning start | Afternoon start |
B3 | 10:00am | 2:00pm |
B2 | 9:30am | 1:30pm |
B1, B0 | 9:00am | 1:00pm |
Zone C
Allocated zone | Morning start | Afternoon start |
C−3 | 10:00am | 2:00pm |
C−4 | 9:30am | 1:30pm |
C−5, C−6, C−7, C−8, C−9, C−10 | 8:30am | 12:30pm |
The document says these are local times, with no additional daylight-saving adjustment required.
What should I put in my calendar?
Record:
The full subject and level.
Each paper or component.
The date and session.
Your school’s confirmed reporting time.
The actual paper start time where provided.
The room and any individual arrangements.
Do not use the session start as the start time of every paper when two papers share that session.
The most important scheduling details to notice
1. Several subjects finish in April
Business Management and Physics are completed in April. Psychology also finishes in April, with HL Paper 3 on 30 April.
Your preparation for these subjects needs to be ready before the month named in the exam series.
2. Paper numbers do not always match chronological order
Two examples:
Business Management HL: Papers 1 and 3, then Paper 2.
Economics: Paper 2 first, then Paper 1; HL students also take Paper 3.
Build your revision plan in exam-date order.
3. Some sessions contain two papers in the same subject
Examples include:
Subject | Session with multiple papers |
Business Management HL | 27 April · PM: Papers 1 and 3 |
Psychology HL/SL | 29 April · PM: Papers 1 and 2 |
History HL/SL | 3 May · PM: Papers 1 and 2 |
Geography HL | 10 May · AM: Papers 2 and 3 |
Economics HL | 12 May · AM: Papers 1 and 3 |
Global Politics HL/SL | 14 May · PM: Papers 1 and 2 |
Digital Society HL | 17 May · AM: Papers 2 and 3 |
These are not duplicate dates to delete from your calendar.
4. Language dates depend on the language
English, French and Spanish each have their own timetable slots. The generic Language A and Language B rows explicitly exclude them.
Busy exam combinations to plan around
These are selected examples of different subjects on the same day, in different sessions.
Date | Morning → afternoon |
28 April | Business Management Paper 2 → Physics or SEHS Paper 1 |
29 April | Physics or SEHS Paper 2 → Psychology Papers 1 and 2 |
30 April | Psychology HL Paper 3 → Computer Science or ESS Paper 1 |
3 May | Computer Science or ESS Paper 2 → History Papers 1 and 2 |
6 May | Chemistry or Design Technology Paper 2 → English assessments |
7 May | English assessments → Geography, Philosophy or Anthropology Paper 1 |
10 May | Geography, Philosophy or Anthropology → Biology Paper 1 |
11 May | Biology Paper 2 → Economics Paper 2 |
12 May | Economics → Spanish assessments |
13 May | Spanish assessments → Mathematics Paper 1 |
14 May | Mathematics Paper 2 → Global Politics or Digital Society |
18 May | French assessments → Mathematics HL Paper 3 |
Only use the rows relevant to your registered subjects.
Prepare both sessions before the day begins. Avoid a plan that depends on substantial new learning between the morning and afternoon exams.
What if two subjects are scheduled in the same session?
Contact your IB coordinator with the full subjects, levels and papers.
Examples of published overlaps include:
Physics and Sports, Exercise & Health Science.
Computer Science and ESS.
Chemistry and Design Technology.
Geography, Philosophy and Social & Cultural Anthropology.
Economics and World Religions.
Digital Society and Global Politics.
An overlap in this list does not establish that every possible subject combination is available or that you personally have a clash. Your registered combination is what matters.
Rescheduling requires IB approval. Students and schools should not independently move a paper to another date. IB final-version schedule, rescheduling policy.
What about orals, IAs, TOK, the Extended Essay and other assessments?
This article does not provide your school’s individual appointments or deadlines for oral assessments, internal assessments, portfolios, performances, TOK or the Extended Essay. Absence from the written timetable does not mean there is no assessment to complete. Add the relevant school deadlines and appointments to the same calendar as your exams.
Ask your coordinator to check that your personal calendar covers every remaining requirement.
How to build a realistic IB revision timetable
Step 1: write your exact course names
Use “Mathematics AA HL” or “English A Language & Literature SL”, not just “Maths” or “English”.
The full name prevents mistakes when several related courses share a timetable section.
Step 2: list every paper separately
For a Language B course, list Reading and Listening separately even though both belong to Paper 2.
For subjects with two papers in one session, retain both entries.
Step 3: work backwards from the first paper in each subject
If Physics begins on 28 April, its final revision phase needs to happen in April. A revision plan built around a generic May start would be too late.
Step 4: treat consecutive-day papers as one preparation block
Prepare for both Biology papers before 10 May, both Chemistry papers before 5 May, and both SL Maths papers before 13 May.
The evening between papers should support recall and recovery, not carry the burden of first-time preparation.
Step 5: mark your busiest three-day stretch
Look across subjects, not only within them.
For example, a student taking Biology, Economics HL and Spanish could have:
Biology on 10–11 May.
Economics on 11–12 May.
Spanish on 12–13 May.
Bring preparation for the later subjects forward so that the first exam does not consume all available attention.
Step 6: use the correct current paper duration
When using older practice materials, check their format against your current course and the 2027 schedule. Do not assume that an older paper’s structure or duration is still the one you will sit.
Step 7: leave practical margins
Plan travel, meals, equipment checks and sleep around the confirmed reporting times. A revision schedule that fills every spare minute is difficult to maintain during a concentrated exam period.
Frequently asked questions
When do the IB May 2027 exams start?
Friday 23 April 2027 afternoon, for School-based Syllabus SL Paper 1 and Language & Culture SL Paper 1.
Your personal first exam depends on your subjects.
When do the IB May 2027 exams finish?
Tuesday 18 May 2027. Mathematics AA HL and AI HL Paper 3 take place that afternoon.
Confirm your final date with your coordinator before making travel plans.
Are “IB Summer 2027” and “IB May 2027” the same session?
Yes. May 2027 is the official session name; “summer exams” is an informal search term.
Does this timetable cover all exam zones?
Yes, all exam zones A, B and C. Its local start-time table varies by allocated zone.
Do all IB exams start at 8:30am and 12:30pm?
No. Those times apply to certain Zone C allocations in this schedule. Other allocations use different local start times.
Ask your coordinator for your exact zone.
When are IB Maths exams in May 2027?
For both AA and AI:
Paper 1: 13 May afternoon.
Paper 2: 14 May morning.
HL Paper 3: 18 May afternoon.
SL students take Papers 1 and 2.
When are IB English exams in 2027?
English assessments are scheduled on 6 May afternoon and 7 May morning.
Which papers you take—and their durations—depend on whether you study English A Literature, English A Language & Literature, English B or the relevant ab initio entry.
When are IB Biology, Chemistry and Physics exams?
Physics: 28–29 April.
Chemistry: 5–6 May.
Biology: 10–11 May.
For each, Paper 1 is in the afternoon and Paper 2 is the following morning.
Does a public holiday mean my exam will move?
Do not assume so. The schedule explains that it cannot accommodate public, national and school holidays generally. Check the published date and your school’s instructions.
Where can I download the timetable?
Use this IB May 2027 final-version schedule.
Before finalising your calendar, check your course, level, every paper component and local reporting time. Those four details turn the full IB schedule into a timetable you can confidently use.
