Australian IB Diploma students sit their final exams in the IB's November session, alongside schools across the Southern Hemisphere. The IB timetable runs on its own schedule, separate from the VCE, HSC, QCE, WACE and SACE, and it doesn't stop for Australian public holidays. This guide covers the full November 2026 IB exam timetable, local start times across Australia, and how and when your results become an ATAR.
Key Takeaways
- IB Diploma exams for the November 2026 session run from Friday 23 October to Friday 13 November 2026 (IB, 2026).
- Each subject's papers are almost always on consecutive days, usually an afternoon session followed by the next morning.
- Exams start at fixed local times for your school's exam zone. For most Australian schools, that's 10:00 am and 2:00 pm (9:30 am and 1:30 pm in WA).
- The IB schedule doesn't account for public holidays, so Victorian students have exams on Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday 3 November).
- IB results are released on Thursday 17 December 2026, and your IB Admissions Score (IBAS), the ATAR equivalent used by Australian universities, on Friday 18 December 2026.
IB Exam Timetable 2026 (November Session)
The International Baccalaureate (IB) has released the final November 2026 examination schedule for the Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme. It applies to all exam zones, including every IB school in Australia. "Except English & Spanish" means those languages have their own sessions, listed separately.
Week 1: 23–30 October
| Date | Morning session | Afternoon session |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 23 October | No exams | School-based syllabus SL paper 1 |
| Monday 26 October | School-based syllabus SL paper 2 | Language A: Literature HL/SL paper 1; Language A: Language & Literature HL/SL paper 1 (except English & Spanish) |
| Tuesday 27 October | Language A: Literature HL/SL paper 2; Language A: Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2 (except English & Spanish) | Biology HL/SL paper 1 |
| Wednesday 28 October | Biology HL/SL paper 2 | Business Management HL/SL paper 1; HL paper 3 |
| Thursday 29 October | Business Management HL/SL paper 2 | Spanish A HL/SL paper 1; Spanish B HL/SL papers 1 and 2 (reading); Spanish ab initio SL papers 1 and 2 (reading) |
| Friday 30 October | Spanish A HL/SL paper 2; Spanish B and ab initio paper 2 (listening) | Computer Science HL/SL paper 1; Environmental Systems & Societies HL/SL paper 1 |
Week 2: 2–6 November
| Date | Morning session | Afternoon session |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 2 November | Computer Science HL/SL paper 2; HL paper 3; Environmental Systems & Societies HL/SL paper 2 | History HL/SL papers 1 and 2 |
| Tuesday 3 November | History HL paper 3 | Language B HL/SL papers 1 and 2 (reading); Language ab initio SL papers 1 and 2 (reading) (except English & Spanish); Latin HL/SL paper 1 |
| Wednesday 4 November | Language B and ab initio paper 2 (listening) (except English & Spanish); Latin HL/SL paper 2 | Physics HL/SL paper 1; Sports, Exercise & Health Science HL/SL paper 1 |
| Thursday 5 November | Physics HL/SL paper 2; Sports, Exercise & Health Science HL/SL paper 2 | English A: Literature HL/SL paper 1; English A: Language & Literature HL/SL paper 1; English B HL/SL papers 1 and 2 (reading); English ab initio SL papers 1 and 2 (reading) |
| Friday 6 November | English A: Literature HL/SL paper 2; English A: Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2; English B and ab initio paper 2 (listening); Literature & Performance SL paper 1 | Digital Society HL/SL paper 1; Geography HL/SL paper 1; Global Politics HL/SL paper 1; Social & Cultural Anthropology HL/SL paper 1 |
Week 3: 9–13 November
| Date | Morning session | Afternoon session |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 9 November | Digital Society HL/SL paper 2; HL paper 3; Geography HL/SL paper 2; HL paper 3; Global Politics HL/SL paper 2; Social & Cultural Anthropology HL/SL paper 2 | Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL/SL paper 1; Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL/SL paper 1 |
| Tuesday 10 November | Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL/SL paper 2; Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL/SL paper 2 | Economics HL/SL paper 2; Global Politics HL paper 3 |
| Wednesday 11 November | Economics HL/SL paper 1; HL paper 3 | Chemistry HL/SL paper 1; Design Technology HL/SL papers 1 and 2 |
| Thursday 12 November | Chemistry HL/SL paper 2; Design Technology HL paper 3 | Philosophy HL/SL paper 1; Psychology HL/SL paper 1 |
| Friday 13 November | Philosophy HL/SL paper 2; HL paper 3; Psychology HL/SL paper 2; HL paper 3 | Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL paper 3; Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL paper 3 |
Source: IB Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme November 2026 examination schedule (final version, all exam zones). Your school's IB coordinator will give you your personal timetable. Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay are assessed through submitted work, not exams.
What Time Do IB Exams Start in Australia?
Unlike state exams, IB start times depend on your school's exam zone. The IB sets fixed local start times for each zone, and they don't change for daylight saving. Based on the IB's 2026 start-time table, Australian schools typically sit exams at these local times:
| Location | Morning session | Afternoon session |
|---|---|---|
| NSW, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia and Northern Territory | 10:00 am | 2:00 pm |
| Western Australia | 9:30 am | 1:30 pm |
Your school is allocated an exam zone by the IB, so always confirm your start times with your IB coordinator.
What This Timetable Means for Australian IB Students
The IB schedules exams for schools in dozens of countries, so a few things work differently from the state systems your friends may be sitting:
- No breaks for public holidays. The IB states it can't account for public holidays. Victorian students sit History HL paper 3 and Language B exams on Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday 3 November).
- Papers are back to back. Almost every subject's papers fall on consecutive sessions, usually an afternoon followed by the next morning. Biology is 27–28 October, Physics 4–5 November and Chemistry 11–12 November.
- Maths spans the final week. Maths papers 1 and 2 are on 9–10 November, and HL paper 3 is on the final afternoon, Friday 13 November.
- The overlap with state exams. IB exams run at the same time as the VCE, HSC, QCE, WACE and SACE written exams, so you may be revising while classmates in state programs are sitting different exams.
Worth knowing: Because each subject's papers sit in consecutive sessions, you'll often go straight from one paper to the next with only an evening in between. Plan for this in your practice: sit paper 1 and paper 2 of the same subject in one afternoon-and-morning block, so the real exam pattern feels familiar.
Key Dates After Your Exams
- Thursday 17 December 2026: IB results are released at candidates.ibo.org (IB Schools Australasia).
- Friday 18 December 2026: Your IB Admissions Score (IBAS), the ATAR equivalent used by Australian universities, becomes available through your state's tertiary admissions centre (UAC, VTAC, QTAC, TISC or SATAC).
Want to know how your IB score translates into an ATAR? Read our guide to how your IB score converts to ATAR in 2026, and our explainer on how the IB is graded.
Essential Tips for IB Exam Success
We asked our tutors, who have an average ATAR of 99.00, for their best advice for IB students preparing for the November exams. Here's what they said:
- Build a plan around consecutive papers: Map every paper onto a calendar and work backwards from each date, giving extra time to subjects whose papers fall early.
- Know your command terms: The IB uses precise command terms like "evaluate", "discuss" and "to what extent". Each one asks for a different kind of answer.
- Practise HL and SL papers at the right length: HL and SL papers often differ in length and content, so practise with papers that match your level.
- Use past papers and markschemes: IB markschemes show exactly what earns marks, especially for extended responses.
- Keep your graphing calculator skills sharp: For Maths and Sciences, know your calculator's functions well before the exam.
- Look after yourself: Sleep, nutrition and regular breaks help you stay focused across a four-week exam period.
Subject-by-Subject Exam Tips
Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches, Applications and Interpretation)
- Practise regularly with past papers and IB-style questions, focusing on your weakest topics.
- Show all your working, since method marks are available even if your final answer is wrong.
- For HL, leave dedicated time for paper 3, which uses longer, investigative problems.
Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
- Make summary notes for each topic, focusing on key concepts, equations and definitions.
- Practise data analysis and graph interpretation questions, and always refer to the data in your answers.
- Use precise scientific terminology in extended responses.
English A (Literature, Language & Literature)
- Practise unseen analysis for paper 1 under timed conditions.
- Prepare flexible quotes and examples from your paper 2 texts so you can adapt them to any question.
- Focus on a clear thesis and a well-structured comparative argument.
Humanities (History, Geography, Economics, Psychology)
- Use subject terminology accurately and support every argument with specific evidence, case studies or studies.
- Practise drawing and interpreting diagrams, maps and data, especially in Geography and Economics.
- For essays, evaluate rather than just describe. Weigh up different perspectives before reaching a conclusion.
💡 See how one student turned things around with personalised support: How Charlie improved in IB Chemistry and English Literature.
Maximising the Benefits of Past Papers
Past papers are one of the most effective ways to prepare for IB exams. Here's how to use them well:
- Sit them under timed conditions: Include reading time and match the paper length to your HL or SL level.
- Mark with the official markschemes: Learn exactly what IB examiners reward.
- Track recurring question types: Many question styles repeat across sessions, so use them to guide your revision.
- Keep an error log: Record every mistake and revisit those topics until you're confident.
- Practise back-to-back papers: Sit paper 1 and paper 2 of the same subject in consecutive sessions to build stamina.
Improve your scores in your IB exams by using the master IB command terms list!
One of the most important things to do to maximise your IB exam score is to have a mastery over the command terms the IB uses
Frequently Asked Questions
When do IB exams start in Australia in 2026?
The November 2026 IB exam session starts on Friday 23 October 2026 with the School-based syllabus SL paper 1. Most subjects begin from Monday 26 October, and the session finishes on Friday 13 November 2026.
Do IB students in Australia sit the May or November session?
IB schools in Australia, like most Southern Hemisphere schools, sit the November session, which lines up with the end of the Australian school year.
What time do IB exams start in Australia?
For most Australian schools, morning exams start at 10:00 am and afternoon exams at 2:00 pm local time. In Western Australia, they start at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm. Your IB coordinator will confirm the times for your school's exam zone.
Are there IB exams on Melbourne Cup Day?
Yes. The IB doesn't schedule around public holidays, so History HL paper 3 and Language B exams are on Tuesday 3 November 2026.
How do IB results convert to an ATAR?
Australian universities use the IB Admissions Score (IBAS), a finer-grained ATAR equivalent based on your IB Diploma score. It's released through your state's tertiary admissions centre on Friday 18 December 2026, the day after IB results come out.
Need Help Preparing for Your IB Exams?
Personalised support can make a real difference to your IB results. Our IB tutors offer one-on-one support across Australia, in person and online, covering content revision, past paper practice and exam technique.
