Quick answer
The final IB Diploma November 2026 examination schedule runs from Friday 23 October 2026 to Friday 13 November 2026, for every exam zone. Biology is first among the big sciences, on 27 and 28 October. Sit one recent paper for the exam you have next, with the mark scheme on the same page, at the [IB past-paper archive](/ib/past-papers). Confirm your own rows with your coordinator. The source document is the [IB November 2026 examination schedule](https://www.ibo.org/globalassets/new-structure/programmes/dp/pdfs/november-2026-examination-schedule.pdf).
The dates that decide this week
For the IB Diploma Programme, these are the rows students search for. Morning and afternoon depend on your centre's exam zone, so the table keeps the day and the paper, not a clock time.
| Subject | When | What to open |
|---|---|---|
| Biology HL and SL | Paper 1 on 27 October, Paper 2 on 28 October | Biology HL papers and Biology SL papers |
| Business management | 28 and 29 October | Business HL |
| History | 2 and 3 November | History HL |
| Physics HL and SL | 4 and 5 November | Physics HL |
| English A | 5 and 6 November | Language and literature HL |
| Maths AA and Maths AI | Paper 1 on 9 November, Paper 2 on 10 November, HL Paper 3 on 13 November | Maths AA HL and Maths AI HL |
| Economics | Paper 2 on 10 November, Paper 1 and HL Paper 3 on 11 November | Economics HL |
| Chemistry HL and SL | Paper 1 on 11 November, Paper 2 on 12 November | Chemistry HL |
| Psychology | 12 and 13 November | Psychology HL |
A full walk through every subject is in the IB Diploma past papers guide. If you are choosing which year to open, use which subjects have 2025 papers.
What to sit before each paper
For the IB Diploma Programme, one timed sitting beats a pile of unmarked PDFs. Use the newest year the archive has for that subject, then the same paper number from the year before.
Biology, this week. Paper 1 is multiple choice on 27 October and Paper 2 is the written paper on 28 October. Open Biology HL Paper 2 or the SL Paper 2 index, sit the newest paper to time, then open the mark scheme without leaving the page. The written-answer method is in how Biology Paper 2 is marked.
Physics, the week of 2 November. Paper 1 is on 4 November and Paper 2 is on 5 November. Start at Physics HL Paper 1 and Paper 2. Method and error carried forward are covered in the Physics Paper 2 guide.
Chemistry, the last week. You have until 11 November for Paper 1 and 12 November for Paper 2. Use that gap for calculations, not for rereading notes. Start at Chemistry HL Paper 1 and Paper 2.
Maths, 9 to 13 November. Paper 1 is non-calculator for Analysis and approaches, and calculator rules differ by course, so sit the paper that matches your course rather than mixing AA and AI. The on-site Maths AA set is still thin (HL papers from 2021 and 2022). Use those for method, and do not expect a 2024 or 2025 AA paper on the site yet. Maths AI runs further, through 2024: Maths AI HL.
How to mark the sitting
The first sitting you open stays available without an account. A second, different sitting asks you to sign in, so the papers stay on the site. The archive itself is described in [free IB past papers in 2026](/blog/ib-past-papers-free-2026): 10,980 documents, 28 subjects, May and November from 1983 to 2026.
- Open the question paper and start the clock for the real duration.
- Finish the paper before you look at the scheme.
- Switch to the mark scheme on the same page and tick only points you actually wrote.
- Write down the three losses that would move the grade: a command term, a missing step, or a timing collapse.
- Drill that one gap, then sit the same paper number from an older year.
If this is a May 2026 retake
You retake a subject, not the whole diploma, and your coordinator registers you. A remark can still be the better first move when you were a mark or two short. Read [IB results 2026](/blog/ib-results-day-2026-what-to-expect) before you spend the week on the wrong subject. Coursework rules differ by subject, so ask the coordinator whether your IA mark carries.
Frequently asked questions
For the IB Diploma Programme, the final schedule starts on Friday 23 October 2026 and ends on Friday 13 November 2026. The 23 October row is a school-based syllabus paper. Most diploma subjects start from Monday 26 October.
When do November 2026 IB exams start?
What time do they start?
The schedule gives morning or afternoon, then a local start time by exam zone. Zones use 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, or 10:00 in the morning, and 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, or 14:00 in the afternoon. Your coordinator confirms the zone. Do not add a daylight-saving adjustment on top of that table.
Which past paper should I do tonight?
The paper number you sit next, from the newest year available for your subject. Biology students start with Paper 1 or Paper 2 from 2024. Physics and Chemistry students who have a later session can start from Physics 2025 or Chemistry 2025.