2025 IB Examination Schedule – Complete Guide to Dates & Times
The IB Examination Schedule for 2025 has been officially released, and students across all exam zones are gearing up for one of the most important academic milestones. Whether you’re a student, parent, or educator, staying updated on the latest exam dates and session times is crucial for smooth and stress-free preparation.
This guide provides a complete breakdown of the 2025 IB exam dates, morning and afternoon sessions, and key preparation tips to help you stay ahead.
2025 IB Examination Schedule
Exam Zone B1 (Dubai) – Morning: 9:00 AM, Afternoon: 1:00 PM
Week 1
| Date | Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, 25 April 2025 | --- No exams --- | School-based syllabus SL paper 1 (1h 30m)Language & culture SL paper 1 (1h 30m) |
| Monday, 28 April 2025 | School-based syllabus SL paper 2 | Language A Literature HL paper 1 (2h 15m)Language A Literature SL paper 1 (1h 15m)Language A Language & Literature HL paper 1 (2h 15m)Language A Language & Literature SL paper 1 (1h 15m)Language & culture SL paper 2 (1h 30m) |
| Tuesday, 29 April 2025 | Language A Literature HL/SL paper 2 (1h 45m)Language A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2 (1h 45m) | Physics HL paper 1 (1a and 1b) (2h)Physics SL paper 1 (1a and 1b) (1h 30m)Sports, exercise & health science HL paper 1 (1h)Sports, exercise & health science HL paper 3 (1h 15m)Sports, exercise & health science SL paper 1 (45m)Sports, exercise & health science SL paper 3 (1h) |
| Wednesday, 30 April 2025 | Physics HL paper 2 (2h 30m)Physics SL paper 2 (1h 30m) | Sports, exercise & health science HL paper 2 (2h 15m)Sports, exercise & health science SL paper 2 (1h 15m)Business management HL/SL paper 1 (1h 30m)Business management HL paper 3 (1h 15m) |
| Thursday, 1 May 2025 | --- No exams --- | --- No exams --- |
| Friday, 2 May 2025 | Business management HL paper 2 (1h 45m)Business management SL paper 2 (1h 30m) | Computer science HL paper 1 (2h 10m)Computer science SL paper 1 (1h 30m)Environmental systems & societies SL paper 1 (1h) |
Week 2
| Date | Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, 5 May 2025 | Computer science HL paper 2 (1h 20m)Computer science HL paper 3 (1h)Computer science SL paper 2 (1h)Environmental systems & societies SL paper 2 (2h) | History HL/SL paper 1 (1h)History HL/SL paper 2 (1h 30m) |
| Tuesday, 6 May 2025 | History HL paper 3 (2h 30m) | Language B HL paper 1 (1h 30m)Language B HL paper 2 (Reading comprehension) (1h)Language B SL paper 1 (1h 15m)Language B SL paper 2 (Reading comprehension) (1h)Language ab initio SL paper 1 (1h)Language ab initio SL paper 2 (Reading comprehension) (1h)Latin HL paper 1 (2h)Latin SL paper 1 (1h 30m) |
| Wednesday, 7 May 2025 | Language B HL paper 2 (Listening comprehension) (1h)Language B SL paper 2 (Listening comprehension) (45m)Language ab initio SL paper 2 (Listening comprehension) (45m) | Latin HL paper 2 (1h 30m)Latin SL paper 2 (1h 30m)Psychology HL paper 1 (2h)Psychology SL paper 1 (2h) |
| Thursday, 8 May 2025 | Psychology HL paper 2 (2h)Psychology HL paper 3 (1h)Psychology SL paper 2 (1h) | English A Literature HL paper 1 (2h 15m)English A Literature SL paper 1 (1h 15m)English A Language & Literature HL paper 1 (2h 15m)English A Language & Literature SL paper 1 (1h 15m) |
| Friday, 9 May 2025 | English A Literature HL paper 2 (1h 45m)English A Literature SL paper 2 (1h 45m)English A Language & Literature HL paper 2 (1h 45m)English A Language & Literature SL paper 2 (1h 45m) | Psychology HL paper 3 (1h) |
Week 3
| Date | Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, 12 May 2025 | Geography HL/SL paper 2 (1h 15m)Geography HL paper 3 (1h)Philosophy HL/SL paper 2 (1h)Philosophy HL paper 3 (1h 15m)Social & cultural anthropology HL paper 2 (2h 30m)Social & cultural anthropology SL paper 2 (1h 30m) | Biology HL paper 1 (1a and 1b) (2h)Biology SL paper 1 (1a and 1b) (1h 30m) |
| Tuesday, 13 May 2025 | Biology HL paper 2 (2h 30m)Biology SL paper 2 (1h 30m) | Economics HL/SL paper 2 (1h 45m)World religions SL paper 1 (1h 15m) |
| Wednesday, 14 May 2025 | Economics HL paper 1 (1h 15m)Economics HL paper 3 (1h 45m)Economics SL paper 1 (1h 15m)World religions SL paper 2 (1h 30m) | Classical Greek HL paper 1 (2h)Classical Greek SL paper 1 (1h 30m)Spanish A Literature HL paper 1 (2h 15m)Spanish A Literature SL paper 1 (1h 15m)Spanish A Language & Literature HL paper 1 (2h 15m)Spanish A Language & Literature SL paper 1 (1h 15m)Spanish B HL paper 1 (1h 30m)Spanish B HL paper 2 (Reading comprehension) (1h)Spanish B SL paper 1 (1h 15m)Spanish B SL paper 2 (Reading comprehension) (1h)Spanish ab initio SL paper 1 (1h)Spanish ab initio SL paper 2 (Reading comprehension) (1h) |
| Thursday, 15 May 2025 | Classical Greek HL paper 2 (1h 30m)Classical Greek SL paper 2 (1h 30m)Spanish A Literature HL/SL paper 2 (1h 45m)Spanish A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2 (1h 45m)Spanish B HL paper 2 (Listening comprehension) (1h)Spanish B SL paper 2 (Listening comprehension) (45m)Spanish ab initio SL paper 2 (Listening comprehension) (45m) | Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL paper 1 (2h)Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL paper 1 (1h 30m)Mathematics: applications and interpretation HL paper 1 (2h)Mathematics: applications and interpretation SL paper 1 (1h 30m)Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL paper 2 (2h)Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL paper 2 (1h 30m)Mathematics: applications and interpretation HL paper 2 (2h)Mathematics: applications and interpretation SL paper 2 (1h 30m)Chemistry HL paper 1 (1a and 1b) (2h)Chemistry SL paper 1 (1a and 1b) (1h 30m)Design technology HL paper 1 (1h)Design technology SL paper 1 (45m)Design technology HL/SL paper 2 (1h 30m) |
Week 4
| Date | Morning Session | Afternoon Session |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, 19 May 2025 | Chemistry HL paper 2 (2h 30m)Chemistry SL paper 2 (1h 30m) | Design technology HL paper 3 (1h 30m) |
| Tuesday, 20 May 2025 | Digital society HL paper 1 (2h 15m)Digital society SL paper 1 (1h 30m)Global politics HL/SL paper 1 (1h 15m) | Digital society HL/SL paper 2 (1h 15m)Digital society HL paper 3 (1h 15m)Global politics HL paper 2 (2h 45m)Global politics SL paper 2 (1h 45m) |
| Wednesday, 21 May 2025 | French A Literature HL paper 1 (2h 15m)French A Literature SL paper 1 (1h 15m)French A Language & Literature HL paper 1 (2h 15m)French A Language & Literature SL paper 1 (1h 15m)French B HL paper 1 (1h 30m)French B HL paper 2 (Reading comprehension) (1h)French B SL paper 1 (1h 15m)French B SL paper 2 (Reading comprehension) (1h)French ab initio SL paper 1 (1h)French ab initio SL paper 2 (Reading comprehension) (1h) | French A Literature HL/SL paper 2 (1h 45m)French A Language & Literature HL/SL paper 2 (1h 45m)Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL paper 3 (1h 15m)Mathematics: applications and interpretation HL paper 3 (1h 15m) |
Exam Zones and Timings
For the May 2025 examination session, IB has divided exam administration into different zones based on geographical regions. Each zone has slightly different schedules to ensure global consistency.
For example, in Exam Zone B1, the standard exam timings are as follows:
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Morning Sessions: Begin at 9:00 AM
-
Afternoon Sessions: Begin at 1:00 PM
Make sure to confirm your exam zone through your school’s IB coordinator to avoid any confusion.
What the 2025 IB Examination Schedule Includes
The official schedule includes:
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Dates for each subject exam
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Session (Morning/Afternoon) assignments
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Exam duration and time allocations
-
Special accommodations (if applicable)
Students can expect core subjects such as Mathematics, English, Biology, Business, and Theory of Knowledge to be distributed across several days in May.
Tips to Prepare for the 2025 IB Exams
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Mark Your Calendar: Add your exam dates to both digital and physical calendars to avoid last-minute surprises.
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Create a Study Plan: Allocate weekly time slots per subject based on difficulty and exam date.
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Use Past Papers: Practice with previous IB papers to get familiar with the format.
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Rest and Recharge: Prioritize sleep, exercise, and proper nutrition for peak performance.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 IB Examination Schedule is more than just a set of dates — it’s a roadmap for academic success. By staying informed and preparing early, you give yourself the best chance to excel in one of the most respected educational programs worldwide.
Stay tuned to your school’s official channels or the IB’s official website for any updates or changes to the schedule.
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