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The complete IB Diploma May 2027 schedule for Singapore students โ every key subject, at HL and SL, with exact dates and Singapore start times. Featuring live exam countdowns, subject filtering, back-to-back session warnings, and 1-click export to Google Calendar, plus copy-for-Google-Docs and a printable PDF.
Live days-remaining for the IB Diploma May 2027 session in Singapore: the first written papers (e.g. Physics Paper 1 and Business Management Paper 1) are on Tuesday 27 April 2027, IB Economics Paper 2 is on Tuesday 11 May 2027, and the session closes on Wednesday 19 May 2027. Counters update automatically each second.
Unlike Cambridge, the IB publishes one worldwide examination schedule โ the same subject on the same day everywhere โ and staggers only the clock start time by exam zone for security. Singapore's international schools all sit in zone C, so every date on this page applies directly, with morning papers at 08:30 and afternoon papers at 12:30.
The IB spreads the highest-entry subjects as evenly as possible across the four weeks, schedules most subjects on consecutive days, and frequently places two papers of the same subject in the same session, sat back-to-back under supervision. That last point surprises many families: an HL Economics student sits Paper 1 and Paper 3 in a single morning on 12 May โ nearly three hours of continuous assessment. The personalised planner below flags every back-to-back session in your own combination.
P2: 11 May (PM)
P1 + HL P3: 12 May (AM)
P1: 13 May (PM) ยท P2: 14 May (AM)
HL P3: 18 May (PM)
P1 + HL P3: 27 Apr (PM)
P2: 28 Apr (AM)
P1: 10 May (PM)
P2: 11 May (AM)
P1: 5 May (PM)
P2: 6 May (AM)
P1: 28 Apr (PM)
P2: 29 Apr (AM)
P1: 6 May (PM)
P2: 7 May (AM)
Choosing between HL and SL, or unsure whether your subject combination fits your university pathway? That decision is exactly what our IBDP Subject Consultation resolves. For turning this exam calendar into a revision plan that gets followed, see Study Supervision.
Exact dates, sessions and durations from the IB's final examination schedule. Singapore start times: AM ยท 08:30 and PM ยท 12:30. HL and SL sit the same days; durations differ.
| Date | Paper | Level | Session | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 11 May 2027 | Paper 2 (data response) | HL SL | PM ยท 12:30 | 1h 45m |
| Wed 12 May 2027 | Paper 1 (extended response) | HL SL | AM ยท 08:30 | 1h 15m |
| Wed 12 May 2027 | Paper 3 (policy paper) | HL | AM ยท 08:30 | 1h 45m |
HL candidates sit Paper 1 and Paper 3 back-to-back on the morning of 12 May โ a 3-hour session that rewards stamina and paper-order strategy as much as content, on top of the extra depth HL Economics itself demands: more theory, harder evaluation, and the standalone Paper 3 policy-based question. Deciding whether HL Economics is the right call โ or whether SL delivers the same university options with a lighter load โ is exactly the kind of question worth resolving early, not in the exam hall.
| Date | Paper | Level | Session | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 13 May 2027 | Paper 1 (AA: no calculator / AI: calculator) | HL SL | PM ยท 12:30 | HL 2h / SL 1h 30m |
| Fri 14 May 2027 | Paper 2 | HL SL | AM ยท 08:30 | HL 2h / SL 1h 30m |
| Tue 18 May 2027 | Paper 3 (problem-solving) | HL | PM ยท 12:30 | 1h 15m |
| Date | Subject & paper | Session | Duration (HL / SL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 27 Apr 2027 | BMBusiness P1 (HL/SL) + HL P3 | PM ยท 12:30 | 1h 30m + 1h 15m |
| Wed 28 Apr 2027 | BMBusiness P2 | AM ยท 08:30 | 1h 45m / 1h 30m |
| Wed 28 Apr 2027 | PHYSPhysics P1 | PM ยท 12:30 | 2h / 1h 30m |
| Thu 29 Apr 2027 | PHYSPhysics P2 | AM ยท 08:30 | 2h 30m / 1h 30m |
| Wed 5 May 2027 | CHEMChemistry P1 | PM ยท 12:30 | 2h / 1h 30m |
| Thu 6 May 2027 | CHEMChemistry P2 | AM ยท 08:30 | 2h 30m / 1h 30m |
| Mon 10 May 2027 | BIOBiology P1 | PM ยท 12:30 | 2h / 1h 30m |
| Tue 11 May 2027 | BIOBiology P2 Updated 2027 | AM ยท 08:30 | 2h 30m / 1h 30m |
Every subject on this page hides a second question behind the exam date: should it be taken at Higher Level or Standard Level? The honest answer is rarely just workload. Maths AA HL and Maths AI HL both add a standalone Paper 3, Economics HL adds the Paper 3 policy paper and a noticeably harder evaluation standard, and Business Management HL follows the same pattern โ extra depth, an extra paper, and materially more study hours per week for two years. The right call depends on a student's target degree, their genuine strength in the subject rather than their enjoyment of one taster lesson, and how the rest of their six-subject combination balances out. It's a big enough decision โ and different enough subject by subject โ that it deserves its own dedicated guide rather than a paragraph here; we'll be publishing a full HL-vs-SL breakdown by subject in the coming months.
May 2027 is the first examination session for the redesigned Psychology, Computer Science, Design Technology and Visual Arts courses and the updated Extended Essay model (first teaching August 2025), plus a Biology Paper 2 Section B mark redistribution. Students in these subjects sit new paper formats with no past-paper bank โ specimen papers and mark-scheme fluency matter more than ever. This is exactly the kind of syllabus-transition risk our IBDP Subject Consultation maps out before students lock in choices.
Self-contained summaries for the most-taken subjects, anchored to the confirmed May 2027 dates. Singapore start times are 08:30 (morning) and 12:30 (afternoon).
IB Economics Higher Level is assessed by three written papers. Paper 1 is an extended-response paper (1h 15m) requiring one full essay from a choice; Paper 2 is a data-response paper (1h 45m); and Paper 3 is the HL-only policy paper (1h 45m), which sets quantitative, policy-based problems that SL students never sit. In the confirmed May 2027 session, Paper 2 is on the afternoon of Tuesday 11 May 2027 (12:30), and Paper 1 and Paper 3 are sat back-to-back on the morning of Wednesday 12 May 2027 (from 08:30) โ close to three hours of continuous assessment. Revision guidance from KS Academia Prep: because HL is examined on harder evaluation (assessment objective AO3) and the standalone Paper 3, rehearse full timed Paper 1 essays and Paper 3 policy questions separately, and practise the 12 May stamina by sitting P1 and P3 in one sitting at least twice before the exam. Confirm your exact start times and allocated zone with your DP coordinator.
IB Economics Standard Level is assessed by two written papers and sits the same days as HL. Paper 1 is an extended-response essay paper (1h 15m) and Paper 2 a data-response paper (1h 45m); SL does not sit the HL Paper 3 policy paper. In the confirmed May 2027 session, Paper 2 is on the afternoon of Tuesday 11 May 2027 and Paper 1 on the morning of Wednesday 12 May 2027. Revision guidance: SL rewards precise diagram work and tightly structured evaluation; drill past data-response papers and time full Paper 1 essays, marking against the IB criteria rather than re-reading notes. Whether SL delivers the same university options as HL for your pathway is exactly the kind of question our IBDP Subject Consultation resolves. Confirm dates and start times with your coordinator.
Both Mathematics routes โ Analysis & Approaches (AA) and Applications & Interpretation (AI) โ share the same exam days. Paper 1 (AA is non-calculator; AI is calculator-allowed) and Paper 2 are sat by all candidates (HL 2 hours each; SL 1 hour 30 minutes each), and HL candidates additionally sit Paper 3 (1h 15m), an extended problem-solving paper. In the confirmed May 2027 session: Paper 1 on the afternoon of Thursday 13 May 2027, Paper 2 on the morning of Friday 14 May 2027, and HL Paper 3 on the afternoon of Tuesday 18 May 2027. Revision guidance: for AA HL, the non-calculator Paper 1 and the standalone Paper 3 are where marks are most often lost โ drill both under strict timing; for AI, fluency with the graphical calculator and modelling contexts is decisive. Confirm your route, level and start times with your coordinator.
Each Group 4 science is assessed by Paper 1 (multiple choice plus data-based questions) and Paper 2 (extended response), with internal assessment completed in school. In the confirmed May 2027 session: Physics Paper 1 on the afternoon of Tuesday 27 April and Paper 2 on the morning of Wednesday 28 April; Chemistry Paper 1 on the afternoon of Tuesday 5 May and Paper 2 on the morning of Wednesday 6 May; Biology Paper 1 on the afternoon of Monday 10 May and Paper 2 on the morning of Tuesday 11 May. Note that Biology Paper 2 carries a Section B mark redistribution first assessed in May 2027, so recent past papers do not fully reflect the new mark weighting โ specimen materials matter. Revision guidance: pair content revision with dedicated data-analysis and extended-response practice, and use specimen papers where the format has changed. Confirm exact dates and start times with your coordinator.
IB English A is assessed by two written papers plus internal oral and (HL) essay components. Paper 1 is guided textual analysis of unseen passages and Paper 2 a comparative essay on studied works. In the confirmed May 2027 session, Paper 1 is on the afternoon of Wednesday 6 May 2027 and Paper 2 on the morning of Thursday 7 May 2027. Revision guidance: Paper 1 rewards a repeatable analytical method for unseen texts under time pressure; Paper 2 rewards a bank of well-prepared comparative arguments across your set works. Practise both to time and study the assessment criteria. Confirm dates and start times with your coordinator.
IB Business Management is assessed by two written papers (both based on business situations and a pre-released case study for Paper 1), with HL adding an extended Paper 3 sat back-to-back with Paper 1. In the confirmed May 2027 session, Paper 1 and HL Paper 3 are on the afternoon of Tuesday 27 April 2027, and Paper 2 on the morning of Wednesday 28 April 2027 โ placing Business among the very first exams of the session. Revision guidance: because Business is early, front-load case-study preparation and the pre-released material in the weeks before the session, and practise applying tools to the specific case rather than reciting theory. Confirm dates and start times with your coordinator.
The IB runs two fixed exam sessions each year and, unlike Cambridge's administrative zones that change the dates, the IB publishes one worldwide schedule and staggers only the local start time by exam zone. Singapore international schools sit the May session, in exam-start zone C (morning 08:30, afternoon 12:30).
| Question | Answer for Singapore |
|---|---|
| Which session do Singapore schools sit? | May (Northern Hemisphere). November is the Southern-Hemisphere session, used by some schools and most retake candidates. |
| Are the dates the same worldwide? | Yes โ the IB sets one global schedule; the same subject sits on the same day everywhere in a session. |
| What is an IB exam zone? | A start-time band (not a date change) that staggers clock start times for security. Singapore is in zone C. |
| What time do papers start in Singapore? | 08:30 for morning papers, 12:30 for afternoon papers โ fixed by the IB and identical across Singapore schools. |
| When are the 2027 sessions? | May 2027: 23 April โ 19 May 2027 (no exams 1 May). November 2027 window: 22 October โ 12 November 2027 (per-subject dates pending). |
Your school's DP coordinator holds the definitive schedule and confirms your allocated start-time zone and your individual candidate timetable. Always verify against the official IB schedule on ibo.org and your coordinator's document.
Tick your six subjects at the level you take them (HL or SL). Your personalised assessment calendar โ with Singapore start times, live countdowns and back-to-back session warnings โ updates instantly below. Selections are saved on your device. May 2027 dates are the confirmed final schedule.
May-session results are historically released in early July โ typically 5 or 6 July โ at candidates.ibo.org, using the personal code and PIN issued by your school's DP coordinator. Expect early July 2027 for this session Estimated; the IB confirms the exact date nearer the time. University offers conditional on IB results (including NUS, NTU, SMU and UK firms) are processed against this release, and the IB sends results directly to universities candidates have nominated.
The IB's re-mark service is called an Enquiry Upon Results (EUR) โ a Category 1 re-mark of externally assessed work, requested through your school's coordinator, usually within a few months of results. Grades can go up, down or stay the same. Retakes happen in a later session โ November 2027 is the next after May 2027.
The IB has no private-candidate route via the British Council the way Cambridge IGCSE does. Every candidate is registered by an IB World School through its DP coordinator, with registration deadlines set in the November before a May session and late fees after. Retake candidates must be entered by an IB school willing to host them โ their own school or another that accepts external retake registrations. If you are planning a retake, start the school conversation early: hosting arrangements, not revision, are usually the bottleneck.
The exam schedule above covers written papers only. Internal assessments, TOK essays and the Extended Essay have school-set internal deadlines, typically spread across the months before the exam session, with final upload deadlines to the IB well before written papers begin. In practice, a May 2027 candidate's real crunch begins in late 2026 โ which is why we tell families the IB endgame is a six-month campaign, not a four-week sprint. Structured weekly accountability through that stretch is the core of our study supervision programme.
Working back from the confirmed schedule, month by month.
Finish content coverage while school deadlines are still soft. Draft IAs early โ every week an IA slips past its internal deadline is a week stolen from Paper revision later. Convert notes into retrieval-practice materials now; our revision guides cover the methods that survive exam pressure.
Most Singapore international schools run mock examinations in this window. Treat the mock as a diagnostic, not a verdict: mark-scheme analysis of why marks were lost is worth more than the grade itself. This is also when May 2027 registration closes through your coordinator.
Shift fully to timed past papers (or specimen papers for first-assessment-2027 subjects). Train the specific sequences the schedule will demand โ including back-to-back sessions like Economics HL P1+P3 and History P1+P2. Subject-specific technique compounds fastest now: IB Economics and IB Mathematics are where most Singapore students find the largest recoverable marks.
Exams run 23 April to 19 May. Use the spacing analysis above to see your personal clusters and gaps โ most combinations have one brutal week and one deceptive lull. Revise for what is next, keep sessions short and frequent, and protect sleep in the back-to-back weeks. For paper-day strategy, see our exam tips.
Singapore international schools sit the May session (Northern Hemisphere), so most Singapore candidates sit May 2027. The November session (Southern Hemisphere) is used by some schools and by most retake candidates. The IB sets one worldwide schedule per session and staggers only local start times by exam zone; Singapore is in zone C (morning 08:30, afternoon 12:30). This page covers the confirmed May 2027 schedule; use the May/November toggle in the planner for the November window.
The session runs from Friday 23 April 2027 to Wednesday 19 May 2027, with no exams on 1 May. This is the IB's confirmed final schedule for all exam zones (A, B, C).
Singapore IB schools sit in exam zone C (UTC+8): morning papers start at 08:30 and afternoon papers at 12:30 local time. Start times are fixed by the IB per zone and identical across schools โ unlike Cambridge, where each centre sets its own start within Key Time rules.
Economics Paper 1 (HL and SL, 1h 15m) is on Wednesday 12 May 2027 in the morning session. HL candidates also sit Paper 3 (1h 45m) in the same morning, back-to-back. Paper 2 (1h 45m, HL/SL) is the previous afternoon, Tuesday 11 May 2027.
For both AA and AI: Paper 1 on Thursday 13 May 2027 (afternoon) and Paper 2 on Friday 14 May 2027 (morning) โ HL 2h, SL 1h 30m each. HL candidates sit Paper 3 (1h 15m) on Tuesday 18 May 2027 in the afternoon.
Yes โ several subjects schedule two papers in the same session, sat back-to-back under supervision: Economics HL P1+P3 (12 May AM), Business HL P1+P3 (27 Apr PM), History P1+P2 (3 May PM), Psychology P1+P2 (29 Apr PM) and Global Politics P1+P2 (14 May PM). The planner above flags every back-to-back block in your own combination.
Historically in early July โ typically 5 or 6 July โ via candidates.ibo.org with the code and PIN from your DP coordinator. Expect early July 2027; the IB confirms the exact date nearer the session. Results go directly to nominated universities as well.
Psychology, Computer Science, Design Technology and Visual Arts (first teaching 2025) are first assessed in May 2027, alongside the updated Extended Essay model. IB Biology Paper 2 also carries a Section B mark redistribution from this session. These subjects have no past-paper bank โ specimen papers are the key preparation resource.
Not in the Cambridge sense. The IB registers all candidates through IB World Schools โ there is no British Council private-candidate route. Retake or external candidates must be entered by an IB school willing to host them, with registration in the November before a May session. Start that conversation with schools early.
The IB has confirmed the November 2027 window as Friday 22 October to Friday 12 November 2027 (subject to final confirmation), with results expected in early January 2028. The detailed per-subject timetable is usually published around a year ahead and is not out yet. In Singapore, most international-school students sit May, but some schools and most retake candidates use November โ so both sessions matter locally. Use the May/November toggle in the planner above; we load the November subject dates as soon as the IB releases them.
The IB publishes the schedule PDF on ibo.org, and your school's DP coordinator holds the definitive version plus your individual candidate timetable. This page summarises and organises the official final schedule; your coordinator's document is the final authority for your entries.
Study Supervision isn't an extra lesson โ it's structured, supervised time where the work between lessons actually gets done. Most tuition only reaches students for the two to three hours they're in class each week; what happens in the other 160-plus hours is usually left to chance. Students attend on fixed days each week, with frequency increasing as exams approach, in a dedicated classroom supervised by a Teaching Assistant, with regular one-to-one check-ins throughout. Phones are kept at the administration desk for the full session, and parents can contact the centre directly for anything urgent. Homework is marked against an answer key from the subject tutor; for subjects where answers vary in quality โ Economics essays and case studies, for example โ marking is done personally by the tutor. Mr Jason Low, KS Academia Prep's Head of Economics, is known among students for marking exam scripts late into the night to return detailed, examination-standard feedback.
It's academic planning, not tuition. It addresses decisions that carry two years of consequences but are often made on hearsay โ which subjects to take, HL versus SL, and how each choice maps to university requirements in Singapore, the UK, the US and beyond. A consultation works through a student's strengths, workload capacity and target pathway to arrive at a subject combination they can sustain for the full Diploma.
Yes. Families search for this kind of structured, accountable support under many different terms โ academic coaching, supervised study, a structured study programme, homework support or a homework club, guided self-study, a student accountability programme. Whatever the label, the core is the same: fixed, supervised sessions where a Teaching Assistant makes sure assigned work is actually completed and properly marked, not just attempted.