IB Diploma November 2026: Dates, Retakes & Results
The IB Diploma November 2026 session runs from late October to mid-November, with results in January 2027. It's the main sitting for Southern-Hemisphere schools — and the next chance for May 2026 candidates to retake subjects and lift their total. Here's how retaking works, plus the key dates.
Key dates for November 2026
The written exams run late October to mid-November 2026, with results in January 2027. The IB publishes the detailed per-subject schedule on its official site — and your IB coordinator confirms your exact dates and any retake-registration deadlines, which fall well before the session.
Check IB Official PageExpected Key Dates
Based on typical IB November session scheduling:
Exam Period
Late October - Mid November 2026
Written exams for all subjects
Results Release
January 2027
IB Diploma results
About the IB November Session
The November session is the main examination period for IB schools in the Southern Hemisphere, where the academic year runs from February to November/December.
- Southern Hemisphere: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, parts of South America
- All Subjects: Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL) papers available
- Three Zones: A, B, and C for different time zones
Retaking IB Subjects in November 2026
If your May 2026 total wasn't what you hoped, the November session is the next chance to improve it. You don't have to redo the whole Diploma — you retake individual subjects.
How retaking works
- - Retake one or more subjects to raise your points total
- - Your best grade in each subject counts toward the Diploma, so a retake can only help
- - You can re-use coursework marks (like the Internal Assessment) or resubmit — check the rules for each subject with your coordinator
- - The Diploma must be completed within a limited number of exam sessions, so don't leave retakes indefinitely
Registering
- - You register through a school — usually your own, as a coordinator-supported candidate
- - Registration closes well before the November session, so speak to your coordinator as soon as you're considering it
- - There are entry fees per subject; your school will confirm the amounts and deadlines
Retake and completion rules follow the IB's assessment and exams guidance; exact registration deadlines are set through your school — confirm them with your IB coordinator.
Enquiry Upon Results, or Retake?
Before committing to a November retake, it's worth checking whether a grade was simply marked lower than expected. Through an Enquiry Upon Results (EUR), your coordinator can request a re-mark of exam papers or re-moderation of coursework — a grade can go up, down, or stay the same, and the deadlines fall in the weeks just after results day.
- - A borderline grade (a mark or two short of the next boundary) is often worth an EUR first
- - A clear gap to your target is usually better closed with a retake and more preparation
The IB May 2026 results page explains the EUR options in full, and our grade thresholds guide covers how close a mark has to be to move a grade.