IB Diploma Prep Guide
Everything you need for IB Diploma success — exam dates, free resources, Extended Essay and TOK guidance, IA tips, 2026 updates, and an IB vs AP comparison.
IB Exam Dates & Key Milestones
Key dates for the November 2025 and May 2026 IB exam sessions. Plan your revision timeline around these milestones.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| November 2025 session begins | October 24, 2025 |
| November 2025 session ends | November 14, 2025 |
| November 2025 results day | December 16, 2025 |
| May 2026 exams begin | Late April 2026 |
| No exams (International Workers' Day) | May 1, 2026 |
| May 2026 exams end | Mid-to-late May 2026 |
| May 2026 results day | July 6, 2026 |
| Schools receive results | July 5, 2026 (12pm GMT) |
November 2025 session begins
October 24, 2025
November 2025 session ends
November 14, 2025
November 2025 results day
December 16, 2025
May 2026 exams begin
Late April 2026
No exams (International Workers' Day)
May 1, 2026
May 2026 exams end
Mid-to-late May 2026
May 2026 results day
July 6, 2026
Schools receive results
July 5, 2026 (12pm GMT)
Exact dates vary by subject. Check your school's IB coordinator for your personal exam timetable.
Free IB Diploma Resources
The best free IB prep materials — question banks, revision notes, formula booklets, IA examples, and past paper solutions across all subject groups.
Extended Essay (EE) Support
The Extended Essay is a 4,000-word independent research paper — one of the most challenging components of the IB Diploma. Our tutors guide you through every stage, from choosing your research question to final submission.
Tips for a Top-Scoring Extended Essay
- Choose a focused research question in a subject you're passionate about — vague questions lead to unfocused essays
- Start research early (ideally 6+ months before deadline) and keep a detailed researcher's reflection space
- Use the official EE assessment criteria to structure your work — each criterion maps to specific essay elements
- Include both primary and secondary sources, and engage critically with your evidence
- Review examiner-marked examples on Clastify to understand what earns top marks
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Resources
TOK challenges you to reflect on the nature of knowledge across disciplines. Between the TOK essay and TOK exhibition, these components contribute up to 3 bonus points to your Diploma score.
May 2026 session: Prescribed titles are released by the IB — students choose one of six titles for their 1,600-word essay.
Tips for a Strong TOK Essay & Exhibition
- Structure your essay around a clear thesis that directly addresses the prescribed title
- Use specific, well-developed real-life examples from at least two areas of knowledge
- For the TOK exhibition, choose three objects that genuinely connect to your chosen IA prompt
- Engage with multiple perspectives — the strongest TOK essays acknowledge complexity and nuance
- Review the May 2026 prescribed titles analysis on IBMastery for examiner insights
Internal Assessment (IA) Guides
IAs contribute 20–30% of your final grade in most subjects. These subject-specific guides cover key strategies to help you maximise your IA marks.
Science IAs (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
- Choose a research question that allows for measurable, controlled variables
- Include raw data tables AND processed data with proper uncertainty calculations
- Discuss systematic and random errors — examiners reward honest evaluation of methodology
- Connect your conclusion back to established scientific theory and explain any discrepancies
- Review free IA samples on Nail IB and Clastify to calibrate expectations
Math IAs
- Select a topic that genuinely interests you — personal engagement is an assessed criterion
- Go beyond textbook mathematics — explore a real-world application or mathematical modeling
- Show clear mathematical reasoning with proper notation and proof structure
- Include both mathematical analysis and personal reflection on the process
- The IA should be 12-20 pages — quality of mathematical exploration matters more than length
Humanities IAs (History, Economics, Psychology)
- Formulate a specific, debatable research question rather than a descriptive one
- Use a range of primary and secondary sources with critical evaluation of reliability
- Apply relevant subject-specific methodology (historical analysis, economic modeling, psychological research methods)
- Maintain objectivity while developing a sustained argument supported by evidence
- Follow the word count strictly — History IAs are 2,200 words max, Economics commentaries 800 words each
Language & Literature IAs
- For the Individual Oral (IO), choose texts that offer rich material for your selected global issue
- Practice your 10-minute oral presentation until it flows naturally within the time limit
- In the Written Task/Paper, demonstrate close textual analysis with specific quotations
- Connect literary techniques to meaning — don't just identify devices, explain their effects
- Review Clastify IA examples for your specific Language A course (Literature vs. Lang & Lit)
What's New for IB Diploma in 2026
Major changes are coming to the IB Diploma — from digital exams to curriculum redesigns. Here's what you need to know.
Digital Exams Pilot
IB launches its first digital exams in May 2026 with 60+ pioneer schools (~3,000 students). Initial digital subjects: English Language & Literature, Spanish Language & Literature, English B (SL). By November 2026, all IB schools can opt in. Full digital transition expected by early 2030s.
IB History Major Redesign
Complete redesign with Historical Inquiry Model, paired case studies for Paper 1, and revised IA structure. First teaching August 2026 — this is the biggest curriculum change in IB History in over a decade.
IB Psychology Redesigned
Redesigned course with practical emphasis. Students should review the new course framework for May 2027 first assessment.
IB Computer Science Update
The course now supports both Java and Python, giving students and schools more flexibility in programming language choice.
Language A Changes
Paper 1 now presented in two separate booklets with 5 minutes reading time added. This affects all Language & Literature and Literature courses.
IB Diploma vs AP: How They Compare
Considering both programmes? Here's a side-by-side look at how the IB Diploma and AP compare across key dimensions.
Frequently Asked Questions About the IB Diploma
Answers to the questions students and parents ask most about the IB Diploma Programme.
Need Personalized Help?
If you'd like 1-on-1 support, our IB tutors can help with any subject group, Extended Essay, TOK, and Internal Assessments.
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