Introduction
The IB exam timetable often feels confusing, exhausting, or even unfair to students.
Common reactions include:
- “Why are my hardest exams so close together?”
- “Why do some days feel overloaded?”
- “Why can’t exams be spaced out more evenly?”
The reality is that the IB exam schedule is designed around fairness, security, and global logistics, not individual comfort.
Understanding this helps students plan more effectively.
The IB Is a Global Examination System
IB exams run:
- Simultaneously across time zones
- In hundreds of countries
- For many subject combinations
This scale makes perfectly spaced exams impossible.
The priority is fairness, not convenience.
Exam Security Shapes the Schedule
Exam content must remain secure worldwide.
This means:
- Exams cannot be repeated or recycled
- Time zones must be managed carefully
- Certain subjects must be separated
Security requirements strongly influence exam placement.
Subject Combinations Create Constraints
Many students take:
- Multiple languages
- Several essay-heavy subjects
- Mixed HL and SL combinations
The IB must reduce:
- Exam clashes
- Overlapping subjects
- Unmanageable marking loads
Some exam proximity is unavoidable.
Why Some Exams Feel Grouped Together
Exams are grouped to:
- Limit total exam days
- Reduce supervision complexity
- Balance marking timelines
Grouping is a logistical decision, not a judgement on subject difficulty.
Why the Schedule Can Feel Unfair
The schedule feels unfair when:
- Hard subjects are consecutive
- Fatigue builds over time
- Students compare themselves to others
But the IB applies:
- The same marking standards
- The same conditions
- The same expectations
Timing affects experience, not grading.
What Students Can Control (and What They Can’t)
Students cannot control:
- Exam order
- Subject spacing
- Global scheduling
Students can control:
- Revision timing
- Energy management
- Preparation quality
Planning turns a fixed schedule into a manageable one.
How High-Scoring Students Adapt
Strong students:
- Accept the schedule early
- Plan around fatigue
- Finish heavy revision early
- Focus on consistency
They work with the system, not against it.
Using the RevisionDojo Study Planner
The RevisionDojo Study Planner helps students:
- Understand pressure points in the schedule
- Prepare early for demanding sequences
- Avoid last-minute overload
- Stay consistent throughout exams
Plan with clarity here:
https://www.revisiondojo.com/study-planner
RevisionDojo Call to Action
The IB schedule won’t change — but your approach can.
Use the RevisionDojo Study Planner to:
- Plan smarter
- Reduce stress
- Perform consistently
Start planning here:
https://www.revisiondojo.com/study-planner
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the IB exam schedule unfair?
No. It is designed to be globally fair, even if it feels demanding.
Does exam order affect grading?
No. All exams are marked to the same standard regardless of timing.
Can the IB space exams out more?
Not without increasing clashes, security risks, or logistical problems.
How can I cope with a difficult schedule?
Finish heavy revision early and plan energy carefully.
