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If your IB results didn’t meet your expectations, an IB exam retake can be a smart exam resit option to improve your scores and strengthen future university opportunities. Many students wonder, “Can you retake IB exams?”, “When do IB retakes take place?”, and “How many times can you resit an IB exam?”
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about IB retakes, including exam resit timelines, eligibility requirements, costs, subject-specific rules, and how resitting IB exams may affect university applications.
Yes, IB students are allowed to retake IB exams. The International Baccalaureate (IB) allows candidates to sit an exam resit to improve individual subject grades or their overall diploma results.
You don’t need to retake the entire IB Diploma unless you choose to. Most students opt for IB retakes in specific subjects only, such as IB Maths, Physics, or Chemistry, focusing their exam preparation where improvement is needed most.
IB retakes are available during the official IB examination sessions each year. These exam resit periods give students structured opportunities to improve their results.
📅 IB Retake Sessions
May session – The most common and widely available exam resit period
November session – Available only to eligible schools and candidates
🔹 Important: Not all IB schools offer the November exam resit session. Availability depends on your school’s registration status and your geographic location.
Yes, retaking IB exams in November is possible, but only under specific conditions. Not all students or schools are eligible for this exam resit session.
You can take IB retakes in November if:
Your school is officially registered for the November IB exam session
You meet the IB eligibility requirements
The subject you want to resit is offered during the November session
🔹 Important: November IB retakes are less widely available than the May session, so it’s important to confirm availability with your school early.
The International Baccalaureate allows students to retake IB exams more than once, but there are clear limits on how many exam resit attempts are permitted.
In general:
You can sit IB exams in up to three official examination sessions
All IB retakes must take place within the time frame set by the IB
Universities often consider your highest score, though admissions policies can vary
🔹 This means most students have two additional exam resit opportunities after their first attempt.
No, you don’t have to retake all IB exams at the same time. IB retakes are flexible and allow students to focus only on the subjects they want to improve.
You can:
Retake individual IB exams rather than the full diploma
Focus on a single subject, such as an IB Maths exam resit
Improve weaker scores without repeating subjects where you already performed well
This flexibility makes IB retakes more targeted, manageable, and cost-effective for students and families.
You may be eligible for IB retakes if you meet the International Baccalaureate’s exam resit requirements. Eligibility typically depends on your previous registration and your school’s approval.
You are eligible to retake IB exams if:
Both IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) and IB Course Certificate candidates are allowed to take IB retakes.
Retaking IB exams is a structured process, and following the right steps can make your exam resit smoother and more effective.
Step-by-step process to retake IB exams:
The cost of IB retakes can vary depending on several factors, as exam resit fees are not the same for every student or school.
The total cost of retaking IB exams depends on:
The number of subjects you choose to retake
Your school’s administrative and registration fees
The exam session (May or November)
Typical costs may include:
A per-subject exam fee set by the IB
A school administration fee
Optional additional costs for IB tutoring or revision support
🔹 Important: Schools set the final prices, so always confirm exact costs with your IB Coordinator before registering for an exam resit.
The best time depends on:
University deadlines
Subject difficulty
How much preparation time you need
May retakes → Best for full preparation
November retakes → Ideal if you narrowly missed a grade and can prepare quickly
Retaking IB exams can offer significant academic and personal benefits, especially when approached with a clear exam resit strategy and focused preparation.
IB retakes can help you:
Improve university eligibility and keep more options open
Strengthen scholarship opportunities
Boost confidence and subject mastery
Meet conditional university offers
Increase your overall IB Diploma score
With structured revision and support, many students successfully improve their results by 1–3 points per subject after an exam resit.
IB retakes can positively affect university placements, especially if an exam resit leads to improved scores. Many universities are open to considering updated results, but policies can vary.
Universities generally:
Accept improved IB exam scores after retakes
May consider your highest result rather than your first attempt
Require updated transcripts once new results are released
However:
Some highly competitive universities may prefer first-attempt scores
Admissions policies vary by country and institution
👉 Always inform universities if you plan to retake IB exams so they can advise you on how updated results will be considered.
Yes. Students can retake failed subjects in the next available session.
Yes. You can retake specific subjects only.
Yes. IB Maths retakes are common and allowed under IB policy.
Usually no, unless your school requires it.
In most cases, yes, but they often focus on your latest or highest results.
IB exams must be taken through an IB-registered school.
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