The final IB deadline is not the date most retake students should work towards. A host school has to review your request, confirm subjects, collect documents, process payment, and register you before that point. If you start when the public deadline looks close, you may already be late.
1. The IB's Official Deadlines
The International Baccalaureate sets two key deadlines for each exam session:
Standard registration deadline: Usually falls in mid October for the May session and mid April for the November session. Registrations submitted by this date incur no late fees.
Late registration deadline: Approximately 4 to 6 weeks after the standard deadline. Registrations may still be accepted, but late fees can apply.
After the late deadline closes, no further registrations are accepted. No exceptions, no appeals. The IB is extremely strict on this.
Key insight: These deadlines are when the school must submit your registration to IBIS (the IB's information system). The school's own internal deadline for accepting you will be weeks or even months earlier.
2. The School's Internal Deadlines
Every exam school sets its own cutoff dates. These are earlier than the IB deadlines because the school needs time to:
Verify your documents and previous IB results
Set up your candidate profile in IBIS
Process your payment
Arrange exam room logistics
Confirm whether they can host the exact exam subjects you selected
A school might close applications 1 to 3 months before the IB's own deadline. Some popular schools in London, Singapore, or Dubai fill up even earlier due to demand.
Timing note: Do not assume that because the IB deadline is in October, you can approach schools in September. Many will have closed applications by then.
3. IBretake Search Timing
IBretake starts contacting eligible coordinators after checkout. Your search should begin well before the school's internal deadline, because schools still need time to review capacity, confirm subject availability, and complete IB registration.
Before checkout: Choose countries, subjects, and your location/radius carefully.
After checkout: The dashboard shows your case number and search status, and updates are sent there and by email.
Refund timing: Refunds open after 5 working days if no school has accepted you yet; after 14 days with no acceptance, the full refund process starts automatically.
IBretake does not arrange new IA or coursework supervision. If your retake depends on IA or coursework handling, resolve that with the relevant IB coordinator before relying on a placement.
4. Payment Deadlines
Most schools require full payment before they submit your registration to the IB. This means:
International bank transfers can take 3 to 7 business days.
Some schools only accept specific payment methods (bank transfer, no credit cards).
Currency conversion can cause delays if the amount received doesn't match the invoice exactly.
A common disaster scenario: a student contacts a school on the last day, the school agrees, but the bank transfer takes a week. By then the IB deadline has passed.
5. Time Zones Matter
The IB operates on Geneva time (CET/CEST). If a deadline is listed as "15 October," that means 15 October in Switzerland. If you're contacting a school in Australia, New Zealand, or East Asia, you effectively lose a day.
Similarly, schools operate in their own time zones. An email sent at 11 PM your time might not be read until the next business day at the school.
6. Your Personal Timeline
Here's a realistic timeline working backwards from a May exam session:
June to July (year before): Decide subjects, countries, and how far you can travel.
August: Start your IBretake search so eligible coordinators can review your request.
September: If accepted, submit documents requested by the school and complete any final registration steps.
October: School submits your registration to the IB (standard deadline).
November to February: Prepare independently for your selected exam subjects.
March: Confirm exam logistics and travel if your host school is abroad.
May: Sit exams.
July: Results released.
Planning note: Starting in August or September for a May session is ideal. Starting in October is risky. Starting in November is usually too late.
7. What Happens If You Miss a Deadline?
Miss the school's internal deadline: The school may still accept you, or may not. You have no leverage here; it's their decision.
Miss the IB standard deadline: You can still register with a late fee, but only if you're already set up with a school.
Miss the IB late deadline: You cannot sit exams that session. You must wait for the next session (6 months later).
Unresolved IA/coursework issue: IBretake cannot arrange new IA or coursework supervision, so handle this outside the search before exam registration.
Don't leave it to the last minute. Start your search now.
