Exam countdown 2027: how long until GCSEs, A-levels and IB exams?
A live countdown to your first exam, plus a spaced revision plan that brings every topic back at the right time, ready for your calendar. Free, no sign-up.
Countdown
Your spaced revision plan
How the plan works
Each topic is learnt once, then brought back for retrieval practice (blurting, flashcards or exam questions from memory) roughly 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30 days later, as long as there's time before the exam. Spacing reviews out like this, instead of cramming them, is one of the most consistently supported findings in learning research. New topics are only added when there's room after reviews, and the last 14 days are kept for past papers and mixed practice. If you have more topics than time, the planner tells you instead of quietly dropping them.
Key dates (check your own timetable)
- GCSE, AS and A-level, summer 2027: first exam Monday 10 May 2027; last GCSE exam Friday 18 June, last A-level exam Tuesday 22 June; contingency day Wednesday 23 June 2027 (JCQ key dates, GOV.UK).
- IB Diploma, May 2027: the IB's final schedule starts on Friday 23 April 2027 and runs to Tuesday 18 May 2027, with most papers from Monday 26 April. Times depend on your exam zone, so confirm with your DP coordinator (IB May 2027 final schedule, school copy).
Your own first paper may be later than the start of the series: switch to "My own exam date" and enter it from your exam board or school timetable.
Fill the sessions with the blurting method tool or answer-first flashcards. IB? Plan your Extended Essay too. More tools: learn.askpoppy.ai.
Subscribe to the 2027 exam calendars
Add the key dates to your phone or computer calendar. Subscribed calendars update themselves if a date changes, so you never copy dates by hand. These are series-wide dates only: your own paper dates come from your exam board or school timetable.
GCSE exams 2027: key dates
- Mon 10 May 2027: GCSE exams start (first day of the common timetable)
- Fri 18 June 2027: Last GCSE exam on the common timetable
- Wed 23 June 2027: Contingency day (only used if exams are disrupted)
- Thu 19 August 2027: GCSE results day
Subscription address: https://learn.askpoppy.ai/countdown/calendars/gcse-2027.ics
Sources (checked Mon 19 October 2026): JCQ key dates, June 2027 series, Ofqual, AQA results days.
A-level and AS exams 2027: key dates
- Mon 10 May 2027: AS and A-level exams start (first day of the common timetable)
- Tue 22 June 2027: Last AS and A-level exam on the common timetable
- Wed 23 June 2027: Contingency day (only used if exams are disrupted)
- Thu 12 August 2027: A-level and AS results day
Subscription address: https://learn.askpoppy.ai/countdown/calendars/alevel-2027.ics
Sources (checked Mon 19 October 2026): JCQ key dates, June 2027 series, Ofqual, AQA results days.
IB May 2027 exams: start, end and results
- Fri 23 April 2027: IB May 2027 exams start
- Tue 18 May 2027: IB May 2027 exams end
- Tue 6 July 2027: IB results (May session), from 12:00 GMT
Subscription address: https://learn.askpoppy.ai/countdown/calendars/ib-may-2027.ics
Sources (checked Mon 19 October 2026): IB May 2027 final examination schedule (copy published by a school), IB assessment FAQ (results), ibo.org exam schedules.
The IB publishes the full May 2027 schedule to schools rather than on its public schedule page, which listed sessions up to November 2026 when we checked. An earlier IB notice gave 19 May 2027 as the provisional end date; the final schedule ends on 18 May. Confirm with your DP coordinator.
Teacher or blogger? Put a live exam countdown on your own site.
Free printable (PDF)
Prefer paper? Download the exam revision countdown planner 2027 (PDF, 4 A4 pages, 11 KB): GCSE, A-level and IB May 2027 key dates with sources, a topic list, a week-by-week planner, a review log and a final-fortnight checklist. Free, no sign-up, black-and-white friendly.
Want help in those recall sessions? Ask Poppy is an AI tutor you talk or type to. It asks what you already know and gives one hint at a time instead of handing you the answer, and it remembers where you left off. Free for 30 messages a day; unlimited use is optional ($3.99/week or $9.99/month in the US store). Like any AI, it can make mistakes.
Free, 30 messages a day · iPhone, iPad and Mac. (Disclosure: this free tool is made by the Ask Poppy team.)
Questions
When do GCSE and A-level exams start in 2027?
The summer 2027 GCSE, AS and A-level exams start on Monday 10 May 2027. The last GCSE exam is on 18 June and the last A-level exam on 22 June, with a contingency day on 23 June 2027.
When do IB exams start in May 2027?
The IB May 2027 examination schedule starts on Friday 23 April 2027 and runs to Tuesday 18 May 2027. Check exact times for your exam zone with your DP coordinator.
How does the spaced revision plan work?
Each topic is learnt once, then reviewed about 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30 days later where time allows. The last 14 days before the exam are kept for past papers and mixed practice.
Can I add the plan to Google Calendar?
Yes. Download the .ics file and import it into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook.