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.
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.