IB DP digital exams 2026: Transition guide for schools

TL;DR

IB DP digital exams, officially called on-screen examinations, begin in 2026 in a phased rollout: students sit exams on school-managed laptops or desktop computers inside IB schools, with paper and digital examinations running in parallel during the transition until each school is fully ready to go digital.

Intro

IB DP digital exams, which the IBO officially calls on-screen examinations, are starting in 2026. Coordinators, school leaders, teachers, and parents are all asking the same question: what changes when DP exams go digital, and what should schools do before the first on-screen session?

Here is the short answer. The International Baccalaureate says it will deliver both paper and digital examinations in the DP and CP starting with a small number of subjects in 2026. During the transition, schools can continue administering paper examinations until they are fully prepared to go digital. Public IB guidance also says these exams will be taken on laptops or desktop computers within IB schools, and the first phase will initially mirror existing paper-based assessments to support fairness and comparability.

That matters because schools do not need to treat the 2026 rollout as a new assessment model. For now, the change is mainly about delivery format, student familiarity, school readiness, and operational confidence. The early transition is about helping schools prepare students for a familiar exam experience in a digital format.

What are IB DP digital exams?

IB DP digital exams, officially known as on-screen examinations, are Diploma Programme examinations delivered on-screen rather than on paper. Students take them on laptops or desktop computers within IB schools, and the first phase is designed to mirror existing paper-based assessments. Schools should treat this as a carefully managed transition, not a sudden reinvention of the DP exam model.

For schools searching for clear guidance on the 2026 rollout, that is the most important starting point. The assessment is going digital, but the public message is that fairness and comparability remain central throughout the shift.

Are DP exams going digital for all subjects in 2026?

Not all at once. The IB has confirmed digital examinations for the DP and CP will begin in 2026 with a small number of subjects as part of a multi-year project with several phases. Schools can continue administering paper examinations during the transition until they are fully prepared to go digital.

The shift is real, but it is phased. Schools should not assume that every subject, every cohort, and every session changes at the same time.

Which DP subjects go on-screen first?

The first DP subjects enter on-screen (or eAssessment) delivery in 2026–27, beginning with Language A and Language B subjects. Below is the picture based on current IBO guidance.

The IBO publishes subject-specific transition windows 18 to 24 months in advance. Verify current status directly with the IBO before committing a cohort.

What is the timeline for DP exams going digital?

The International Baccalaureate has published a clear, multi-year timeline. Use the table below to plan your school's internal readiness work.

Where will students take DP on-screen exams?

Students will take them inside their school, on laptops or desktop computers. Public guidance does not frame this as a remote or home-based testing model. Instead, it presents on-screen exams as school-based examinations delivered within IB schools.

This matters for parent communication. When parents hear that IB exams are going digital, many immediately picture remote testing. That is not the model. Schools should explain early that the exam venue remains school-based even though the answer script moves from paper to screen.

Does the digital format change the exam itself?

Not yet. The first phase of on-screen examinations will initially mirror existing paper-based assessments to ensure fairness and comparability.

That gives schools a simple message to use with teachers, students, and families. In this early stage, the main adjustment is the on-screen format. Students still need subject knowledge, time management, exam technique, and confidence under pressure. What changes first is the delivery environment.

What coordinators, teachers, and students should do now

The biggest avoidable risk in the transition is not whether IB DP digital exams are official. They are. The real risk is that students meet the on-screen format for the first time in a high-stakes setting. Different stakeholders have different preparation work.

For DP Coordinators

Stress-test the full digital assessment ecosystem before the first live session. That includes hardware, power backup, connectivity, browser readiness, room setup, candidate logins, support workflows, and invigilator escalation procedures. A system that works adequately in a normal lesson can fail badly under exam conditions: multiple students logging in at once, a silent room, strict timing, small delays creating panic. Build the stress test into your September or January mock calendar, not the week before the live exam.

For DP teachers

For teachers whose subjects have moved to on-screen eAssessment delivery, digital exam technique has to be taught alongside subject content. Run at least one timed mock-style assessment on actual exam devices, not a demo machine. Teach students how to navigate between questions, flag items for review, use the on-screen equation editor or annotation tools, and manage time without a visible clock on the wall. If your subject has shifted to on-screen (Language B, Business Management, then Sciences), build this into unit planning, not bolt it on.

For DP students

Familiarity matters more than tech readiness. A student who has never typed a structured essay under exam conditions will lose marks on format management alone. Research on digital exam transitions consistently shows student performance recovers once they have had three or four full practice sessions. Schools should schedule timed on-screen practice into the regular calendar from the beginning of Year 12, not the final term.

How do on-screen DP exams support students with access arrangements?

On-screen DP exams support students with access arrangements through accessibility built into the platform itself, including features that previously required human intervention. For many students with access arrangements, the friction of paper-based administration disappears.

Features available by default include adjustable font size, high-contrast display modes, screen reader support, text-to-speech, zoom and magnification, coloured overlay settings, and timer extensions and session pauses enforced at system level. For extra time and rest breaks, the platform manages the clock, which removes a long-standing source of human error in paper-based administration.

There are new considerations for the on-screen format too. Students with motor difficulties may benefit from typing over handwriting because physical fatigue disappears. Students with visual processing difficulties need their contrast and font settings tested on the actual exam device, not a demo machine. Students using specialist equipment like ergonomic keyboards or adaptive input devices need compatibility confirmed with the secure browser well in advance of exam day.

What SEN coordinators should do before November 2026: audit your access arrangement register against digital equivalents and flag every arrangement that involves physical equipment or human support. Run at least one full practice session on exam devices for every student with an active arrangement. The goal is zero surprises on exam day, not a conversation about settings five minutes before the session opens.

AssessPrep supports practical prerequisites including flexible time display, split-screen functionality, and timed on-screen practice workflows. Read more about how we support inclusive assessment.

Is the school responsible for tech problems during DP on-screen exams?

If a tech problem during a DP on-screen exam is caused by the school's own infrastructure, the school is responsible for resolving it. Standard IB adverse-circumstance mitigation does not apply in the usual way for malfunctioning or unavailable IT equipment, because those are treated as school-level problems.

This is why stress-testing matters before the first live session. Not just devices. Not just the internet. The whole system: hardware, power backup, connectivity, browser readiness, room setup, candidate logins, support workflows, and invigilator escalation procedures.

School readiness checklist for digital DP exams

The IB has indicated that the vast majority of member schools already have, or are planning, the infrastructure needed for digital examinations. The readiness question is no longer whether on-screen assessment is coming. It is whether your specific systems are ready for a live session.

Devices. Ensure enough school-managed laptops or desktops for all candidates at the same time. The secure exam environment should be installed, checked, and tested on every machine in advance. Keep spare devices ready for immediate swap if a machine fails. Avoid relying on personal devices.

Network. Use the most stable connection available, typically wired. Test bandwidth under concurrent exam-load conditions, not ordinary classroom use. If your school depends on Wi-Fi, pressure-test it properly in the actual exam setting and document a fallback plan.

Power. Confirm power stability in the exam hall and make sure backup arrangements are in place. Schools using UPS support should verify that runtime is sufficient for the full assessment window.

IT and invigilation. Have IT support available during the session and ensure invigilators know exactly how to escalate issues. A calm written process is far more useful than improvised troubleshooting in the room.

Student familiarisation. Use timed on-screen practice on actual exam devices before the first live sitting. A school that passes every infrastructure check but skips student familiarisation has prepared the room, not the students.

AssessPrep's question banks and timed practice workflows support schools preparing students in realistic exam conditions.

Final thoughts

The 2026 IB DP digital exams rollout is not just a technical change. It is a school-readiness change. Schools that adapt best will be the ones that communicate early, practise early, and stress-test their full assessment ecosystem before the first live session. The format of IB DP digital exams is changing, but the goal stays the same: fair, secure, school-based DP assessment that students are properly prepared for.

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Key takeaways

• IB DP digital exams (officially on-screen examinations) begin in 2026, starting with Language A, Language B, and ab initio language subjects. Paper and digital run in parallel during the transition.

• Students sit exams on school-managed laptops or desktops inside IB schools, not at home. The first phase mirrors paper-based assessments to preserve fairness and comparability.

• The biggest avoidable risk is student unfamiliarity with the on-screen format. Schedule timed on-screen practice from the start of Year 12, not the final term.

• SEN access arrangements must be audited against digital equivalents and tested on actual exam devices. Most paper-based accommodations move from human-administered to system-level.

• School-caused tech disruption is the school's responsibility, not an IB adverse-circumstance event. Stress-test the full ecosystem (hardware, network, power, browser, logins, escalation) before the first live session.

Sources and further reading

• IBO: Digital Examinations for the DP and CP, official overview, timeline, and pilot information