IGNOU Date Sheet December 2025: What If Two Exams Fall on Same Day?

Every time IGNOU releases the Date Sheet for December 2025 Term-End Exams, the first thing students do is scroll through the PDF with nervous eyes, checking for one big fear — “What if two of my exams fall on the same day?”

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already downloaded your date sheet, checked your subjects, and are panicking because two of your papers appear on the same day or in the same session. Don’t worry — you’re not alone. This is actually one of the most common queries IGNOU students ask me every exam season.

Let’s break it down in simple words with examples and see what IGNOU’s official rules say.

Why do Exam Clashes Happen in IGNOU Date Sheet?

IGNOU has lakhs of students across different programs — BA, MA, MBA, B.Ed, Diploma, Certificate — all appearing for exams during the same December cycle. To manage this huge number, IGNOU groups certain subjects together and schedules them on the same date and session.

Now, the problem arises when:

• You’ve taken courses from different years (backlogs).
• You’ve registered for different programs at the same time (for example, BA + Certificate).
• You’ve chosen courses from the same subject group (yes, IGNOU has groups for certain papers).
• You’re in MP (Management Programme) with different specializations.

That’s when two exams may appear on the same day or session.

IGNOU’s Official Rule on Exam Clash

Here’s the key point IGNOU clearly mentions in its guidelines:

The clash of exam date/session will NOT be considered in the following cases:

• The courses are from the same group (Group-1 to Group-6).
• The courses are backlog courses (from different years).
• The courses are from different programmes.
• In MP Programmes, courses from different specializations.

This means, if your situation falls under any of the above, IGNOU will not reschedule the exam for you.

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Real Example 1 – Backlog Students

Let’s say you’re doing BA Sociology. You failed in ESO-11 last year and re-registered for it. At the same time, you also have a current paper ESO-12. Now, both might appear on the same date, same session. Unfortunately, IGNOU counts this as a backlog clash — and you’ll have to attempt one in December and leave the other for the next cycle (June 2026).

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Real Example 2 – Same Group Subjects

Imagine you’re pursuing MPS (Master of Political Science). Two courses, MPS-003 and MSOE-002, belong to the same subject group. IGNOU intentionally schedules these on the same day/session as these courses also belong to different programmes. Here too, you won’t get a separate slot.

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Real Example 3 – Dual Programmes

Many students enroll in a Diploma along with BA/MA. Suppose you’re doing MA English and also took PGDDE. If MEG-01 and a Diploma course clash, IGNOU won’t make changes because they treat it as a different programme clash.

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So, What Should You Do If You Have a Clash?

This is where planning becomes important. Here are some tips:

1. Check your Date Sheet Early – Don’t wait till the last minute. As soon as the December 2025 date sheet is out, mark your subjects.
2. Prioritize One Paper – If you have a clash, choose which exam to attempt this term. Remember, you can always give the other one in the next cycle (IGNOU conducts exams twice a year).
3. Don’t Panic – Missing one paper is not the end. IGNOU gives you flexibility to complete your course within the maximum duration (e.g., 5 years for BA, 2–5 years for MA, etc.).
4. Avoid Overloading Registrations – If you already know you have backlogs, avoid registering for too many extra papers in one cycle.

So, if you spot two exams on the same day in the IGNOU Date Sheet December 2025, first check whether your case falls under the official categories mentioned above. If yes, IGNOU won’t reschedule it — you’ll have to appear in one and leave the other for the next exam cycle.

I know it feels frustrating, but trust me, this is quite normal for IGNOU students. I’ve personally seen friends who had two papers on the same day, and they simply planned smartly — gave the easier one first and pushed the tougher one to the next session. Eventually, they cleared all subjects without delaying their degree.

So, don’t stress — take it as part of the IGNOU journey.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

✅ Related Links for Students:

• IGNOU Hall Ticket December 2025 – Download, Release Date, and Complete Guide
• IGNOU Assignment Submission Link
• IGNOU Grade Card 2025 – How to Check Marks Online