CIPS Exam Dates 2027: Booking Windows, Essay Sittings and Results
Every CIPS 2027 booking window, exam week and results date in one table, and why the four essay sittings should anchor your plan.
CIPS's published 2027 schedule has six exam series: January, March, May, July, September and November. Objective-response (OR) exams run in all six, but constructed-response (CR) essay exams run only in March, May, July and November. If you are sitting L4M1 or L4M8 after November 2026, the next essay exams are 16–17 March 2027, with booking open 19 January to 9 February 2027.
Dates below are from the CIPS exam and results schedule, read on 18 October 2026. CIPS can change them, so confirm in MyCIPS or with your study centre before you pay.
Booking March? Booking closes 9 February. Start free CIPS practice: 5 questions a day, no card needed.
CIPS 2027 exam schedule
| Series | Booking window | OR exams | CR exams | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2027 (OR only) | 1–8 Dec 2026 | 12–14 Jan 2027 | None | 29 Jan 2027 |
| March 2027 | 19 Jan – 9 Feb 2027 | 8–12 Mar 2027 | 16–17 Mar 2027 | OR 26 Mar · CR 30 Apr 2027 |
| May 2027 | 23 Mar – 13 Apr 2027 | 10–14 May 2027 | 18–19 May 2027 | OR 28 May · CR 2 Jul 2027 |
| July 2027 | 25 May – 15 Jun 2027 | 12–16 Jul 2027 | 20–21 Jul 2027 | OR 30 Jul · CR 3 Sep 2027 |
| September 2027 (OR only) | 10–17 Aug 2027 | 13–17 Sep 2027 | None | 1 Oct 2027 |
| November 2027 | 21 Sep – 12 Oct 2027 | 8–12 Nov 2027 | 16–17 Nov 2027 | OR 26 Nov 2027 · CR 14 Jan 2028 |
Still waiting on November 2026? CIPS lists results on 4 December 2026 for the November OR exams and 15 January 2027 for the 17–18 November essay exams.
CIPS also notes that its centre venues and CR exams are not available in the January and September series, and that bookings open at 09:00 UK time. The cancellation date for each exam is that series' booking closing date.
What the schedule means for your plan
Essay modules set the pace. With four CR sittings a year, missing one costs you two to four months. Pick your L4M1 or L4M8 date first, then place the objective modules around it.
Booking closes weeks before the exam. For March, booking shuts on 9 February, about five weeks before the essay exams. Decide by late January, not the week before.
CR results take six to eight weeks. If you sit L4M1 in March, you will not see the result until 30 April, after the May booking window has closed (13 April). Plan your next module without waiting for that result.
January and September are objective-only. They are good slots for L4M2–L4M7, not for the two written modules.
A simple way to use these dates
- Choose your next CR sitting (March, May, July or November) if you still have L4M1 or L4M8 to pass.
- Count back from the booking window, not the exam date. Booking is the real deadline.
- Fill the gaps with OR modules in the January and September series, or alongside a CR sitting if your weekly time allows.
- Rehearse under exam time in the final weeks: 90 minutes for 60 OR questions, 3 hours for four CR answers.
CIPS recommends starting with L4M1 and finishing with L4M8. Our CIPS Level 4 self-study plan covers the order, and the November 2026 dates guide covers the current series.
Practise for the sitting you choose
Examova has more than 1,500 CIPS Level 4 practice questions across all eight modules, timed mock exams, a mistake bank that brings back what you got wrong, and, for L4M1 and L4M8, Essay Practice with a 3-hour timer and AI answer feedback (practice guidance, not a grade). Free gives you 5 questions a day with no card; Pro starts from $18/month.
Start free CIPS practice and put your first study session in the calendar today.
Sources
- CIPS exam and results schedule (read 18 October 2026)
- CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply
- CIPS exam resources