Recent developments in the Middle East have led to a major change for International Baccalaureate (IB) students in the United Arab Emirates.
The May 2026 IB examination session has been officially cancelled due to ongoing regional instability and safety concerns.
Instead of sitting final examinations, students will now receive grades through an alternative assessment system known as the Non-Exam Contingency Measure (NECM).
For many families, particularly those following British education systems abroad or applying to UK universities, this decision has raised several important questions, such as:
This article explains the situation clearly and outlines what IB students should prioritise moving forward.
The cancellation follows ongoing regional conflict and safety concerns across parts of the Middle East.
Schools in the UAE had already shifted to remote learning, and authorities decided that conducting examinations safely would not be possible this session.
The International Baccalaureate Organisation has therefore implemented the Non-Exam Contingency Measure, which is used only in exceptional circumstances when examinations cannot be administered safely. This approach was previously used during the COVID-19 pandemic and has already been tested and refined.
The key point here is that students will still receive their IB grades and diplomas despite not appearing in the written examinations.
Under the NECM system, IB grades are calculated using multiple sources of academic evidence rather than a single final exam.
This includes:
The IB has also stated that this system includes quality assurance and statistical moderation to promote fairness and global comparability of results.
In simple terms, students are not being “given estimated grades”. Instead, they are being assessed using evidence-based academic performance collected over the two-year IB programme.
This is currently the biggest concern among students and parents.
The good news is that the IB results issued under contingency measures remain official IB qualifications and are recognised by universities worldwide.
Universities became familiar with the NECM model during the pandemic years, and IB results awarded under this system remained valid for university admissions globally, including Russell Group universities in the UK.
For students, this means that university offers and admissions processes should continue as normal if the admission requirements are met. And what matters most is that university decisions will now be based on final calculated IB grades rather than exam performance alone.
With written examinations cancelled, students should now pay close attention to the assessed components of the IB programme that contribute directly to final grades.
For students planning to apply to UK universities, the key takeaway is that your coursework, predicted grades, and teacher assessments now matter more than final exams.
Therefore, students should:
As of now, the GCSE and A Level examinations are expected to go ahead.
Exam boards such as Pearson Edexcel, Cambridge International, and Oxford AQA have already introduced contingency measures, which include coursework deadline extensions and special consideration policies.
However, the situation remains under review, and further updates may be announced if regional disruption continues. Meanwhile, students should continue preparing unless official announcements state otherwise.
The cancellation of the May 2026 IB exams in the UAE changes how students will be assessed, but it does not reduce the value of the IB Diploma.
Instead, students will still be evaluated through a structured, moderated system designed for fairness and global recognition.
The overall key message is to focus on coursework quality, Internal Assessments, the Extended Essay, and Theory of Knowledge, as these will play a major role in determining final results this year.
On that note, many students find IB coursework challenging as it requires independent research, structured academic writing, and strict assessment criteria. To help with that, HRB Education offers students tailored support for IB coursework, academic planning, and homeschooling to manage IA, EE, and TOK requirements.
Schedule a consultation with us today to learn about the study plans that suit you best.
No. The cancellation currently applies to specific Middle East regions affected by disruption. In many other countries, IB exams are expected to proceed as normal.
Grades will be based on Internal Assessments, coursework, Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge work, predicted grades, and external moderation.
Yes. IB results awarded under contingency measures are recognised by universities, which include those in the UK.
Students should focus on Internal Assessments, the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, coursework quality, and predicted grades.
Yes. The Extended Essay (EE) contributes to core points and becomes more important when exams are not the main assessment method.
There’s been no official cancellation announced regarding the GCSE and A Levels at this time. Therefore, students should stick to their normal routine preparations.
Sign up for the latest insights and updates.
