IB exams cancelled as remote learning extended in UAE

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MENA

Due to the cancellation of the May 2026 session, students will be graded via the Non-Exam Contingency Measure (NECM).
Results will be calculated using a combination of teacher-predicted grades and completed coursework/Internal Assessments.

International Baccalaureate (IB) students across the United Arab Emirates will not sit their final examinations this May. In a landmark decision, the government and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) have moved all schools to an alternative assessment route following ongoing regional instability and safety concerns.

The announcement, which was delivered to parents and students via school circulars on Monday, March 30, confirmed that the May 2026 exam session, originally scheduled to run from April 27 to May 20, has been officially scrapped for the UAE.

The "Non-Exam" Route Explained

The IBO will implement the Non-Exam Contingency Measure (NECM) to determine final grades for Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) students. This system, which mirrors the approach used during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, relies on a combination of existing academic data:

Coursework & Internal Assessments (IAs): Portfolios, essays, and lab reports already completed by students.
Teacher Predicted Grades: Assessments based on a student's performance throughout the two-year program.

The IBO clarified that this is a "safety-led, last-resort approach" designed to ensure that students can still graduate and progress to higher education despite the current circumstances.

Impact on Universities and MYP Students

For many families, the primary concern is how these "calculated" grades will be viewed by international universities. Educators have been quick to offer reassurance.

"Universities worldwide are familiar with and respect this process," said Richard Drew, Chairman of the Middle East IB Association. "This pathway is designed to ensure students are assessed fairly based on the high-quality work they have produced over time."

While the path is clear for senior students, those in the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) remain in a state of flux. The IBO stated that specific updates regarding MYP assessments are expected to be released in the coming days.

Why the Change?

The decision comes amid a period of significant disruption. Remote learning was recently extended across the UAE until mid-April due to regional conflict, and other major boards, including the Indian CBSE, have already cancelled their international exam sessions in the region.

The Ministry of Education and the IBO emphasized that the well-being and safety of students remain the top priority. "These are complex circumstances that require difficult decisions," noted Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General of the IB.