IB students across the UAE will not sit their final exams this May, as schools move to an alternative assessment in light of the ongoing regional conflict.
Parents and students at IB schools across the UAE were notified on Monday, March 30, with some schools sharing the following message:
“Following discussions with the Ministry of Education, the government has decided that IB Diploma and Career-related Programme students will not sit IB examinations and will instead be awarded results using the Non-Exam Contingency Measure (NECM).”
The decision affects IB Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme students in the UAE, who were due to sit IB exams from April 27 to May 20, 2026.
Alternative Assessment Through NECM
Instead, IB students in the UAE have been told that they will receive results through the Non-Exam Contingency Measure (NECM).
How IB Students Will be Graded
Under the NECM, which was used when exams were cancelled during the Covid 19 pandemic, students will still be awarded IB results based on:
Coursework and Internal Assessments
Predicted grades and teacher assessments
Impact on University Applications
For many families, the immediate concern will be how these NECM grades are viewed by universities.
Schools have indicated that universities worldwide will be informed about the use of the Non-Exam Contingency Measure (NECM) for students in the UAE. The expectation is that these results will be recognised and accepted by the vast majority of universities globally.
Other Exam Cancellations in the UAE
The Central Board of Secondary Education in India cancelled all Class 10 and Class 12 board exams scheduled in March and April for students across the Middle East, including the UAE, Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Status of GCSE and A Level Exams
At this stage, GCSE and A Level exams are still expected to proceed as planned in May and June 2026.
Exam boards including Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge have indicated they are continuing on the basis that exams will take place, while also keeping contingency measures in place if disruption continues.
For now:
- No cancellations have been announced for UK curriculum exams in the UAE
- Schools are continuing exam preparation as normal
- Contingency planning is ongoing
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Further Reading:
- UAE Schools to Stay Online From March 23 as Distance Learning Extended Nationwide
- Sheikh Mohammed Announces AI as Mandatory Subject in UAE Schools
- Sheikh Hamdan Approves First Dubai Student Council to Empower Youth to Shape the Future of Education