The UAE has announced the cancellation of the May 2026 International Baccalaureate (IB) final examinations for students in the country, citing ongoing regional security issues and a decision to extend remote learning. The IB has confirmed it will replace on-site exams with an alternative awarding model for students in affected centres, and has published guidance and support channels for candidates. Schools in the UAE and neighbouring regions are coordinating with the IB to finalise awarded grades.
For students in Jordan and elsewhere in the Middle East who study in UAE schools or who were planning to sit the IB exams in the UAE, the immediate consequences are practical: universities that expect official IB results will have to accept awarded grades or other documentation in place of exam transcripts. The alternative model typically uses a combination of teachers’ predicted grades, internal assessment marks, coursework, and historical centre data — so completing all internal assessments and ensuring teachers submit accurate predicted grades is critical now.
What students should do now: first, contact your school IB coordinator immediately to confirm that internal assessments (IAs), extended essays and subject coursework are complete and have been submitted. Ask your school for the deadline by which it will submit teacher predicted grades and any school-centre statements to the IB. Second, notify the universities where you have applied (or plan to apply) about the cancellation and ask admissions offices what documentation they will accept in lieu of exam scripts and whether deadlines for final results or deposits will change. Many universities set final-result cutoffs in July–August for autumn entry; confirm those dates with each institution.
Students should also gather supporting documents now — full school transcripts, teacher references, IA marks, school statements explaining the centre disruption, and any IB official communications — because admissions offices may request additional evidence to validate awarded grades. If you are considering retaking IB subjects, ask your coordinator about availability of the next session and the timeline for registering. Keep records of all communications with the IB and with universities; the IB has established candidate support pages and hotlines for affected students.
The situation may affect scholarship and conditional offer conditions. If a scholarship or conditional offer depends on specific exam scores, contact the scholarship provider and the admitting university immediately to ask how awarded grades will be treated. For students planning to apply to Jordanian public universities or for ministerial equivalency, check with the Jordanian Minister of Education or the equivalency office at the intended university about how they will accept awarded IB credentials — you may need official letters from your school and the IB.
Shatnawi for College Admissions and Academic Consultations can help Jordanian students interpret awarded grades, communicate with universities and complete appeals or clarification requests. If you need help collecting documents, drafting messages to admissions offices, or exploring alternatives such as gap-year options or transfer pathways, Shatnawi can provide targeted guidance. For prompt assistance contact WhatsApp +962791888699 or visit shatnawiedu.com.