**What happened and why it matters**
UAE authorities have cancelled May 2026 International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme examinations amid continued regional security concerns and extended remote learning measures. The IB organization has responded by confirming an alternative grading approach and offering targeted support for affected students and schools. The move follows similar emergency adjustments in previous years and aims to protect student safety while preserving credential validity.
**Impact on students in Jordan and the wider Middle East**
Students across the region who study in UAE-based schools — and those applying from neighboring countries with UAE exam centres — face immediate uncertainty about how final scores will be calculated and reported. Many universities, both local and international, rely on IB final marks for conditional offers, scholarship decisions and programme placement. Delays or changes in how scores are produced may affect admission timelines, scholarship renewals and visa documentation for study abroad.
**What students should do now**
- Contact your school immediately to request a formal statement on how predicted grades, internal assessment marks (IA), Extended Essay (EE) and Theory of Knowledge (TOK) will be documented and submitted.
- Ask for written copies of all internal assessments, teacher comments and the school’s predicted grades — universities often accept these for conditional offers.
- Verify deadlines with the universities you applied to (local Jordanian universities, UCAS, Common App, EU and other systems) and ask admissions offices whether they will accept predicted grades or alternative evidence.
- Prepare backup plans: request deferral options, confirm scholarship conditions, and keep digital and printed copies of student work and assessment records.
**How admissions and timelines may shift**
Universities typically have contingency procedures and may accept teacher-predicted grades or school-based assessments in place of exam results. However, policies vary: some institutions may delay final offers until IB issues official calculated grades, while others will proceed using predicted grades. Students should expect communications from both schools and universities in the coming days and maintain records of all correspondence.
**Assistance and next steps**
Shatnawi for College Admissions and Academic Consultations can help Jordanian and regional students by liaising with schools to obtain documented predicted grades, advising on how to update university applications, and preparing deferral or scholarship appeals. If you need help gathering assessment records, contacting universities, or adjusting application strategy, Shatnawi’s advisors can provide targeted support.
For immediate guidance, contact Shatnawi via WhatsApp at +962791888699 or visit shatnawiedu.com for consultation and application support. Stay alert for official IB communications and your school’s instructions over the next 48–72 hours.