The UAE has cancelled the May 2026 International Baccalaureate (IB) examination session, with authorities and IB officials pointing to security and logistical concerns related to escalating regional tensions. IB organization communications and multiple regional outlets report that the IB will apply an alternative grading model for affected candidates and has offered student support services. Schools in the UAE have been instructed to coordinate with the IB to obtain predicted grades, internal assessment marks, and certified candidate records.
For students in Jordan and the wider Middle East who rely on IB results for university admission, the immediate impact is on conditional offers that specify IB scores. Universities typically accept predicted grades, teacher-assessed internal marks, or alternative certification in exceptional circumstances — but policies vary by institution and country. Admissions offices in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and local Jordanian universities have, in previous disruptions, granted flexibility; however, students must proactively request confirmation in writing from each university about whether predicted or alternative grades will meet offer conditions.
What students should do now:
- Contact your school’s IB coordinator immediately and request a written statement of predicted grades, internal assessment marks, and any examiner feedback your school can share.
- Check each university’s admissions portal and email admissions officers to confirm whether predicted grades or the IB’s alternative model will satisfy your conditional offer and whether any deadlines change.
- If you planned to use IB scores for scholarship eligibility, apply to the scholarship office for an extension or exception and keep copies of all communications.
- Consider contingency plans: register for the next IB session (if needed), review possibilities for A-levels or national equivalents, or prepare for standardized tests (SAT/ACT) if relevant to your target universities.
Timing is critical. Many universities issue final decisions and scholarship allocations over the summer; students should not wait. Gather documentation (signed coordinator letters, scanned internal assessment sheets, school transcripts) and upload or email them to admissions teams as proof of performance. If you are an international student in the UAE intending to transfer or returning to Jordan, keep passport, visa and enrolment records updated and inform prospective universities about your residency/status changes.
Shatnawi for College Admissions and Academic Consultations can help Jordanian students interpret predicted and alternative grades, prepare appeal letters to universities, and coordinate timelines for applications and scholarships. Our advisers can also map contingency options (deferral, alternate qualifications, or summer programs) tailored to each student’s target universities and deadlines. For guidance, contact us via WhatsApp at +962791888699 or visit shatnawiedu.com.