IB’s May 2026 exam session to proceed in much of Middle East, alongside support measures for affected students
31 March 2026
As conflict continues to disrupt schooling across parts of the Middle East, the International Baccalaureate (IB) is working closely with schools, governments and education authorities to support students scheduled to take their Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) assessments in the May 2026 session.
In most cases, IB examinations are expected to proceed as planned. Decisions on whether examinations take place are made by national or local authorities, depending on the country, who are best placed to make decisions that align with their national education system. The IB remains in close contact with partners across the region as the situation evolves.
To support schools and students facing disruption, the IB has introduced a range of measures designed to provide flexibility, reduce pressure, and ensure continuity of learning and assessment where possible. These include extensions to coursework deadlines, additional guidance for teachers, access arrangements for students affected by adverse circumstances, and options for students to defer or adjust assessment plans.
In exceptional cases where examinations cannot be conducted safely due to conflict, and where no other mitigation measures are possible, government authorities may decide to apply the IB’s Non-Exam Contingency Measure (NECM). This is a safety-led, last-resort approach that enables students to receive results based on externally assessed coursework and teacher-predicted grades, using established IB standards and quality assurance processes.
“The IB is a holistic and rigorous educational experience, and we are confident students are well prepared for their next step,” said Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General of the International Baccalaureate. “We understand the uncertainty and pressure many students and families are facing. These are complex circumstances that require difficult decisions. The examination route remains our preferred approach, but our focus is to ensure every student can continue their education and progress with confidence.”
While the IB’s non-exam route may be made available in exceptional circumstances where examinations cannot be conducted safely, decisions on whether examinations take place in the region are often made at a national level by the relevant governmental body. Decisions may vary within and between countries and individual schools and are being made in response to changing circumstances. For this reason, and because the situation remains fluid and dynamic, the IB is not providing country-level detail.
Our Recognition team is in active contact with universities worldwide, and based on past practice, we are confident that results from this route will be widely understood and accepted.
Parents or students are encouraged to contact their school directly to understand the arrangements that apply in their location. More details about examinations for the IB’s Middle Years Programme will be shared in the coming days.
