Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel, OxfordAQA and the International Baccalaureate cancelled May and June 2026 exams for candidates in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Lebanon, each citing the safety of students and staff amid the regional war.
Grades are instead being awarded through a mix of portfolios of evidence, coursework, predicted grades and teacher assessment. The IB applied its Non-Exam Contingency Measure — the same mechanism used during the 2020 pandemic disruption — while Cambridge set a portfolio deadline in mid-June.
Results still landed on time
Despite the disruption, results were issued on the usual timeline: the IB on 6 July, A levels on 13 August and IGCSEs on 20 August. It was a considerable logistical feat, and one that has reopened an old question — how resilient a system built around a single high-stakes fortnight really is when the world intervenes.
Sources
TES — A-level and IGCSE exams cancelled across the Middle East · Khaleej Times — Guide to cancelled 2026 exams · School Management Plus — Pearson and OxfordAQA exams cancelled in parts of the Middle East
