Schools emphasized that exam-year students will receive adequate support and will not be put at a long-term disadvantage.
Headteachers at IB schools in the UAE are reassuring students, particularly those in exam years, that they will receive appropriate support and will not suffer long-term disadvantages, citing similar measures that were successfully applied during the pandemic.
The reassurance comes amid ongoing uncertainty in parts of the Middle East. In response, the International Baccalaureate (IB) recently rolled out a series of support measures to ease pressure on students, schools, and families in the region, including in the UAE.
In a circular released last weekend, the IB acknowledged that “many schools, students and families across the Middle East are currently facing extremely difficult and uncertain circumstances.” It confirmed that support would continue under its ‘Adverse Circumstances Policy,’ which offers mitigation measures for students affected by serious, unforeseen events during assessment periods.
IB Extends Coursework Deadline Amid Uncertain Exam Period in UAE
The International Baccalaureate (IB) has extended the coursework submission deadline from March 15 to April 15, giving UAE schools extra time to finalise and upload student work. The measures also include options for affected students to transfer to another IB World School, defer the May 2026 examination session at no cost, or withdraw with a full refund.
Preparing for Two Possible Outcomes
School leaders in the UAE are working closely with students and parents as they await guidance from authorities on school reopenings and whether exams will proceed as planned.
Leigh Girven, GIS principal and executive principal of IB Schools at Taaleem, said schools are preparing families for two potential scenarios: either exams proceed as scheduled once schools reopen, or students receive assessed grades.
She explained that if exams go ahead, schools will apply for adverse circumstances to ensure the IB takes into account the period of online learning and the emotional impact on students.
Extra Time for Coursework and Assessments
The extended deadline allows teachers more time to review and support student coursework. According to Girven, the IB has “extended the deadline for schools to upload student data, predicted grades, and coursework to the IB Information System (IBIS) until April 15.”
“This additional time ensures all coursework is completed to the highest standard,” she said, noting that while students technically have an extra month, most only have one to two weeks to make revisions, as teachers need time to re-mark and moderate work before submission.
Most students have already completed the majority of their coursework, but the extension allows refinement of key components such as internal assessments, individual orals, extended essays, and theory of knowledge projects. “Teachers are guiding students to prioritise the most meaningful revisions while still preparing for Diploma Programme exams,” Girven added.
Schools Ensuring Students Are Not Disadvantaged
Other UAE school leaders emphasised that the extension provides crucial breathing space for students during a stressful period.
Richard John Drew, principal of Jumeira Baccalaureate School, said DP and CP coordinators are helping students complete their work, particularly as the last week of the spring term was moved forward. While IB feedback guidelines remain unchanged, the extra time allows students to manage their work more effectively and ensures they are not disadvantaged by the current regional conflict.
The IB has also provided schools with detailed guidance to help families understand the evolving situation, which has been communicated to parents.
Teachers continue to support students through individual and small-group sessions, both in-person and online. John Bell, executive principal at Bloom World Academy, said, “This support has been available during term time and continues through the break, ensuring students can access guidance in a way that best suits their needs.”
For now, UAE schools remain focused on supporting students while awaiting regulatory guidance on reopening and the next steps for the academic term. Bell added, “While the current conflict affects the wider region, there is confidence that exam boards and universities will take these circumstances into account. As seen during the Covid era, systems can adapt to ensure students, particularly those in exam years, are supported fairly and not disadvantaged in the long term.”
