From university offers to retakes and UCAS Clearing, here is a complete guide to what comes next after results day.
For thousands of students across the UAE, Monday, July 6, could mark a defining moment that shapes the next stage of their academic journey.
After two years of coursework, internal assessments, and months of anticipation, International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) candidates will receive their May 2026 results.
While many students will celebrate university offers, others may need to consider alternative options such as remarking, retakes, or UCAS Clearing.
After two years of coursework, internal assessments, and months of anticipation, International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) candidates will receive their May 2026 results.
While many students will celebrate university offers, others may explore alternative pathways such as remarks, retakes, or UCAS Clearing.
This year’s results carry added importance for many students in the UAE after final IB examinations across the country and other Gulf states were cancelled due to regional security concerns during the US–Israel–Iran conflict. Instead, the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), in coordination with the UAE Ministry of Education, awarded grades using the Non-Exam Contingency Measure (NECM), an established process used when exams cannot be safely conducted.
When will IB results be released?
Students who completed the May 2026 IB examinations can access their results on Monday, July 6 via the official IB candidate portal. Results will be available from 12pm GMT (4pm UAE time), while schools receive them a day earlier.
To log in, students will need the personal code and PIN provided by their IB coordinator. The IB advises candidates to keep these details ready in advance, as high traffic on results day may slow access.
For UAE students heading to university
For many UAE students with offers from UK universities, results day is closely tied to the UCAS admissions process.
In most cases, IB results are sent directly to UCAS and participating universities if students have authorised this through the IB system. Universities then begin confirming whether applicants have met the conditions of their offers. If permission has not been granted, processing may be delayed.
Students are advised to keep UCAS login details ready, monitor emails and phone messages, confirm whether their university receives IB scores automatically, and remain available in case admissions teams request additional information.
US university admissions: typically non-conditional offers
Unlike UK universities, which usually issue conditional offers based on final IB scores, most US universities assess applicants holistically, considering predicted grades, school transcripts (Grades 9–12), essays, extracurricular activities, and teacher recommendations.
Admissions decisions are generally made between March and April, before final IB results are released. While final results still matter, especially for maintaining academic standards, minor differences between predicted and actual scores rarely affect admission outcomes.
Understanding your IB score
The IB Diploma is scored out of a maximum of 45 points.
Students can earn up to 42 points across six subjects, with up to three additional points from Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Extended Essay (EE). Achieving a perfect 45 is rare, with fewer than 1% of candidates globally reaching it.
A minimum of 24 points is typically required to earn the diploma, though university requirements vary widely.
As a general guide:
- 35+ points is often competitive for top universities
- Around 38 points is commonly expected for highly selective UK institutions
- 40+ points may strengthen applications to the most competitive global universities
Missed your offer? You still have options
If students narrowly miss the conditions of their university offer, some institutions may still accept them if the shortfall is small, while others may defer decisions.
Students can also apply through UCAS Clearing, which opens opportunities for available university places between July and October.
If results do not reflect expectations, students may request an Enquiry Upon Results (EUR), or choose to retake subjects in the November session.
What do ‘P’ and ‘N’ mean?
A ‘P’ indicates a pending result, while an ‘N’ means a grade could not be awarded due to incomplete assessment requirements. In both cases, students should contact their IB coordinator for guidance on next steps.
