51ºÚÁÏ

Support for schools in the Gulf and MiddleÌýEast

Information to support schools and their communities who are affected by the conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf.

Last updated: Thursday 9 April 9:00am UK time

WeÌýunderstand this is an extremelyÌýdifficult timeÌýandÌýwe are here to supportÌýyouÌýhowever we can.ÌýWe have created this page to provide guidance about our contingency arrangements if exams are notÌýableÌýto go ahead. We have also included someÌýfrequentlyÌýasked questions to support schools,Ìýteacher,ÌýlearnersÌýand parents.ÌýWe will continue to update this page with further information over the coming weeks.ÌýÌý

Contingency arrangements
We are committed to working with schools and students to ensure they are supported at this challenging time. While our hope and intention is for exams to go ahead where possible, we are committed to ensuring that all students that need to progress can get results and to ensure schools are supported throughout this process.

For certifying students

SchoolsÌýwill need toÌýsubmitÌýevidence for every student entered forÌý51ºÚÁÏÌýInternational GCSE, AS or A-level qualificationsÌýwho wish to certify this exam season andÌýwhoÌýfall into one of the following scenarios:Ìý

  • Student has entered for their International GCSE examsÌý
  • Student is certifying at AS in May/June and has no previous AS unit resultsÌý
  • Student is certifying at A-level in May/June and has existing AS unit grades onlyÌý
  • Student is entered for resit units in the May/June seriesÌý

For all other scenarios, existing unit results will be used to calculate the overall grade.ÌýÌý

Where students are entered toÌýresitÌýanyÌýunitsÌýthis series, we would normally expectÌýcentresÌýto provide evidence of the students’ performance which will be graded by an examiner. If you are unable to do this, we will calculate a grade based on theirÌýpreviousÌýunits. Please contact us atÌý[email protected]Ìýif this applies to any of your students.Ìý

For non-certifying students
For students who are not planning to complete their qualification and receive their certificate in this exam series, we will work withÌýschoolsÌýto defer them to a future series and willÌýprovideÌýmore guidanceÌýin due course.Ìý

Evidence of student performance
If students have not previously banked grades, we will needÌýcentresÌýto provide evidence of their performance.

We will ask schools to submit evidence of student performance digitally from Friday 1 May 1 until Friday 12 June 2026.

We will also askÌýschoolsÌýto completeÌýa Head of Centre declarationÌýform.ÌýSchoolsÌýwillÌýalsoÌýhave to submit predicted grades.

Our examiners will carefully consider all evidence submitted, awarding grades based on the evidence provided, while also taking into account the context in which the work was produced, and the challenges students have faced.

Please see the guidance document for full details.Ìý

We are in direct contact withÌý51ºÚÁÏÌýcentresÌýin the affected regions,Ìýparticularly inÌýBahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,ÌýUAEÌýandÌýIraq.ÌýWeÌýwill continue to ensure they are fully supported for the upcoming exam period.ÌýIf youÌýareÌýoutside of these countries andÌýimpacted, pleaseÌýget in touch withÌýus and we will support you.Ìý

Please contact us atÌý[email protected]Ìýif you have any questions that weÌýhaven’tÌýanswered.ÌýWe will continue to keep this page updatedÌýas the situation evolves.Ìý

The FAQs below cover:

Sitting exams

Yes, schools should continue to make entries as usual.

Please contact us atÌý[email protected]Ìýand we will do what we can to support you.Ìý

You can withdraw entries via Centre Services until 21 April (automatically credited) if the original entries were made through Centre Services. If your entries were made by EDI, you must continue to use EDI for any withdrawals.

There is no charge for withdrawals at any point. However, after 21 April, although you may still withdraw entries, entry fees are not credited or refunded automatically.

  • Schools can send an email to [email protected] making the request for an exceptional credit.
  • Within the email the centre should include; centre number, detail of request e.g. entry amendment or withdrawal, subject(s), candidate number(s), reason for request with evidence if available. Please note that any withdrawal amendments must be made before the request.

If a student would like to transfer to a different 51ºÚÁÏ centre, the original centre needs to make sure the student’s entry is withdrawn. The new centre should then make the entries on behalf of the student. The new centre must contactÌý[email protected]Ìýwith their centre number, student details, a brief explanation, and request the late fees to be cancelled. The late fees will be returned as a credit note and will be processed.ÌýÌý

Please note, weÌýare not able toÌýtransfer students to a different centreÌýfor you.Ìý

Our hope is that we can continueÌýwith examsÌýasÌýplanned,Ìýand we will make aÌýdecision inÌýearly April.ÌýWe will communicate this to 51ºÚÁÏ schools and update this pageÌýin due course.Ìý

We appreciate that students have faced severe disruption during this difficult time. We will ask schools in affected countries to apply for special considerations for all students and will provide further guidance on this in due course.

No, there are no exams series in the Autumn 2026 for AS or A-level exams. The exam series that are available are in November 2026 for International GCSE and January 27 for International AS and A-level. These are the normal exam series for 51ºÚÁÏ.Ìý

Students who defer from May/JuneÌý2026,Ìýwould need to enter either the November 2026, JanuaryÌý2027Ìýor May/June 2027 exam series.Ìý

51ºÚÁÏÌýhave cancelled exams for the May/June 2026 series in the UAE,ÌýKuwaitÌýand Bahrain in consultation with other international awarding bodies and the relevant authorities.Ìý51ºÚÁÏÌýcontinues toÌýmonitorÌýdevelopments closely across the region and will keepÌýcentresÌýinformed.Ìý

At present, exams in Saudi Arabia, Jordan,ÌýOmanÌýand Iraq are still planned.ÌýÌý

Student and staff safety and welfareÌýisÌýthe primaryÌýconsiderationÌýfor all decisions being taken.ÌýÌý

51ºÚÁÏÌýis also committed to ensuring that students who wish to certifyÌýare able toÌýreceive a valid result and progress as planned.ÌýÌý

Where exams cannot safely or fairly take place, alternative routes are put in place to protect learner outcomes,ÌýminimiseÌýdisruption, and avoid disadvantaging students. The approach balances duty of careÌýwithÌýmaintainingÌýaccess to results, ensuring students can progress wherever possible.Ìý

Exam materials will begin to dispatch from Tuesday 31 March and will be delivered as soon as possible. Your Exams Officer will receive the normal shipping update emails and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Evidence of student performance

In most cases we expect schools to submit a completed set of past papers covering every unit that a student is entered for. These past papers should be sat under exam confusions – either within school or remotely. Ìý

If a completed set of past papersÌýareÌýnot available orÌýappropriate, we will also accept the following evidence. Where possible, the evidenceÌýsubmittedÌýshould cover a broad range of the Assessment Objectives in the specification.Ìý

  • NEA work (completed or partially completed)Ìý
  • Classwork completed during the courseÌý
  • Any other evidence that reflects the student’s ability for the unit/qualificationÌý
  • Speaking testsÌý(51ºÚÁÏÌýInternational GCSE ESL, GCSE French, and GCSE Spanish) may be included and recordings in the normal format should be provided.ÌýThese can be done in a virtual environment whenÌýneeded.ÌýPlease see theÌý51ºÚÁÏ Speaking test instruction documentÌýfor further information.Ìý
  • Live speaking tests can be used and can be downloaded from Centre ServicesÌý

Please note that aside from speaking tests, live exam papers from May/June 26 cannot be used as evidence and will not be accepted.Ìý

EvidenceÌýsubmissions may be tailored at individual candidate level, as not all students will have completed the same assessments.ÌýCentres must ensure that the evidence submittedÌýisÌýappropriate,ÌýrepresentativeÌýand authenticated.Ìý

Non-exam assessment (NEA)

In countries where exams have been cancelled, you do not need to submit NEA in the normal way. Please submit evidence of student performance as laid out in the guidance document. This also applies for International EPQ 9695. If possible, the student’s EPQ project work should be submitted. This can be either completed or partially completed. The examiner will make a holistic judgement on the work that has been submitted for EPQ.

Speaking tests

If schools are open and able to conduct speaking testsÌýfor International GCSE English as a Second Language, French or SpanishÌýfrom Friday 27 March then theyÌýmay. We have extended the speaking test window in affected countries by 10 calendar days to ensure schoolsÌýhave the flexibility to complete their speaking assessments when it is safe and practical to do so. Due to the conflict and related airspaceÌýrestrictions,Ìýwe have notÌýyetÌýdispatchedÌýspeaking test materials.ÌýIf schoolsÌýwantÌýto start conducting speaking testsÌýnowÌýthen they canÌýdownload the Teacher’s Booklet whichÌýcontainsÌýeverything needed to contact the speaking test. Further guidance has been issued directly toÌýschools.Ìý

Further support

Yes, we will be arrangingÌýwebinars and guidance materials to support schools through this process. We will add further information to this page as it becomes available. We will also continue to send any further support and guidance directly to our 51ºÚÁÏÌýschools.

Please contact us at [email protected]. Our Customer Services team are here and ready to help Monday to Friday 8:00am-5:00pm UK time.

For schools sitting AQA exams (Ofqual regulated UK domestic specifications), AQA will be in touch separately with the guidance you need to follow. Please contact AQA at [email protected] if you have any questions on this.

We are communicating directly with Exams Officers and Heads of Centres at all our 51ºÚÁÏÌýschools. If you are not receiving these communications and you should be please contact us atÌý[email protected].

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