We, the students sitting the AP (Advanced Placement) May 2026 examinations, are calling on the College Board to reconsider the current exam requirements or implement fair adjustments for this exam cycle.

Students across the Middle East have been preparing for these exams under exceptional and challenging circumstances. Ongoing regional instability, geopolitical tensions, and disruptions to daily life have created an environment of uncertainty that significantly affects students’ ability to focus, study, and perform at their full potential.

While AP exams are designed to measure academic achievement, they do not account for the unequal conditions under which many students in our region are currently preparing. Even for those not directly affected by conflict, the psychological strain, anxiety, and constant uncertainty make it difficult to perform under high-pressure exam conditions.

These examinations play a major role in university admissions, credit recognition, and scholarship opportunities. It is therefore essential that students are assessed in a way that is fair, humane, and reflective of the challenges faced this year.

We are not necessarily calling for the global cancellation of AP exams. Instead, we urge the College Board to consider fair alternatives such as adjusted grading policies, greater leniency in scoring, or region-specific measures to ensure that no student is unfairly disadvantaged.

This petition stands for fairness, student wellbeing, and equal opportunity for all May 2026 AP candidates.