We are IGCSE students from the Middle East asking examination boards to reconsider requiring students in our region to sit the May/June 2026 examinations under the current circumstances.

Students across the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iran, Palestine, and Iraq have been facing ongoing disruption, uncertainty, and instability. Many of us have spent extended periods learning online, with no clear timeline for a full return to normal schooling.

The lack of routine, combined with constant uncertainty, has made it extremely difficult to prepare effectively. Even for those not directly affected, the overall atmosphere of stress and distraction has had a serious impact on students’ ability to focus and perform.

The issue is not simply whether exams can take place, but whether students have had a fair opportunity to prepare. Compared to students in stable environments with uninterrupted education, many of us are at a clear disadvantage.

We are not asking for exams to be cancelled worldwide. We are asking examination boards to recognise that students in the Middle East are not working under normal conditions. A fair alternative would be a non-exam route based on coursework, internal assessments, and predicted grades.

We ask examination boards to uphold fairness and student wellbeing by reconsidering the May/June 2026 examinations for students in the Middle East and implementing appropriate alternatives.