We are students following Cambridge Assessment International Education, Pearson Edexcel, and OxfordAQA qualifications in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Palestine, and we are asking our respective exam boards to urgently reconsider requiring students in our region to sit the May/June 2026 examination series under the current circumstances.

Furthermore, it is deeply unfair that examinations have been cancelled or adjusted in some Gulf countries, while students in Jordan, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia are still expected to sit the same exams under similarly unsafe and unstable conditions. This inconsistency undermines the principle of fairness that these exam boards are meant to uphold.

Students across these countries are living in a region affected by ongoing conflict, instability, and heightened geopolitical tension. Airspace restrictions, safety concerns, travel disruptions, and constant uncertainty are impacting daily life and mental wellbeing.

Even in areas not directly affected by violence, the persistent atmosphere of anxiety, fear, and unpredictability makes it extremely difficult for students to prepare effectively. GCSE and A Level exams are already among the most demanding academic assessments, and expecting students in our region to perform under these conditions places them at a clear and unfair disadvantage compared to students in more stable environments.

This issue goes beyond whether exams can physically take place. The key concern is whether students can realistically prepare to the standard required. Many are struggling to concentrate, revise, and perform due to ongoing stress, safety concerns, and regional instability.



We are not necessarily asking for a global cancellation of the May/June 2026 session. Rather, we urge the exam boards to recognize that students in our region are not operating under normal circumstances. Fair alternatives could include non-exam routes such as coursework-based assessment, predicted grades, adjusted grade boundaries, or region-specific policies that reflect the challenges we are facing.

We respectfully ask the exam boards to uphold their commitment to fairness and equality by reconsidering the current approach and implementing solutions that genuinely reflect the reality for students in affected regions.