What Just Happened — and Why It Matters to Every IGCSE Student

On 2 April 2026, Cambridge International Education sent a circular to schools across the UAE confirming the news in plain terms: "We will not move back to running exams in your country in the June 2026 series."

That sentence landed hard. But before panic sets in, read this carefully — because what happens next affects not just students in the UAE, but every IGCSE student sitting exams worldwide in June 2026.

Pearson Edexcel has cancelled in-person exams across the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Lebanon for the May/June 2026 series. OxfordAQA confirmed the same for UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain. The widespread cancellations come amid continued regional tensions linked to the ongoing conflict, which has already led to disruptions across multiple sectors.

Over 120 schools across the UAE alone offer Cambridge programmes. The numbers across Kuwait, Bahrain and Lebanon add thousands more. This is one of the largest exam disruptions the British curriculum community in the Middle East has ever faced.

Here is what you need to understand — clearly, without the noise.

Who Is Affected

Cambridge International has confirmed that its IGCSE and International A-Level examinations scheduled for summer 2026 in the UAE will not go ahead. The cancellations cover Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge O Level, Cambridge International AS and A Level, and the Cambridge IPQ.

Pearson Edexcel confirmed cancellations in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Lebanon. OxfordAQA confirmed the same for UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain.

If your school follows any of these boards and you are based in one of these four countries — this announcement applies to you directly. Your school will receive official guidance. Until then, read on.

What Is a Portfolio of Evidence — and What It Is NOT

This is the part most students and parents get wrong. Listen carefully.

Instead of a student sitting a timed paper in an exam hall, the school compiles a body of work that represents what that student has actually done and learned throughout the year. This goes to Cambridge, who use it to determine a final grade.

A portfolio is not predicted grades. It is not your teacher picking your best marks. It is not a free pass.

Each portfolio will consist of three substantial pieces of evidence per subject, which schools will submit to Cambridge International Education for external marking and grading. Each piece must be completed under proper exam conditions, lasting around one hour. That means mock exams in most cases — and your school will likely schedule new sittings to collect the evidence students need.

Cambridge has also set strict rules on what counts:

• The paper cannot be the actual June 2026 exam paper
• It cannot be a multiple-choice paper
• You cannot redo tasks to improve your performance

Your teacher will not simply pick your three highest scores. They will select work that represents your consistent, real level of performance. All three pieces carry equal weight — each counts for one third of your final grade. One weak performance matters. Take every sitting seriously.

Cambridge examiners then review the submitted evidence and award grades in a way that reflects candidates' demonstrated work. Your teacher marks first. Cambridge marks second. The standard used is the same as a real exam.

What This Means for How You Should Study Right Now

Here is the shift in thinking that changes everything: every past paper question you practise right now could appear in your portfolio assessment.

Because schools will base their evidence-gathering sessions on past papers, your revision is no longer just preparation — it is directly connected to the work that will be submitted for your final grade. Work under timed conditions. Follow mark schemes precisely. Treat every practice session as the real thing.

This is exactly why structured, exam-focused revision matters more now than it ever has. If you are behind or need to catch up fast, the IGCSE Live Crash Course at Chem-Bio runs live weekly classes in Biology and Chemistry, built entirely around past papers, mark scheme language, and exam technique — the exact skills that will determine your portfolio grade. Sessions are recorded, so you can revisit them as many times as you need.

What About Grade Boundaries — Does This Affect Students Sitting Real Exams?

This question is circulating everywhere, and the answer deserves a straight response.

Grade boundaries are not fixed. They are set after each exam series using statistical evidence and expert judgment so that candidates are not disadvantaged if their papers are harder than in previous years.

Students submitting portfolios are assessed separately by Cambridge examiners using the same marking standards as traditional exams. Their grades are not pooled with the results of students sitting written papers. Cambridge converts the raw mark into a percentage uniform mark (PUM) out of 100, which shows where a student sits inside the grade they achieved.

The bottom line: if you are sitting written exams elsewhere in the world, your grade boundaries will be set based on your exam performance — not on portfolio results from affected regions. The two groups are assessed independently. Your grade is still in your hands.

Will These Grades Be Accepted by Universities?

Yes — and this needs to be said clearly.

UK universities are familiar with alternative grading scenarios. Cambridge qualifications awarded through a portfolio route are still Cambridge qualifications. The grade on the certificate is what universities see. They do not receive a note saying the grade was awarded via portfolio.

Cambridge has been clear that candidates can receive certification for their work and progress with their education. The certification pathway is intact. Students will still receive Cambridge qualifications. The route has changed — not the destination.

What You Should Do Right Now

Stop refreshing WhatsApp groups. Start acting.

If you are in an affected country:

• Complete all coursework properly — it goes directly into your portfolio
• Ask your school's exams officer what evidence has already been collected
• Begin practising past papers under timed, closed-book conditions immediately
• Treat every mock sitting as a real exam — because it now is one

If you are sitting written exams elsewhere:

• Nothing about your exam format has changed
• Focus entirely on your revision — grade boundaries will be fair
• Use the next few weeks to maximise your mark

For both groups — if you need structured support for IGCSE Biology or Chemistry, the Chem-Bio Live Classes are running now. Live sessions, recorded replays, past paper drills, and mark scheme coaching — designed specifically for the June 2026 exam window. Join before the next session fills up.

The Bottom Line

Whether you are submitting a portfolio or sitting a written paper, one thing has not changed: your grade reflects the work you put in. The system has shifted around you — but your effort, your practice, and your exam technique still determine the outcome.

Cambridge has confirmed the certification pathway is intact. Universities will accept the results. The examiners marking your portfolio use the same standards as always.

So stop worrying about what you cannot control. Start working on what you can.

👉 Join the IGCSE Live Crash Course and get exam-ready — whatever route your school is taking.

Sources: Cambridge International Portfolio of Evidence — June 2026 · Gulf News — Cambridge UAE Cancellation · Tes — Exams Cancelled Across Middle East · School Management Plus — Pearson & OxfordAQA · Khaleej Times — Full Guide to Cancelled Exams · Tutopiya — Grading System Explained