Cambridge exams cancelled UAE is the headline many UAE families have been searching for since early April. Multiple UK awarding bodies have communicated that learners in the United Arab Emirates will not sit traditional exam hall papers for the May/June 2026 series, moving instead to evidence-based assessment approaches handled through schools and exam officers.

Below is a board-by-board, parent-friendly breakdown of what Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA have announced, plus a practical checklist for what you should do now. Always treat your school or exam officer’s email and deadlines as the final source of truth for your child.

Verified resources used:

• Cambridge Portfolio of Evidence (June 2026): https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/exam-administration/cambridge-exams-officers-guide/portfolio-of-evidence/june-2026/
• Pearson International GCSE and International A Level arrangements (May/June 2026): https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/campaigns/support-for-centres-affected-by-the-conflict-in-the-middle-east/arrangements-for-international-gcse-and-international-a-level-exams.html
• OxfordAQA support for the Gulf and Middle East (contingency arrangements + FAQs): https://www.oxfordaqa.com/news/gulf-and-middle-east-region-support/
• UAE reporting confirming the cancellations and portfolio/evidence routes: Gulf News - Cambridge, Gulf News - OxfordAQA, and Khaleej Times - OxfordAQA / UAE update.

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Cambridge exams cancelled UAE: what this means for Cambridge learners

UAE media reporting states that Cambridge International Schools in the UAE will not run the usual June 2026 exam series on paper. Instead, Cambridge has instructed schools to move to a portfolio of evidence route, with the goal of maintaining certification and student progression while prioritising safety.

According to Gulf News, Cambridge’s communication to schools states that the UAE will replace traditional exams with a portfolio of evidence route for relevant Cambridge qualifications in the June 2026 series, and that there will be no return to running exams in the UAE for that series.

What to expect at school level:

• Your school will collect and submit evidence of each candidate’s performance to Cambridge.
• You should receive internal timelines from your centre (submission windows, how work will be curated, and what counts as evidence).
• The certification pathway remains intact, but it is not based on sitting the standard papers for that series.

Official Cambridge hub for the June 2026 portfolio process:
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/exam-administration/cambridge-exams-officers-guide/portfolio-of-evidence/june-2026/

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Cambridge International exam update UAE: how the portfolio of evidence works (at a high level)

Cambridge’s June 2026 portfolio resources are designed for exam officers and schools. In practice, the portfolio approach typically means:

• Schools assemble evidence of student performance rather than running exam hall papers.
• Assessments and coursework from across the programme are organised and submitted in line with Cambridge instructions.
• Cambridge examiners then review the submitted evidence and award grades/certification in a way that reflects candidates’ demonstrated work.

Practical parent actions (so you are ready when your school asks for information):

• Keep track of what your child has already completed (classwork, coursework drafts, teacher feedback, any graded tasks).
• If your school asks for specific documents (or asks students to reflect on their learning), respond quickly and follow instructions precisely.
• Do not assume decisions are the same across all subjects: different qualifications and subject types can be handled differently under the same umbrella policy.

Where to monitor official updates for Cambridge:
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/news/whats-new/

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Pearson Edexcel exams cancelled UAE: contingency routes and evidence-based grading

Pearson’s official guidance is built around a “proceed wherever possible” approach, but with contingency procedures when students cannot transfer and exams cannot proceed in the May/June 2026 series.

UAE reporting (Gulf News) indicates that Pearson Edexcel has cancelled International GCSE and International A Level examinations in the UAE for May/June 2026, moving to alternative arrangements based on evidence.

Pearson’s official arrangements outline the two most important decision points for schools:

• Whether students can transfer to another centre (transfer remains the preferred option where possible).
• If students cannot transfer and need certification in this series, what alternative evidence route applies.

At a high level, Pearson describes two routes:

• Special consideration / enhanced grading when learners have banked unit results.
• International Contingency Grading when learners do not have banked units, based on a portfolio of evidence that Pearson examiners review.

Pearson also notes that, where possible, centres should provide a set of past papers or equivalent evidence so examiners can place performance in context.

Primary official page (May/June 2026 arrangements):
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/campaigns/support-for-centres-affected-by-the-conflict-in-the-middle-east/arrangements-for-international-gcse-and-international-a-level-exams.html

UAE news confirmation example:
https://gulfnews.com/uae/education/uks-pearson-cancels-international-gcse-a-level-and-ipls-exams-in-uae-for-mayjune-2026-1.500494594

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OxfordAQA exams UAE cancelled: evidence of performance, banked grades, and deadlines

OxfordAQA’s Gulf and Middle East support page explains contingency arrangements for schools and communities impacted by the conflict. UAE reporting confirms OxfordAQA has cancelled International GCSE and International A Level exams in the UAE for May/June 2026.

OxfordAQA’s support page makes the process operationally clear for centres:

1. Certifying students (banked results exist): previously achieved components can be used to produce an overall grade.
2. Certifying students (no banked results): schools must submit evidence of student performance for examiners to review.
3. Non-certifying students: OxfordAQA states it will work with schools to defer learners to a future series.

Evidence submission window (for students who need evidence of performance):
OxfordAQA states it will ask centres to submit evidence digitally from Friday 1 May to Friday 12 June 2026, alongside:

• a Head of Centre declaration
• predicted grades (as part of the overall evidence package)

OxfordAQA support page (full FAQs + guidance links):
https://www.oxfordaqa.com/news/gulf-and-middle-east-region-support/

News confirmation example:
https://gulfnews.com/uae/education/uks-oxfordaqa-cancels-igcse-and-a-level-exams-in-uae-for-mayjune-2026-series-1.500494701

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What families should do next (board-agnostic checklist)

Use this as a fast action plan while your school confirms subject-by-subject requirements:

• Confirm your child’s exact qualification entries (Cambridge IGCSE / O Level / International AS & A Level / IPQ, or Pearson International GCSE / International A Level, or OxfordAQA International GCSE / International A Level).
• Locate the school’s exam-office email thread and add deadlines to your calendar.
• Gather and organise evidence-ready material now (drafts, coursework pieces, internal assessments, teacher feedback, any graded components).
• Ask your school which evidence tasks they are prioritising (some subjects may focus on coursework-style evidence; others may lean more on performance tasks and previously completed components).
• If your child is missing work or has learning gaps due to disruption, speak to teachers early so the evidence package is complete and properly contextualised.
• For university or external progression plans: ask how schools will communicate grades/certification outcomes and what timelines to expect.

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Frequently asked questions

Which boards are involved in the UAE cancellation announcements?

UAE reporting and official board pages referenced above focus on Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel (International GCSE and International A Level), and OxfordAQA (International GCSE and International A Level). Your child’s specific board determines the evidence route.

Will my child still receive certification if exams are cancelled?

Yes, the contingency approaches described by Cambridge, Pearson and OxfordAQA are intended to support certification/progression without requiring standard exam hall papers. Final outcomes depend on your school submitting the correct evidence package.

How will Cambridge grade without sitting papers?

Cambridge’s June 2026 portfolio process is built around schools submitting evidence of student performance for review by Cambridge examiners, using Cambridge’s published portfolio of evidence guidance.

What is “International Contingency Grading” (Pearson)?

Pearson describes International Contingency Grading as an evidence-based route used when students cannot transfer and need certification, especially where they do not have banked unit results. Centres submit evidence for review by Pearson examiners.

What happens if a student already has banked grades (OxfordAQA)?

OxfordAQA indicates that if students have previously achieved results in OxfordAQA International AS and A-level components, those results can be used to provide an overall grade. For students without banked units, schools must submit evidence of performance.

What is the evidence submission deadline for OxfordAQA?

OxfordAQA’s Gulf and Middle East support page states that evidence of student performance will be submitted digitally from Friday 1 May to Friday 12 June 2026, with additional required forms and predicted grades.

Can we transfer our child to another centre/country to sit the papers?

Transfer remains the preferred option where feasible in Pearson’s official guidance. OxfordAQA’s support page also discusses how transfers work in practice (centre withdrawal and new centre entries). Your school will handle the process rules and eligibility.

Do schools need to submit past papers or specific documents?

Pearson’s guidance indicates that where possible, centres should submit a full set of past papers (as close to exam conditions as possible) and/or alternative evidence when past papers cannot be provided. Cambridge and OxfordAQA provide subject/centre instructions through their resources and FAQs.

What if my child’s coursework is incomplete or they were absent during disruption?

Tell your teachers and exams officer as soon as possible. Boards’ contingency processes include mechanisms for contextualising disruption (for example special consideration approaches and examiner review of the evidence package alongside context).

Will teachers be able to use predicted grades?

OxfordAQA’s support page indicates predicted grades are part of the evidence package for affected countries. Pearson also references predicted grades as part of how evidence can be used for examiner review (as described on the official arrangements page).

Where can parents check official updates without waiting for emails?

Bookmark:

• Cambridge “portfolio of evidence” June 2026 hub: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/exam-administration/cambridge-exams-officers-guide/portfolio-of-evidence/june-2026/
• Pearson May/June 2026 arrangements hub: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/campaigns/support-for-centres-affected-by-the-conflict-in-the-middle-east/arrangements-for-international-gcse-and-international-a-level-exams.html
• OxfordAQA Gulf and Middle East support hub: https://www.oxfordaqa.com/news/gulf-and-middle-east-region-support/

Still, your school’s direct communications remain the source of truth for your child’s entries.

What about wellbeing and learning disruption?

Boards’ support pages emphasise progression and student welfare. Keep routines steady at home, continue learning where possible, and focus your communication with school on what evidence can realistically be produced in time.

How long will results take?

Exact results timelines vary by board and after evidence marking is completed. The best source for dates is your school’s exam officer updates.

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Last reviewed: 3 April 2026. Information reflects the linked board pages and UAE reporting available at the time of writing; policies can change. Always follow your school and the relevant awarding body for your child’s specific entries.

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