The International Baccalaureate has extended its coursework deadline for students from 15 March to 15 April because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
In a statement, the IB said it “recognises the challenges currently affecting schools across the Middle East” and was seeking ways to minimise difficulties, including with “the completion and submission of coursework and early assessment components”.
It said schools would not be required to contact the IB’s Adverse Circumstances team about the switching of the deadline, but they can do so if they wish to “discuss specific challenges within their school context, or request an extension for internal assessment components”.
The new submission deadline will apply only to countries in the Middle East, includingBahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
What about IB exams?
Meanwhile, although nothing has yet been decided about exams, the IB said it was “reviewing the potential implications of the current situation and what this may mean more broadly”.
Currently, schools across the Middle East are operating under remote learning conditions due to the threat from missile strikes, and many leaders have noted the impact this could have on students’ learning outcomes, especially those in exam years.
Regarding the difficulties that schools in the region are experiencing, the IB said it is “in close contact with schools and associations to provide practical support”.
It also confirmed that students have the option to transfer registration to another IB World School, defer May 2026 examinations to a later session at no extra cost, or withdraw from the May 2026 session with a full refund.
