Students in the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait have been told that Cambridge exams for the June 2026 series will not go ahead in the usual way. Instead of sitting written exams at school, candidates will be assessed through the Portfolio of Evidence route.
This update, shared with schools, means Cambridge International candidates in these countries should now prepare for a different assessment process for the June 2026 session.
What has changed for June 2026?
For the June 2026 series, Cambridge International schools in the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait will move to the Portfolio of Evidence route.
That means students will not sit exams at their school for that exam series. Instead, schools will need to prepare and submit portfolios of student work, which will then be marked and graded.
According to the communication sent to schools, Cambridge said this decision was made in coordination with the relevant authorities and with student safety and progression in mind.
Which qualifications are affected?
The Portfolio of Evidence route applies to:
- Cambridge IGCSE
- Cambridge O Level
- Cambridge International AS & A Level
- Cambridge IPQ
So if you are entered for any of these qualifications in the June 2026 series in the UAE, Bahrain or Kuwait, this change is likely to affect how you are assessed.
What is the Portfolio of Evidence route?
The Portfolio of Evidence route is an alternative way for Cambridge to award grades when normal exams cannot take place.
Instead of relying on final written exam papers taken in an exam hall, students are assessed using a collection of work produced as part of their course. Schools prepare and send this evidence to Cambridge, and Cambridge then marks and grades it.
In simple terms, your grade would come from submitted academic evidence rather than a standard exam sitting.
Does this mean June 2026 exams are cancelled?
For students in these countries, the usual June 2026 Cambridge exam sitting at school will not take place. Schools have been told that exams will not go ahead in the normal format and that they should prepare portfolios instead.
So, from a student point of view, the June 2026 exam series has effectively been cancelled in its usual form and replaced with the Portfolio of Evidence route.
Will students still receive certificates?
Yes. The communication to schools says that candidates can still receive certification for their work and continue with their education.
This is important for students who are worried about university applications, progression to the next school year, or completing an important qualification. The message from Cambridge is that students will still be able to achieve recognised results through this alternative route.
What students should do now
If you are studying for Cambridge exams in the UAE, Bahrain or Kuwait, the most important thing now is to stay calm and speak to your school.
You should:
- ask your teachers how your school will collect Portfolio of Evidence work
- keep all coursework, class assessments and teacher-guided tasks organised
- meet every school deadline carefully
- make sure the work you submit is your own and completed properly
- check school emails and announcements regularly for updates
Because portfolios depend on submitted evidence, consistency and organisation will matter even more than usual.
Why this matters for students
For many students, written exams are the main focus of the school year. A move to the Portfolio of Evidence route changes that completely. It means your preparation may need to shift away from revision for final papers and towards producing strong, complete and well-organised school-assessed work.
Students should also remember that this is still a formal Cambridge assessment route. Even though exams are not taking place in the normal way, the outcome still affects final grades and certification.
Final thoughts
The June 2026 Cambridge exam series in the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait will not go ahead in the standard exam-hall format. Instead, students will be assessed through the Portfolio of Evidence route for Cambridge IGCSE, O Level, International AS & A Level, and IPQ qualifications.
For students, the key message is clear: there will still be grades and certification, but the route to those results has changed.
Your next step should be to stay in close contact with your school and make sure you understand exactly what evidence you need to prepare.