The Claim Going Around

If you've been on social media lately, you've probably seen people saying:

"Cambridge exams have been cancelled!"

Naturally, this has caused a lot of confusion and panic among students preparing for IGCSE, O Level, and A Level exams- especially those writing in the May/June 2026 session.

So, let's clear things up.

Are Cambridge Exams Cancelled in 2026?

The short answer: NO- Cambridge exams are NOT cancelled worldwide.

What's actually happening is that exams have been cancelled only in specific regions, mainly parts of the Middle East such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Kuwait, and nearby countries.

For the rest of the world- including countries like Zambia- Cambridge exams are still going ahead as planned.

Why Were Exams Cancelled in Some Countries?

The cancellations are due to safety concerns linked to ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East.

Exam boards like Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel, and OxfordAQA made the decision after consulting with local education authorities to ensure the safety of students and staff.

So this is not an academic decision- it's a safety-based decision affecting specific locations only.

Which Exams Are Affected?

In affected countries, the following exams have been cancelled for the May/June 2026 session:

• Cambridge IGCSE
• Cambridge O Level
• Cambridge International AS & A Level
• Cambridge IPQ

Instead of writing exams, students in those regions will follow a different assessment method.

How Will Students Be Graded Instead?

Since students are not sitting for written exams, Cambridge has introduced what is called a "portfolio of evidence" approach.

This means:

• Students submit coursework and assignments
• Schools provide internal assessments
• Teachers submit evidence of student performance
• Cambridge then marks and grades this work externally

In some cases, students may need to submit multiple pieces of assessed work per subject.

What About Students in Zambia and Other Countries?

If you are in Zambia (or most countries outside the affected regions), here's what you need to know:

• Your exams are NOT cancelled.
• You will still write your exams as usual.

There has been no global cancellation of Cambridge exams.

Why This Confusion Is Spreading

The confusion is mainly coming from:

• Social media posts with misleading headlines
• Students sharing partial information
• Clickbait content saying "Cambridge exams cancelled" without context

This has made it seem like a global issue, when in reality it is region-specific.

What Should You Do Right Now?

Here's the most important part. If you are preparing for exams in May/June 2026:

1. Ignore rumors

Don't rely on TikTok, WhatsApp forwards, or random posts.

2. Follow official information

Your school and Cambridge announcements are the only reliable sources.

3. Continue preparing seriously

Exams are still happening for you- so your preparation must continue.

4. Focus on what matters

• Past papers
• Time management
• Understanding key concepts

This is not the time to slow down.

Final Thoughts

Yes, Cambridge exams have been cancelled- but only in specific countries affected by serious safety concerns.

For the majority of students around the world, including those in Zambia:

Exams are still on.

So instead of getting distracted by rumors, stay focused, stay consistent, and keep preparing. Your results will depend on what you do now- not what's happening in another country.