Earlier this week, an email was sent out to all students enrolled in IB alerting them that IB exams will not be happening this year due to COVID-19. School cancellation would have led to an insufficient amount of time to prepare for these exams. Thus, IB made the decision to not hold exams and instead award certificates and diplomas based on already completed work, including Internal Assessments, which will all be graded externally for this year’s seniors.
To determine scores, IB has announced that they will use a “calculation based on the relationship between coursework marks, predicted grades and subject grades to estimate the subject grades candidates would have received if the exams had gone ahead.”
If/how school cancellations will affect the requirements for this year’s juniors has also not been released yet. However, the International Baccalaureate Organization will be releasing more information as the situation develops.
We will continue to update this story as more information is released.
To view IB’s FAQs on the Coronavirus pandemic visit: https://www.ibo.org/news/news-about-the-ib/covid-19-coronavirus-updates/
The letter from IB reads as follows:
To our IB Students and Families,
The International Baccalaureate Organization has announced that the May examinations for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme will not be held this year due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
As an organization, it is critical for the IB to ensure that the options it provides its global community of IB World Schools are based on compassion and fairness for the difficult circumstances that its students and educators are experiencing. As a result, based on considerable advice from stakeholders across the globe, including schools, students, universities and official bodies, the IB has determined what it believes to be the most responsible and ethical way forward.
The May 2020 examinations as scheduled between 30 April and 22 May for Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme candidates will no longer be held.
Depending on what they registered for, the student will be awarded a Diploma or a Course Certificate which reflects their standard of work. This is based on student’s coursework and the established assessment expertise, rigor and quality control already built into the programmes.
We know parents and student will have many questions. The IB will share full details and FAQs with us and on their website by 27 March 2020.
Thank you and stay well.
