​No exams? CBSE announces new evaluation rules for Gulf students​ amid Iran vs US-Israel war

In a major academic shift triggered by ongoing geopolitical tensions amid Iran vs US-Israel war, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has rolled out a revised assessment scheme for Class 10 students across the Middle East, fundamentally changing how thousands of students will be evaluated this year.

“In a major academic shift triggered by ongoing geopolitical tensions amid Iran vs US-Israel war, the Central Board of Secondary Education ( CBSE) has rolled out a revised assessment scheme for Class 10 students across the Middle East, fundamentally changing how thousands of students will be evaluated this year”

The Times of India

The move comes after the unprecedented cancellation of board exams in key Gulf countries, leaving students, parents and schools grappling with uncertainty but now, with clarity emerging, the focus has shifted from exams to evaluation and the implications are significant.

The Times of India

The revised scheme follows the complete cancellation of remaining Class 10 board exams across countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iran, due to the worsening regional security situation amid Iran vs US-Israel war.

What began as a temporary postponement in early March quickly escalated into a full cancellation, as tensions linked to the Iran vs US–Israel conflict made it unsafe to conduct exams.

The Times of India

CBSE’s revised evaluation model is designed to fairly assess students based on their actual performance in exams already conducted, combined with calculated averages for missed papers.

“In a major academic shift triggered by ongoing geopolitical tensions amid Iran vs US-Israel war, the Central Board of Secondary Education ( CBSE) has rolled out a revised assessment scheme for Class 10 students across the Middle East, fundamentally changing how thousands of students will be evaluated this year”

The Times of India

- Students who appeared for all exams - Their results will be based entirely on their performance in those papers.

- Students who appeared for 4 subjects - Marks for the remaining subjects will be calculated using the average of their best three subjects.

- Students who appeared for 3 subjects - The remaining subjects will be marked based on the average of their best two subjects.

- Students who appeared for only 2 subjects - Their remaining marks will be derived from the average of those two papers.

In addition to exam performance, internal assessment marks submitted by schools will play a key role in final results.

This includes periodic tests, pre-board exams and projects and coursework.

These components, often overlooked in normal years, now carry heightened importance, effectively becoming a crucial determinant of final scores.

One of the most notable aspects of the new scheme is that no special re-examinations will be conducted beyond CBSE’s existing framework.

However, students will still have an opportunity to appear for the Second Board Examination and improve their scores under standard CBSE policy.

CBSE has confirmed that students in the Middle East will receive their results alongside all other candidates globally, ensuring parity and avoiding delays in higher education applications.

This is especially crucial for: - College admissions in India - Applications to international universities - Competitive exams and entrance processes

The Times of India

In a year marked by disruption, maintaining timeline consistency is a major relief.

The Iran vs US-Israel crisis that reshaped education in the Middle East

This policy shift cannot be viewed in isolation.

It is part of a broader crisis that has disrupted education across the Gulf.

In recent weeks:

- Exams were repeatedly postponed - Schools shifted to distance learning - Entire exam cycles were cancelled

The rapid escalation of conflict in the region forced authorities to prioritise student safety over academic schedules, a decision echoed across multiple education boards.

What makes this situation unique is that it is not a pandemic or natural disaster but a geopolitical conflict.

This makes the current situation more unpredictable, with security concerns and not health driving decisions.

What CBSE students in the Middle East should do now

With clarity on evaluation, students are being advised to stay in touch with their schools, ensure internal assessment records are accurate, prepare for improvement exams if needed and focus on next academic steps (admissions, entrance tests).

The emphasis now is on moving forward, rather than dwelling on what was lost.

CBSE’s revised assessment scheme for Class 10 students in the Middle East marks a defining moment in modern education policy with exams cancelled, evaluation restructured and academic timelines preserved.

In a region facing unprecedented instability, the board has attempted to strike a balance between fairness, flexibility and student welfare.

However, the bigger takeaway is that the education systems are no longer operating in isolation.

They are deeply influenced by global events and must evolve just as quickly as the world around them.