We would like to emphasize that we are demanding that the IB extend the minimum grade guarantee for non-exam route students to the exam route. Currently, exam route students are guaranteed the lowest of their IA and exam marks, whereas non-exam route students are guaranteed the lowest of their IA and predicted grades (PGs) which, in nearly all cases, is likely to be higher than exam marks because of the reasons outlined below.

• We still have the burden of exams long after non-exam candidates completed their IB workload.
• Many of us had to rush our IAs to make time for revision, while non-exam candidates had ample time to perfect their work.
• Every one of us has been impacted differently, and the current exam-based route disregards the considerable non-academic fallout the pandemic has had on many students’ mental health.
• We are an international community, and many of us have also suffered immense pain, suffering, and loss as our relatives overseas fight Covid-19. We have mourned for our loved ones; we have sat paralyzed with fear; and we have endured sleepless nights.
• A new South African Covid-19 variant has been introduced in our community and students of our age group have no access to vaccinations during the exam period.
• Students have been doubly affected by the civil unrest in Hong Kong.

We are now being actively disadvantaged and put at risk by taking the exam route. We call on the International Baccalaureate to provide an exactly identical "coursework and quality assured predicted grade" minimum grade guarantee as the non-exam route, and uphold the faith and trust of students in being provided with a fair and considerate world-class education from the IB.

Precautions taken to achieve low rates-of-infection was at the cost of our mental health and learning: https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/news/hong-kong/article/3121909/ib-students-hong-kong-express-frustration-exams-will

The Sinovac vaccine being administered in Hong Kong is 70% less effective against the new virus variant: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3130355/coronavirus-sinovac-vaccine-gives-70-cent-les