To the International Baccalaureate Organization,

We, the 2026 IB Physics examination cohort, respectfully submit this petition regarding the serious concerns raised globally about the 2026 IB Physics examinations and the widely discussed issues surrounding this year’s assessment.

As students, we fully understand and accept the rigorous nature of the IB Diploma Programme. We entered the examination session prepared to be challenged academically. However, the scale of difficulty, unfamiliarity, and imbalance experienced in the 2026 Physics papers has left many candidates feeling that the examinations did not fairly reflect the preparation, teaching, and resources available to students worldwide.

Throughout the course, many schools were still adapting to the demands of the revised syllabus and the evolving style of assessment. Despite our consistent effort and dedication over two years, numerous students encountered examination questions and approaches that differed significantly from the materials, guidance, and practice resources available to us. While the IB encourages conceptual understanding over memorization, many candidates found that the papers extended far beyond the level and style that schools and students had reasonably prepared for.

A major issue this year was the noticeable disconnect between available preparation resources and the actual examinations. Past papers from previous years were of limited relevance due to the syllabus transition, while high-quality updated resources remained scarce or inaccessible to many students globally. In numerous schools, teachers themselves were navigating the revised course structure for the first time, creating unavoidable inconsistencies in preparation across different regions and institutions.

Additionally, many students have expressed concern regarding the balance, clarity, and accessibility of certain examination questions. Across online academic communities, schools, and student discussions worldwide, there has been a shared recognition that the papers felt unusually unpredictable and disproportionately difficult compared to expectations established by specimen papers, classroom assessments, and available revision materials. This concern has not been isolated to a small group of students, but appears to reflect a broader international experience.

For many candidates, the consequences of these examinations are life-changing. IB Physics is a prerequisite subject for competitive university pathways including engineering, medicine, computer science, mathematics, and physical sciences. Conditional offers, scholarships, and admissions opportunities now depend heavily on results from an examination session that many students believe did not provide an equitable reflection of their abilities or preparation. We deeply respect the IB’s commitment to academic rigor and maintaining global standards. However, fairness and educational equity must remain equally important, particularly during periods of syllabus adjustment and widespread concern surrounding examination accessibility and assessment balance.

Therefore, we respectfully urge the International Baccalaureate Organization to carefully review the performance data, student outcomes, and global feedback from the 2026 IB Physics examinations, and to consider lowering the grade boundaries appropriately to account for the exceptional challenges faced by this cohort.

Such an adjustment would not compromise academic integrity. Rather, it would demonstrate the IB’s commitment to fairness, consistency, and the recognition of genuine systemic challenges experienced by students worldwide.

We sincerely hope the IB will listen to the voices of students, educators, and schools globally and take compassionate, balanced action in response to these concerns.

Please support this call for fairness in assessment by signing this petition.