If you are missing the MYP English Language and Literature eAssessment due to absence, contact your school’s MYP coordinator immediately. Do not assume the examination will automatically be cancelled, replaced with a predicted grade, or converted into a school-made assessment.
The coordinator records the absence and contacts the IB when an official decision is required. Depending on the cause, timing, evidence, and your ability to sit the assessment safely afterward, possible outcomes may include authorized rescheduling, deferral to a later session, or another adverse-circumstances procedure.
What to Do Immediately
Tell the school as soon as you know you will miss the examination. If illness or an emergency prevents you from attending, a parent or guardian should ideally contact the school before the scheduled start time.
Provide clear information about:
- Why and when the absence occurred
- Any medical or supporting documentation
- Whether you may be fit to sit within the permitted rescheduling period
- Whether you entered the examination room or started the assessment
Do not ask classmates what appeared on the paper. Examination security matters, and a student awaiting a rescheduled sitting may need to avoid communicating with candidates who have completed it.
Can the MYP English eAssessment Be Rescheduled?
Sometimes, but rescheduling is not automatic. It is an exceptional arrangement because changing an examination time can threaten assessment security.
For an emergency such as serious illness, the school may request a rescheduled sitting if you have not started the assessment and confidentiality can be maintained. Current IB guidance states that an authorized emergency rescheduled examination should normally occur within 24 hours of the original scheduled time. The coordinator must obtain authorization and arrange supervision; families cannot organize a private make-up examination.
If you are too unwell to participate, do not attend solely because you fear losing the assessment opportunity. Ask the coordinator which evidence and procedure apply.
What If Rescheduling Is Impossible?
If you cannot sit within the authorized window, the school may request deferral to a later examination session. Deferral is an IB assessment decision, not an ordinary school extension.
The school submits the circumstances and available evidence, after which the IB determines the appropriate response. A medical certificate may support the request, but it does not automatically guarantee a later sitting.
IB information states that candidates may use a maximum of three examination sessions to satisfy MYP Certificate requirements, and those sessions need not be consecutive. A later attempt may therefore be possible, but the coordinator must confirm registration, timing, and certificate implications.
Absence, Rescheduling, and Deferral Compared
These terms describe different situations and should not be used interchangeably.
| Situation | General meaning | Decision-maker |
|---|---|---|
| Absence | The candidate did not sit the scheduled examination. | School, with IB involvement where required |
| Rescheduling | The same assessment is taken at an authorized different time. | IB authorization and school administration |
| Deferral | The assessment is moved to a later examination session. | IB considers the school’s request |
| Missing mark procedure | A mark may be considered under specific adverse circumstances when other options are unavailable. | IB under the relevant policy |
A missing mark is not guaranteed simply because someone was absent. The applicable procedure depends on whether the candidate missed the assessment entirely, became unable to continue, or experienced circumstances affecting performance.
What About a Non-Emergency Absence?
Options may be more limited when the absence was avoidable, such as a holiday, optional appointment, or unapproved commitment. Examination security and consistent treatment mean schools cannot promise replacement sittings for every reason.
Contact the coordinator anyway. Do not wait for results or attempt an unofficial replacement response. The school must explain whether the circumstances can be reported and whether a future session remains available.
What the Coordinator May Need to Do
The coordinator must establish whether the student was absent, became unwell before starting, experienced a technical problem, or began but could not finish. These details affect the available procedure.
The school may need to:
- Record the candidate as absent
- Contact the IB or IB Answers promptly
- Collect medical or other supporting evidence
- Protect examination confidentiality
- Arrange supervision for an authorized rescheduling
- Explain any request for rescheduling, deferral, or mitigation
Local forms and evidence requirements may also apply, but they do not replace the IB decision-making process.
Preparing for a Later Sitting
If another opportunity is authorized, focus on transferable skills rather than trying to predict one paper. Practise interpreting unfamiliar texts, analyzing authorial choices, organizing arguments, and selecting precise evidence.
Complete timed responses under digital conditions and check that each paragraph addresses the command term. RevisionDojo’s MYP English Language and Literature resources provide Study Notes and practice materials, while the MYP eAssessments 30-day study plan can help restore a consistent routine.
Key Takeaways
Notify your school immediately and follow the MYP coordinator’s instructions. Emergency rescheduling may be authorized, normally within the relevant 24-hour window, but it is never automatic. If that is impossible, the school may request deferral to a later session.
Keep supporting evidence, protect examination confidentiality, and wait for written confirmation rather than relying on informal advice. Once the assessment route is confirmed, RevisionDojo Study Notes and timed MYP English practice can help maintain your analytical writing skills.
Sources and referenced URLs
- IB MYP 2026 General Regulations
- IB MYP eAssessment Q&A: The What
- IB MYP eAssessment Q&A: The How
- IB Adverse Circumstances Policy
- IB MYP On-screen Examinations
- IB Understanding eAssessment
- RevisionDojo MYP English resources
- MYP eAssessments 30-Day Study Plan
- MYP eAssessment Tips for Success
- MYP Language and Literature assessment criteria
