Should I contact the IB directly if I miss the examination?

No, students and parents should normally communicate through the school's MYP coordinator. The coordinator records the absence, collects evidence, and uses the official channel to contact the IB when necessary. A subject teacher can offer support, but may not have authority to approve an examination arrangement. Contact the coordinator immediately, ideally before the scheduled starting time. Follow up in writing so the school has a clear record of when and why the absence was reported.

Can I take the Individuals and Societies eAssessment the next day?

Possibly, but a next-day sitting is not automatic. Under the current adverse circumstances policy, authorized rescheduling generally must occur within 24 hours after the original scheduled date and time. The school must consider your circumstances, whether you are well enough to sit, and how examination security will be protected. The IB normally authorizes rescheduling, although emergency procedures exist for schools that cannot obtain an immediate response. Do not assume that returning to school the next morning guarantees that the examination will be available.

Do I need a medical certificate if I am absent because of illness?

Your school may require a medical certificate or other independent evidence, so ask the coordinator immediately. Useful documentation normally identifies the relevant date and explains why the condition prevented or seriously affected attendance. Requirements can vary according to the circumstances, local practice, and the procedure being requested. A parent email should still be sent promptly, even if formal medical evidence will follow later. Never delay reporting the absence while waiting for an appointment or document.

Will a missed MYP eAssessment automatically be recorded as zero?

A missed examination is normally recorded initially as an absence, not automatically converted into an ordinary marked response worth zero. The final consequence depends on whether the IB approves rescheduling, deferral, the missing-mark procedure, or another applicable measure. An estimated mark is not guaranteed and cannot simply be created by the school from classroom grades. If no mitigation measure applies and no work exists to mark, the student may receive no result for that assessment component or subject. The coordinator should confirm the exact status once the IB process has been completed.

Can I defer only Individuals and Societies to a later session?

Deferral of one or more external assessment subjects may be considered when qualifying adverse circumstances prevent completion in the current session. It is not an informal postponement selected by the student, and the school must submit or manage the request under current IB procedures. A later sitting may take place in a future available examination session, subject to registration and subject availability. Deferral can delay completion of the course result or full MYP certificate requirements. Families should also ask the school about deadlines, fees, teaching support, and how the later result will be reported.

What if I arrive late but the examination has already started?

Report directly to the examination office or coordinator rather than entering the room without instructions. Whether you may start depends on the amount of time elapsed, examination-security rules, and the current session procedures. You should explain the reason for the delay and provide evidence if an emergency caused it. Extra time is not automatically granted merely because you arrived late. Schools should document the incident and tell the student whether the examination can proceed or whether another authorized response must be considered.

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Missing the MYP Individuals and Societies eAssessment

MYP Individuals and Societies Assessment MYP Exam Tips

Nathan J.

• 16 Sept 2026•8

Missing the MYP Individuals and Societies eAssessment

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Missing the MYP Individuals and Societies eAssessment

MYP Individuals and Societies Assessment MYP Exam Tips

Nathan J.

• 16 Sept 2026•8

If you are missing the MYP Individuals and Societies eAssessment due to absence, contact your school's MYP coordinator immediately. The school must document what happened and determine whether rescheduling, deferral, an alternative venue, or another exceptional measure can be requested under the current examination-session rules.

A make-up examination is not automatic, and students cannot arrange one directly with the IB. Follow your coordinator's instructions even if you have already contacted your subject teacher.

What normally happens after an absence

Individuals and societies is assessed through a formal, externally marked on-screen examination. The IB's MYP on-screen examination information lists available disciplines including geography, history, and integrated humanities.

Because the assessment uses secure content, a school cannot treat it like an ordinary classroom test or independently choose a convenient make-up date. The usual process is:

The student or parent contacts the school as soon as possible.
The coordinator records the absence and establishes its cause.
The school collects supporting evidence where required.
The coordinator checks current IB procedures and requests authorization when necessary.
The school confirms whether an approved measure is available.

The coordinator, rather than the student or subject teacher, manages official communication. RevisionDojo's guide to what an IB coordinator does explains this responsibility in more detail.

Can the examination be rescheduled?

Under the IB's adverse circumstances policy, rescheduling may be available when circumstances beyond a student's control prevent attendance. A sudden medical or psychological condition may justify emergency rescheduling for an individual candidate.

A rescheduled examination generally must begin within 24 hours after the original scheduled date and time. IB authorization is normally required, although the policy includes procedures for urgent situations in which a school cannot contact the IB before acting.

Rescheduling is tightly controlled to protect examination security. The student may need to remain isolated from candidates who have completed the examination and must not seek or receive information about its content.

Situation	Possible response
Sudden illness or emergency	Document the circumstances and request an authorized measure
Student can sit within the permitted window	Emergency rescheduling may be considered
Student cannot complete the current session	Deferral to a later session may be considered
Safety or transport emergency affects the school	Group rescheduling or another arrangement may be requested
Holiday or avoidable commitment	Exceptional treatment is unlikely

These responses are not guaranteed. Timing, evidence, the student's condition, examination security, and current procedures all affect the decision.

What counts as an adverse circumstance?

The MYP general regulations describe adverse circumstances as events beyond the control of the student or school that affect assessment. Examples may include significant illness, injury, bereavement, severe family circumstances, or threats to health and safety.

Forgetting the examination, misreading the timetable, or attending an optional event would not normally receive equivalent treatment. If illness is involved, ask what medical documentation is required and provide it promptly.

Will the IB estimate a mark?

An estimated mark is not an automatic consequence of absence. The missing-mark procedure is a restricted, case-by-case measure for qualifying adverse circumstances, generally where other options such as rescheduling, deferral, an alternative venue, or access arrangements are not viable.

Do not assume that a predicted grade or classroom performance will replace the missed examination. If no authorized measure applies and no response is available for marking, the IB may be unable to award a subject result. This could affect eligibility for the full MYP certificate because Individuals and Societies is a required assessed component, although the exact consequence depends on the student's registration and IB decision.

What the student should do immediately

Contact the MYP coordinator, preferably before the examination starts.
Explain the cause and timing of the absence and whether you could sit within 24 hours.
Submit medical or other evidence requested by the school.
Remain reachable in case an urgent decision is required.
Do not discuss or search for the examination's content.
Request written confirmation of the recorded absence and next step.

For a known conflict, check the official MYP examination schedule and alert the coordinator before examination day.

Advice for coordinators and later preparation

Coordinators should document when the problem was reported, whether the student could sit within the permitted window, what evidence was supplied, and how examination security would be maintained. Families must understand the distinction between a request and an approved arrangement.

After the school confirms the outcome, students can resume targeted preparation using RevisionDojo's MYP Individuals and Societies resources, Individuals and Societies Questionbank, 30-day eAssessment study plan, and MYP eAssessment preparation advice. These resources support preparation but cannot replace official instructions.

Conclusion

An absence does not automatically produce a zero, estimated mark, or make-up examination. Report it immediately, provide credible evidence, and let the MYP coordinator establish what the IB permits. Once the arrangement is confirmed, RevisionDojo's Questionbank, Study Notes, and timed practice can support focused preparation.

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A make-up examination is not automatic, and students cannot arrange one directly with the IB. Follow your coordinator's instructions even if you have already contacted your subject teacher.