By Staff Reporter
KARACHI: Cambridge International Education said on Thursday that one of its AS-level mathematics examinations had been shared prematurely in violation of its rules, confirming long-circulating reports that had already prompted an official request for information from Pakistani education authorities.
The disclosure involves Cambridge International AS Level Mathematics Paper 12 (9709), administered this week in the May-June examination session across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Pakistan and South Asia. The paper was circulated hours before the scheduled sitting in Pakistan, according to accounts that spread rapidly on social media and triggered complaints from students and parents.
In a statement, the organization — a division of Cambridge University Press and Assessment — said it had moved quickly to investigate. “We can confirm that Cambridge International AS-Level mathematics paper 12 (9709) taken in our Africa, Europe, Middle East, Pakistan and South Asia regions, was shared prematurely against our regulations,” it said. “We investigate such incidents promptly and thoroughly and we are now working to understand the extent of the leak and determine next steps.”
Cambridge International said its overriding concern was to ensure that no student was disadvantaged and that the integrity of the examination process remained intact. Senior officials would decide on further action, the statement continued, with the goal of minimizing disruption while preserving the value of the grades awarded. Universities and other institutions that rely on those grades “can continue to trust them,” it added.
The board urged candidates to keep preparing for and sitting their remaining examinations. A further update on the inquiry’s progress will be issued May 7.
The confirmation followed an announcement earlier Thursday by Pakistan’s Inter-Board Coordination Commission that it would seek a detailed report from Cambridge. The move came after parents and students questioned the transparency of the system amid the social-media reports. Many noted the substantial fees families pay for Cambridge examinations and pointed to previous leaks as evidence of recurring problems.
Cambridge International itself had acknowledged earlier this week that it was aware of “news about a reported paper leak,” after complaints intensified online. The incident is not the first of its kind in Pakistan. Last June, question papers for three AS- and A-level examinations were partially leaked across the country. In response, Cambridge offered free resit examinations in November 2025 to the affected candidates.
Cambridge International administers internationally recognized qualifications to scores of schools in more than 160 countries. In Pakistan, its O-level programs for grades 9 and 10 provide a broad curriculum, while the more specialized AS- and A-level courses for grades 11 and 12 serve as a pathway to higher education both domestically and abroad. In its statement, the organization described breaches of exam security as rare and said it would apply “appropriate sanctions” against any schools or individual students where evidence of malpractice is found.
The episode has revived broader questions about the security and fairness of high-stakes international examinations in Pakistan, where Cambridge qualifications carry significant weight for university admissions and scholarships. Parents and students have expressed frustration over the financial burden of the programs and the uncertainty the latest leak has introduced at a critical point in the academic year. Cambridge International said it would continue to work with schools and authorities to resolve the matter while maintaining confidence in the overall examination system.
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