By Staff Reporter
KARACHI: Students sitting for an AS-level mathematics examination administered by Cambridge International Education on Tuesday reported that the paper they received was identical to a fully solved version that had appeared on social media only a day earlier, the latest in a series of leaks that have disrupted Cambridge’s testing cycle in Pakistan and prompted a high-level government intervention.
The examination, identified as Mathematics Paper 9709/5 and scheduled to begin at 2 pm, had reportedly been shared online on Monday, according to multiple students who spoke to local media. The claims surfaced hours after the test concluded, fueling immediate anger among candidates who had prepared for months only to discover what appeared to be an exact replica of the questions in advance.
The development comes barely two weeks after Cambridge acknowledged a separate breach involving AS-level Mathematics Paper 9709/12, which was administered on April 29 in Administrative Zones 3 and 4. Following an internal investigation, the organization concluded that the paper had been distributed without authorization before the examination and declared it invalid for grading purposes. Cambridge scheduled a replacement sitting for June 9.
Just one day before Tuesday’s reported leak, similar allegations surfaced about an A-level Business paper. Cambridge International Education, a department of Cambridge University Press and Assessment, delivers internationally recognized O-level, AS-level and A-level qualifications to schools in more than 160 countries. In Pakistan, O-levels (typically grades 10 and 11) provide a broad secondary curriculum, while the more specialized AS- and A-levels (grades 12 and 13) serve as the primary gateway to university admission both at home and abroad. The exams are offered twice annually, in June and November, with results released in August and January respectively.
Cambridge’s local country director, Uzma Yousuf, responded to the latest reports with the organization’s standard statement on such incidents. “We investigate all allegations of paper leaks,” she said. “We do not comment on individual reports of paper leaks. In the rare case where there is a genuine issue, we update schools at the right time and provide the recommended next steps.”She added: “We ask people only to trust official statements from Cambridge and not add to misinformation, which is very unhelpful for students.”
The Inter-Boards Coordination Commission, the Pakistani body that oversees equivalence and coordination for international qualifications, initially appeared to lend weight to the students’ claims. Its executive director, Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah, said that Cambridge had “initially confirmed the paper leak” and described the continuing incidents as “unfortunate” and “regrettable.” He said the examination body had so far failed to prevent such breaches. Later in the day, however, Mallah walked back his remarks, telling reporters that he had neither confirmed nor denied the leak and that only Cambridge could issue an official determination.
The pattern is not new. In June 2025, question papers for three AS- and A-level examinations were partially leaked across Pakistan before the scheduled dates. Cambridge publicly acknowledged the breach in a statement, saying content from Mathematics Paper 12, Mathematics Paper 42 and Computer Science Paper 22 had become available in violation of its regulations. The organization offered free resit examinations in November 2025 to all affected candidates.
Education authorities in Islamabad reacted swiftly to the latest reports. Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui directed the IBCC chairman to contact Cambridge authorities immediately and demand a thorough investigation, full clarification of the facts and urgent steps to safeguard students’ interests. “Such incidents cause severe mental stress, anxiety and uncertainty for students and their parents,” Siddiqui said, “particularly for those who prepare for their examinations with hard work, dedication and honesty.”
He described the repeated leaks as “an extremely serious matter” and called on Cambridge to strengthen its examination security protocols, monitoring mechanisms and overall system so that they become “effective and tamper-proof,” thereby restoring public trust. The minister emphasized that the Pakistani government “will not compromise on the future of students, the transparency of the examination system and the protection of merit.” He urged all relevant institutions to fulfill their responsibilities with seriousness and accountability.
Cambridge has not yet issued a specific statement on Tuesday’s examination beyond its general policy on leak allegations. In past cases the organization has moved to invalidate compromised papers and arrange replacement sittings, though the process inevitably delays results and adds pressure to an already intense academic calendar for students aiming for university places in Pakistan and overseas.
Copyright © 2021 Independent Pakistan | All rights reserved
