Cambridge cancels AS Level Mathematics paper after leak, announces new date

Cambridge International Education (CIE) on Thursday announced the cancellation of the AS Level Mathematics (9709/12) exam for students in administrative zones 3 and 4, following the leak of the question paper.

The leak, which breached examination regulations, led to the decision not to use the paper for final assessment results.

The recent development followed the leak of the Mathematics paper last week. CIE announced that the AS Level Mathematics paper for the June 2026 exams, conducted across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Pakistan, and South Asia, had been shared prematurely, in violation of its regulations.

A statement issued by the authority on the matter today said, "Following a detailed review, the extent of the sharing means we cannot use this paper to award final examination results. We have therefore taken the decision to cancel Mathematics (9709/12), and it will not be used to generate results through calculated assessment."

The examination body assured students, schools and families that investigations were ongoing, with the cooperation of law enforcement authorities. The breach led to "frustration and disappointment", Cambridge acknowledged, noting the hard work students had put into their preparation.

"The theft and unauthorised sharing of this examination paper remain the subject of an active investigation. We are working closely with relevant law enforcement agencies and other partners to identify those responsible. Cambridge applies strict sanctions to anyone found to have shared or misused confidential exam materials, including permanent disqualification from Cambridge qualifications and operations," it stated.

The statement further added that the authority regularly received reports of alleged exam paper leaks, the vast majority of which were false.

"We routinely monitor social media and other online channels for posts offering to share or sell question papers, working proactively with platforms to identify and remove such content. Our legal and compliance teams investigate every credible report, and we take robust legal action against those involved in illegal sharing, said the statement.

Cambridge's priority, it said, was ensuring that no student was disadvantaged by the incident. As part of this commitment, a replacement Mathematics (9709/12) exam would be held on June 9 as per the regular exam timetable. "The replacement exam will ensure fair outcomes for students, aligned with university requirements."

"There will be no additional cost for students or schools. The results release date of August 11 will remain unchanged," it said.

The statement further said that CIE planned to provide detailed guidance by May 15 on how schools would receive the replacement question papers. They would also address frequently asked questions and outline the process for students who were affected by the situation.

Read: Cambridge says 'aware' of reported A-Level paper leak, investigating matter

"We encourage all students to continue focusing on their remaining examinations and reassure them that the actions we are taking are in the best interests of Cambridge students and the integrity of our qualifications," it concluded.

According to claims circulating online, the AS Level Mathematics appeared on social media in both unsolved and solved formats. Some individuals suggested it surfaced late on last Tuesday night, while others claimed it had been circulating at least six hours before the exam.

It was further reported that the paper was shared on social media platforms, including Reddit, and later widely circulated through WhatsApp. Some students also claimed it was being sold through an application before being distributed online.

Sources told The Express Tribune that at a private school examination centre in Karachi, students raised objections during the exam, stating they had already seen the paper on social media hours earlier. They questioned the conduct of the examination under such circumstances, arguing it could affect their threshold marks. British Council representatives at the centre reportedly recorded written statements from the affected students.

A and O Level examinations under the Cambridge system are currently being held across the country for the May-June session. However, the latest incident is significant as a complete and solved paper is said to have been leaked, whereas in the previous year, around four papers were partially leaked, with only selected questions circulating online.

Also Read: Cambridge offers students free November resits after June paper leak

The Federal Ministry of Education had previously conducted inquiries into such incidents, while Cambridge had also assured internal investigations. However, the findings were not shared with the ministry, nor were details disclosed regarding those responsible or any action taken.

Under examination security protocols, Cambridge question papers are not supposed to leave examination centres, as candidates write answers directly on the question papers. Despite this, both unsolved and solved versions of the paper reportedly circulated on social media before and after the exam.