‘O’ level exam leak

CIE needs to conduct exams more efficiently.

The leak of  ‘O’ level and IGCSE exam papers has cast doubt on the credibility of the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). Although details of what happened are as still murky, it seems that a security breach caused the Pakistan Studies and Islamiat papers offered to students on May 7, 9, 14 and 15 to leak. The two exams will now be held again on June 13 and 14, according to the CIE. Students in Pakistan have vehemently protested against the CIE’s decision to retest them, especially since initial reports said that the leak had not occurred in Pakistan. Many of the students had already left the country for vacations and it seemed unfair to make them pay for the CIE’s carelessness. However, the CIE Chief Executive, Micheal Sullivan, said on June 5 that some students in Pakistan had indeed seen the paper, which makes a retake of the exam necessary in order to maintain the integrity of the exam and ensure that the result given to students is valid.

Around 30,000 students in Pakistan are affected by this, a substantial number, and many are now questioning whether there is any difference in sitting for a CIE exam versus one from the local Inter/Matric system, which is notorious for leaked papers and brazen cheating. These exams are one of UK’s main exports, since they come with a credibility often lacking in different countries’ local exam boards.

The CIE has taken full responsibility for the incident, calling it “highly regrettable” and “exceptional”. The only positive side to the story is that it has offered students a host of options: they may retake the papers in June, or in November, or opt for a full refund and not take them at all. However, it needs to clarify how the lapse occurred and take steps to rectify the problem. Students spend years preparing for these exams and they are part of their permanent academic records. The CIE needs to conduct them more efficiently.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2013.                                                                                          

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.