Cambridge postpones A-level maths exam in Pakistan after confirming second paper leak

Cambridge International Education confirmed on Wednesday that an AS-level Mathematics paper had been leaked in Pakistan before the May 12 test, and postponed an upcoming A-level Mathematics exam as a precautionary measure. The board said Paper 52 of AS-level Mathematics (9709) had been shared prematurely and that it was investigating the extent of the breach during the June 2026 session.

Which Cambridge exam was postponed and what happens next?

Cambridge postponed A-level Mathematics Paper 32 (9709), originally scheduled for May 15, after confirming the AS-level leak. The exam will be replaced with a new paper. Cambridge will communicate a revised date within the June 2026 series by May 22. The AS and A-level results release date of August 11 remains unchanged.

What did Cambridge say about the scale of the leak?

Cambridge described the scale of exam paper theft during the current series as unprecedented. Country Director Uzma Yousuf said the board believed the leaks were "the work of criminals seeking to undermine examinations and the futures of the students who depend on them." She said Cambridge was pursuing several legal routes to stop and punish those responsible.

Yousuf added that the board's priority was to ensure students were not disadvantaged. She said decisions on next steps were being made by senior professionals to protect the fairness and reliability of grades, so that universities and other institutions could continue to trust them. She urged students and parents to rely only on official Cambridge statements and avoid misinformation circulating online.

Is this the first Cambridge paper leak in Pakistan this exam season?

The May 12 incident is the second confirmed leak of the June 2026 session. Cambridge previously cancelled AS-level Mathematics Paper 12 after it was widely circulated before the April 29 test date across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Pakistan, and South Asia. A replacement exam for that paper is scheduled for June 9, at no cost to students or schools.

Cambridge has also faced scrutiny after students and local media reports said an A-level Business Studies paper was circulated on WhatsApp, Reddit, and Discord before the exam earlier this month. The board has not confirmed that leak or disclosed how many papers may have been affected during the current cycle.

How has Pakistan's government responded to the Cambridge paper leaks?

Pakistan's Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui ordered an immediate probe into the reported leaks a day before Cambridge's latest announcement, directing the chairman of the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen to contact Cambridge authorities. He called the incidents "an extremely serious matter" and said they had caused stress and uncertainty for students and parents.

Siddiqui urged Cambridge to strengthen its examination security and monitoring systems. He said the government would not compromise on student futures, the transparency of the examination system, or the protection of merit.