Cambridge International Education (CIE) confirmed on Thursday that an Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Mathematics Paper 1 was leaked prematurely, violating their regulations. This announcement came after reports emerged of the paper being shared hours before the scheduled exam in Pakistan, sparking renewed concerns about exam security during the May-June session.
In a statement, CIE specified that the compromised paper was the AS Level Mathematics Paper 12 (9709), which is administered across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Pakistan, and South Asia. The board emphasized that the leak occurred against their strict rules and that a thorough investigation is underway to assess the scope of the breach and decide on subsequent actions.
Cambridge International’s Pakistan office highlighted that their foremost priority is to ensure students are not unfairly affected by this incident. They are committed to implementing all necessary measures to uphold the integrity of the examination process and maintain confidence in the grades awarded.
Senior experts within the board will determine the appropriate next steps, aiming to minimize any distress or disruption caused to students due to the paper theft. The board also reassured stakeholders that they will safeguard the reliability of the results so that universities and other institutions can continue to trust the qualifications awarded.
The board noted that such breaches of exam integrity are uncommon and confirmed that sanctions will be applied to any centres or students found guilty of malpractice. This incident has raised anxiety among students and parents currently participating in the ongoing exam session, with concerns about fairness and merit under the Cambridge system.
Cambridge International expressed gratitude to students and schools for their patience and urged them to await further updates. They announced that progress on the investigation will be shared on May 7, 2026.
