Islamabad:Cambridge International Education on Thursday confirmed that an AS-level mathematics question paper had been circulated ahead of its scheduled time, breaching exam regulations and triggering fresh concerns over assessment integrity.
The acknowledgment came as the Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen announced it would seek a detailed report from Cambridge, following complaints from students and parents, who questioned the transparency of the system amid reports of a leak.
In a statement, Cambridge said AS-Level Mathematics Paper 12 (9709), taken across multiple regions including Pakistan, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe, had been “shared prematurely.”
It added that an investigation was under way to determine the extent of the breach and to decide on corrective measures. The board said that protecting candidates from any disadvantage remained its top priority, pledging to take all necessary steps to safeguard the credibility of its examinations.
Students were advised to continue preparing for their remaining papers, with a further update expected on May 7. A division of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, Cambridge International delivers globally recognised qualifications in over 160 countries.
In Pakistan, its O Level programme covers grades 9 and 10, while AS and A Levels, offered in grades 11 and 12, are more specialised and widely used as a pathway to higher education at home and abroad.
A comparable breach occurred in June last year when portions of three AS and A-Level papers were leaked in Pakistan. At that time, Cambridge offered free re-sits in November 2025 to candidates affected by the incident.
