Cambridge International Education has confirmed that an AS Level Mathematics examination paper was leaked before the exam and announced the cancellation of the affected component, with a replacement examination to be conducted for candidates in the impacted regions.
In a media statement issued on Thursday, Cambridge said the Mathematics paper 9709/12, taken on April 29, 2026 in administrative zones 3 and 4, had been shared prematurely in breach of examination regulations.
The examination body stated that following a detailed review, it had concluded that the extent of the unauthorised sharing meant the paper could not be used to award final examination results.
“As a result, Mathematics (9709/12) will not be used to generate results through calculated assessment,” the statement said, adding that a fresh version of the examination would now be sat by all affected candidates.
Cambridge expressed regret over the incident, saying students had worked extremely hard to prepare for the examinations and that the organisation valued the trust placed in it to ensure fair outcomes.
The statement said the theft and unauthorised circulation of the paper remained under active investigation. Cambridge added that it was working closely with law enforcement agencies and other partners to identify those responsible.
The examination body warned that strict sanctions would be imposed on anyone found sharing or misusing confidential examination materials, including permanent disqualification from Cambridge qualifications and operations.
Cambridge noted that examination boards frequently receive reports of alleged paper leaks, many of which later prove false, but said the present case had been thoroughly reviewed before the decision to cancel the paper was taken.
According to the statement, the replacement examination for Mathematics (9709/12) will take place on June 9, 2026 as part of the June examination series. No additional fee will be charged to candidates or schools, while the AS and A Level results release date of Aug 11, 2026 will remain unchanged.
Cambridge further said detailed guidance regarding the conduct of the replacement examination, distribution of question papers, withdrawals from the June 2026 session and entries for the November 2026 series would be shared with schools by May 15.
The organisation urged students to remain focused on their remaining examinations and assured them that steps being taken were aimed at safeguarding fairness, integrity and confidence in Cambridge qualifications.
