Announces assessed marks for candidates of leaked maths and computer science papers
Cambridge International Education (CIE) on Wednesday announced that the replacement exam for the postponed A Level Mathematics Paper 32 would now be held on June 8 as part of the June 2026 examination series, while also confirming the use of assessed marks for all candidates of A Level Mathematics Paper 52 and AS Level Computer Science Paper 12.
On May 7, CIE announced the cancellation of the AS Level Mathematics (9709/12) exam for students in administrative zones 3 and 4, following the leak of the question paper. Almost a week later, it was further confirmed that another leak involving the AS Level Mathematics Paper 52 (9709) had been circulated online before the examination.
Meanwhile, the AS Level Mathematics Paper 32 (9709) was postponed.
Read: Cambridge cancels AS Level Mathematics paper after leak, announces new date
In a statement issued today, CIE said the postponed exam would now take place on June 8.
“The Cambridge International AS & A Level results release date of August 11 remains unchanged,” the statement said, adding that the British Council would soon share detailed information regarding the conduct of the examination.
Cambridge also confirmed that, along with Mathematics Paper 52 (9709/52), the AS Level Computer Science Paper 12 (9618/12), taken on May 12, was also “shared prematurely in Pakistan against our strict regulations”.
The statement clarified that “the wider circulation of the leaked material in Pakistan does not necessarily indicate that the source of the leak originated in Pakistan,” adding that investigations into the source of the breach were ongoing.
“Our priority is to make sure we are fair to students who did not cheat, which is the vast majority,” Cambridge said, adding that this meant making sure those who cheated received no advantage so that all students applying to university competed on an equal basis.
The CIE said that it would use its “well-established approach” of assessed marks for all candidates for AS & A Level Mathematics Paper 52, in zones 3 and 4 and for all candidates for AS Level Computer Science Paper 12 in Pakistan.
It described assessed marks as a “well-researched method”, also used by other UK-based examination boards, and commonly applied in cases where candidates were absent from an exam due to acceptable reasons such as illness or injury.
Also Read: Cambridge confirms 2nd leak of A-level Mathematics paper, postpones May 15 exam
“Using assessed marks means we will disregard the mark for the paper and instead calculate a mark for each student based on their performance in the other components in the syllabus for which they are entered and completed work,” the statement said.
CIE said the method removed any “possible unfair advantage” students may have attempted to gain through cheating and ensured that all candidates were treated equally.
It added that the method “cancels out the effect of an easy or difficult paper and reflects any difference in difficulty”, while candidates could still obtain full marks.
While acknowledging the students’ problem, the examination body said it recognised that students were dealing with the issue “at an important point in their education” amid confirmation of leaks involving Cambridge International AS & A Level papers.
On exam security, Cambridge said it had been facing “sustained and focused efforts to steal our exam papers” during the June 2026 examination series and was actively responding to the threat.
“The theft of this and other exam papers remains the subject of a detailed investigation,” the statement said.
It added that legal action was being pursued against perpetrators in coordination with law enforcement authorities and social media platforms.
Read More: Govt takes notice after another Cambridge Maths paper allegedly leaks
“We will apply sanctions to those who share or misuse confidential exam materials, including permanent disqualification from our qualifications and operations,” the statement warned.
Cambridge further said that examination security challenges were “not unique to any single board” and that security protocols governing the production, handling, storage and distribution of papers were constantly being updated in response to changing threats.
The statement also advised students to remain cautious of scams, misinformation and malpractice.
Although the issue of CIE paper leaks is not new and was also reported last year, this examination session has seen a spate of leakages as A and O Level examinations under the Cambridge system are currently being held across the country for the May-June session.
The papers were leaked online, with several students claiming that they had already begun circulating before the examinations.
The series of leaks prompted the federal government to take notice, with Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui expressing concern over the repeated incidents.
“Hardworking students cannot be allowed to suffer because of such incidents,” the minister had said, adding that similar cases had also surfaced last year and that Cambridge should further strengthen its examination system.
The minister had directed the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen to immediately convene a meeting with Cambridge authorities and take urgent measures to safeguard students’ interests.
