KARACHI (Dunya News) – The second AS Level Mathematics examination conducted under Cambridge International Education has reportedly been leaked in Karachi, intensifying concerns over the security and integrity of international examinations in Pakistan.
Officials confirmed that this is the second Cambridge AS Level mathematics paper to be compromised, triggering criticism from education authorities and renewed anxiety among thousands of students preparing for the ongoing examination series. The development has once again placed Cambridge International Education under scrutiny after repeated incidents involving leaked examination content.
The Executive Director of the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah, confirmed the latest paper leak and described the situation as deeply concerning. He said it was unfortunate that Cambridge examination papers were being leaked repeatedly while the institution still appeared unable to fully control the issue.
The controversy follows Cambridge’s earlier admission regarding the leak of AS Level Mathematics paper 9709/12. According to the examination body, material from the paper had been distributed without authorisation before the examination took place on April 29, 2026, in Administrative Zones 3 and 4.
In its official statement issued after preliminary findings, Cambridge acknowledged that sections of the examination content had surfaced before candidates sat the paper. The institution later conducted what it described as a detailed investigation into the incident to determine the scale and impact of the breach.
Following the inquiry, Cambridge concluded that the nature of the leak had compromised the reliability of the examination to such an extent that the results could no longer be considered dependable for final grading purposes.
The examination board subsequently announced that the affected paper would not be used in calculating students’ final grades. Instead, impacted candidates would be required to sit for a replacement examination.
Cambridge stated that the alternative AS Level Mathematics 9709/12 examination would now be held on June 9, 2026, in line with the June series schedule. The decision affects students across the administrative zones where the original paper had been conducted.
The repeated leaks have generated frustration among students and parents, many of whom have expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding examination schedules and grading procedures. Educational circles in Karachi have also questioned how confidential examination material continues to reach unauthorised channels despite strict protocols typically associated with international examination systems.
The latest incident has added pressure on Cambridge International Education to strengthen its examination security mechanisms and reassure students that future papers will remain protected. The organisation has not yet disclosed how the paper was leaked or whether any individuals or centres are under investigation in connection with the breach.