The Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) has confirmed that three exam papers were partially leaked shortly before the scheduled exams in June 2025, following a detailed internal investigation.
In an official statement released on Thursday, Cambridge assured students and parents that all candidates will receive fair and just results, regardless of the incident. The exam board emphasized its commitment to upholding academic integrity and said that no compromise would be made on the security of its assessments.
“Justice to honest students is our top priority,” the statement said following a detailed investigation by Cambridge’s Exam Security Team.
The investigation confirmed leaks were identified in three instances: one question from AS & A Level Mathematics Paper 12, parts of two questions from Paper 42 of the same subject, and segments of one question in AS & A Level Computer Science Paper 22. However, the organisation clarified that no complete exam paper was compromised.
Cambridge also revealed that an organized attempt was made to sell fake or leaked papers to students in exchange for money. While many reports of paper leaks circulating online proved to be false or exaggerated, three exam papers were confirmed to have been partially compromised. It expressed empathy for students who experienced undue stress during the situation.
“Dishonest people have stolen our question papers, and the main victims of this theft are young people who suffered considerable anxiety and distress at an important time,” said Uzma Yousuf, Cambridge’s country director for Pakistan.
Dr Anthony Dawson, director of assessment standards, emphasized that the remedial actions were guided by a commitment to fairness. “Our priority is to make sure we are fair to students who did not attempt to see papers before the exam, which is the vast majority, and this is why we applied this remedy,” he said.
The board is actively identifying individuals involved in the buying and selling of both real and fake exam papers. “Those responsible, including candidates and even senators involved in the leak, will face strict action,” the statement added, confirming that it had identified the sources of the leaks.
Cambridge reiterated that it has implemented advanced systems to detect and respond to paper security threats. “There will be no tolerance for misconduct. We are determined to protect the value of our qualifications and the hard work of honest students worldwide,” it concluded.
The organisation acknowledged that this measure might slightly boost overall marks for some candidates and stated it will consider this in the final grading process. Importantly, no student will be required to resit the affected exams, nor will result timelines be impacted.
The findings of the investigation have been shared with Pakistan’s Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFEPT) and other relevant authorities.
Cambridge highlighted that it conducts more than two million exams in over 160 countries annually and that such breaches are rare. Nonetheless, the organisation reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy for malpractice and its readiness to act swiftly to protect the credibility of its assessments.
The issue also drew the attention of National Assembly, where the Standing Committee on Education took up the matter last month. During a session led by Chairman Dr Azimuddin Zahid, MNA Muhammad Ali Sarfraz from Faisalabad presented evidence of four alleged paper leaks, including a supporting video. As a result, a subcommittee headed by MNA Sabin was formed to review Cambridge’s performance and address the leakage issue.
