Announces assessed grades of candidates following maths and computer science leaks
Cambridge International Education (CIE) announced on Wednesday that the replacement exam for the postponed A-level Mathematics Paper 32 will now take place on June 8 as part of the June 2026 exam series, while also confirming the use of assessed grades for all A-level Mathematics Paper 52 and AS Level Computer Science Paper 12 candidates.
On May 7, the CIE announced the cancellation of the AS Level Mathematics exam (9709/12) for students in Administrative Zones 3 and 4, following the leak of the questionnaire. Almost a week later, it was further confirmed that another leak involving the AS 52 (9709) level maths paper had been leaked online ahead of the exam.
Meanwhile, the AS Level 32 (9709) mathematics paper has been postponed.
Read: Cambridge cancels AS Level maths test after leak, announces new date
In a statement today, the CIE said the postponed exam would now take place on June 8.
“The Cambridge International AS & A Level results release date of 11 August remains unchanged,” the statement said, adding that the British Council would soon share detailed information regarding the conduct of the exam.
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Cambridge also confirmed that, in addition to Mathematics Paper 52 (9709/52), AS Level Computer Science Paper 12 (9618/12), taken on May 12, had also been “shared prematurely in Pakistan, contrary to our strict regulations”.
The statement said that “the wider circulation of the leaked documents 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 have not cheated, who make up the vast majority,” Cambridge said, adding that this means making sure those who have cheated receive no advantage so that all students applying to college compete on a level playing field.
The CIE said it would use its “well-established approach” of assessed grades for all candidates for the AS&A Level 52 Mathematics Paper, in Zones 3 and 4 and for all candidates for the AS 12 Computer Science Paper in Pakistan.
It describes assessed grades as a “well-researched method”, also used by other UK-based exam boards, and commonly applied in cases where candidates were absent from an exam for acceptable reasons such as illness or injury.
Read also: Cambridge confirms second A-level maths test leak and postpones May 15 exam
“Using assessed grades means that we will not consider the test grade and will instead calculate a grade for each student based on their performance in the other components of the program for which they are registered and have completed their work,” the statement said.
The CIE said the method removed any “possible unfair advantage” that students may have attempted to gain through cheating and ensured that all applicants were treated equally.
It adds that the method “negates the effect of an easy or difficult test and reflects any difference in difficulty”, while candidates can still achieve the maximum score.
While acknowledging the students’ problem, the exam body said it recognized that students were facing this problem “at an important time in their education” amid confirmation of leaks involving Cambridge International AS & A Level papers.
Regarding exam security, Cambridge said it had faced “sustained and targeted efforts to steal our exam papers” during the June 2026 exam series and was actively responding to the threat.
“The theft of this paper and other examination papers remains under full investigation,” the statement said.
He added that legal action was being taken against the perpetrators in coordination with law enforcement authorities and social media platforms.
Learn more: Government takes note after alleged leak of another Cambridge Maths paper
“We will apply sanctions to those who share or misuse confidential examination materials, including permanent disqualification from our qualifications and operations,” the statement warned.
Cambridge further stated that exam security challenges were “not unique to any single board” and that security protocols governing test production, handling, storage and distribution were constantly updated in response to evolving threats.
The statement also advises students to remain cautious of scams, misinformation and malpractice.
Although the issue of CIE document leaks is not new and was also reported last year, this exam session has seen a spate of leaks as the Cambridge system A and O level exams are currently being conducted across the country for the May-June session.
The documents were leaked online, with several students saying they had already started circulating ahead of the exams.
The series of leaks has prompted the federal government to take note, with Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui expressing concern over the repeated incidents.
“Hard-working students cannot suffer from such incidents,” the minister said, adding that similar cases had also surfaced last year and Cambridge should further strengthen its examination system.
The minister had directed the Inter-Council Committee of Presidents to immediately convene a meeting with Cambridge authorities and take urgent steps to protect the interests of students.
