The Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) has officially confirmed that parts of three exam papers were leaked shortly before their scheduled administration in June 2025, following a comprehensive internal investigation.
In a statement released Thursday, Cambridge assured students and parents that all candidates will receive fair and equitable results. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to academic integrity and emphasized that the security of its assessments remains a top priority.
“Justice to honest students is our top priority,” the statement read, citing the findings of Cambridge’s Exam Security Team.
The investigation identified three partial leaks: one question from AS & A Level Mathematics Paper 12, parts of two questions from Mathematics Paper 42, and segments of a question from AS & A Level Computer Science Paper 22. Cambridge clarified that no entire exam paper was compromised.
The exam board also revealed that there had been an organized effort to sell both fake and genuine exam content to students. While many online claims of leaked papers were unfounded or exaggerated, three instances of partial leaks were confirmed. The organization expressed sympathy for students who endured stress during this period.
“Dishonest people have stolen our question papers, and the main victims are young people who experienced considerable anxiety and distress at a crucial time,” said Uzma Yousuf, Cambridge’s country director for Pakistan.
Dr. Anthony Dawson, Director of Assessment Standards, emphasized that remedial actions were based on fairness. “Our priority is to ensure fairness for students who did not attempt to access leaked material—which is the vast majority. That principle guided our response,” he said.
Cambridge is actively pursuing those responsible for the leaks, including candidates and intermediaries. The board confirmed that it had identified the sources and vowed strict action against everyone involved, including anyone in positions of influence.
It also reiterated the use of advanced security systems to detect threats and reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy for malpractice. “We are committed to protecting the value of our qualifications and the hard work of honest students around the world,” the statement concluded.
As part of the remedy, the board noted that some students’ marks may receive minor adjustments during grading. However, no students will be required to resit the affected exams, and result timelines will remain unchanged.
The findings have been shared with Pakistan’s Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFEPT) and other concerned authorities.
Cambridge noted that it conducts more than two million exams annually in over 160 countries, and such security breaches are rare. Still, the organization stressed its readiness to act decisively to safeguard the credibility of its exams.
The issue also caught the attention of Pakistan’s National Assembly. During a session of the Standing Committee on Education, chaired by Dr. Azimuddin Zahid, MNA Muhammad Ali Sarfraz from Faisalabad presented evidence—including a video—of four alleged paper leaks. A subcommittee led by MNA Sabin has since been formed to review Cambridge’s operations and the broader issue of examination security.
