Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) has officially confirmed that several A-Level examination papers from the May/June 2025 session were partially leaked in Pakistan ahead of their scheduled administration.
The announcement comes following internal investigations which identified unauthorized early access to specific content from three key exam papers.
Scope of the Leaks
According to CAIE’s statement, the following question papers were compromised:
Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics Paper 12
One question was shared before the official exam date.
Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics Paper 42
Parts of two questions were made available in advance.
Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science Paper 22
Portions of one question were circulated ahead of the examination.
While some content was accessed prematurely, CAIE emphasized that there is no evidence suggesting that the full content of any paper was leaked.
Response from Cambridge
In light of the breaches, CAIE has taken decisive steps to protect the integrity of the examination process. The board has confirmed that it will disregard the compromised questions entirely when grading and will instead award full marks for those questions to all candidates who sat the affected exams.
This measure aims to ensure that no candidate receives an unfair advantage due to prior access to exam material and that no student is penalized for circumstances beyond their control.
Impact on Students and Exam Results
Despite the leak, Cambridge will issue final grades for all affected subjects on 12 August 2025, as originally planned. These grades will remain fully valid for university admissions and official recognition, both in Pakistan and globally.
CAIE reassured candidates that the approach taken is designed to ensure fairness and accuracy, noting that any slight increase in total scores resulting from the full-mark adjustments will be considered in the final grading process.
Ongoing Investigations and Accountability Measures
CAIE has launched multiple malpractice investigations into the incident. Officials stated that the organization takes exam security violations extremely seriously and will pursue disciplinary actions where evidence of misconduct is found. Consequences may include:
Deregistration of examination centers involved in the leak.
Disqualification or bans for individual candidates proven to have participated in malpractice.
The awarding body also noted that it reviews its security measures before each exam series and will further enhance protocols to prevent future breaches.
Conclusion
The confirmation of the A-Level paper leaks has raised concerns over examination security in Pakistan. However, CAIE’s prompt and transparent handling of the situation—particularly the decision to award full marks for leaked questions—demonstrates a commitment to fairness and academic integrity. Investigations are ongoing, and the outcomes are expected to influence exam administration policy moving forward.