Cambridge Confirms Partial Leak of Three A-Level Papers in June 2025 Exams
“In all three cases, we found no evidence that the whole paper had been shared before the exam,” CIE said in a statement
Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) on Thursday officially confirmed a partial leak of questions from three A-Level exam papers ahead of the June 2025 session in Pakistan.
“We have written to our schools in Pakistan to tell them that, against our regulations, some content from three question papers was available before the timetabled exam dates in Pakistan,” the CIE said in a statement.
The examinations that were affected include:
- Cambridge International AS/A Level Mathematics Paper 12, where one question was shared before the exam was taken.
- Cambridge International AS/A Level Mathematics Paper 42, where parts of two questions were shared before the exam was taken.
- Cambridge International AS/A Level Computer Science Paper 22, where parts of one question were shared before the exam was taken.
In response to this breach, Cambridge has decided to award full marks to all candidates for the specific leaked questions to ensure fairness for students who did not have prior access to the leaked content.
This approach may lead to a slight increase in some candidates’ overall marks, which will be accounted for during final grading.
Cambridge has emphasised that no student will be required to resit exams or face delays in results, which will be announced as scheduled on August 12, 2025.
The organisation condemned the circulation of fake papers and scams where candidates were asked to pay for fraudulent exam content. Cambridge expressed sympathy for students who experienced anxiety and distress due to these incidents.
Uzma Yousuf, Cambridge’s Country Director for Pakistan, described the leaks as a theft that has caused considerable distress to young candidates at a crucial academic time.
Cambridge has identified the sources of the leaks and is taking strict disciplinary action against those responsible, including candidates and external parties involved in the buying and selling of leaked materials. Possible consequences include disqualification, bans from future Cambridge exams, and deregistration of examination centres involved in malpractice.
The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFEPT) and relevant Pakistani authorities have been informed of the findings. The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Education has also taken up the matter, forming a subcommittee to review Cambridge’s handling of the leaks and to address broader concerns about exam security in Pakistan.
With over two million exams administered annually across 160 countries, Cambridge noted that such incidents are extremely rare. The swift and transparent response aims to uphold the integrity and global recognition of Cambridge qualifications while protecting the interests of honest students worldwide.
