ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Cambridge International Education (CIE) on Thursday announced the cancellation of the AS-level mathematics paper, held on April 29 in zones 3 and 4, due to the premature sharing of its question paper.
In a statement, the board said that the “replacement paper” for mathematics 12 (9709) will take place as part of the June series timetable on Tuesday, June 9, 2025.
“[The re-exam] will not incur an additional charge for candidates or schools.”
Furthermore, it confirmed that the results release date of Cambridge International AS & A Level on 11 August remains unchanged.
The re-exam will be conducted in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Pakistan, and South Asia regions, plus Cambodia, parts of Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, the statement added.
In an earlier statement on April 30, the CIE said that “Cambridge International AS-Level mathematics paper 12 (9709) taken in our Africa, Europe, Middle East, Pakistan, and South Asia regions, was shared prematurely against our regulations.”
Apart from releasing the date for the re-take of the exam, the CIE added that “it will share detailed information with schools about when and how they will receive question papers by 15 May, and the steps to follow to run the replacement question paper, as well as frequently asked questions.”
“This will include information on withdrawals from June 2026 and entries for November 2026,” the board said in a latest statement.
The CIE said that a replacement paper will ensure fair outcomes for all students and will deliver grades that are trusted by universities and other stakeholders.
“This approach aligns with the wishes of many school leaders to whom we have spoken. We are committed to making the replacement exam process as straightforward as possible.”
AS Level paper leak
The CIE response followed reports that the Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Mathematics Paper 1, coded Pure Mathematics 1 (9707), was allegedly leaked ahead of the scheduled examination held on Wednesday.
The development has triggered concern among students and parents already sitting the ongoing examination session, with questions raised over fairness and merit under the Cambridge system.
Last year, Cambridge confirmed that a small number of questions from three AS and A Level papers in the June 2025 session were leaked shortly before exams in Pakistan.
The leaked questions include one in AS/A Level Mathematics Paper 12, parts of two questions in AS/A Level Mathematics Paper 42, and parts of one question in AS/A Level Computer Science Paper 22.
