In June 2025 exams, thousands of students across Pakistan were left stunned as news broke that several Cambridge International A-Level exam papers had been leaked before their scheduled dates. This fairness, credibility, and reliability, were the only difference between O-level and Matric in Pakistan. These leaks triggered a national uproar, prompting government intervention and prompting Cambridge International Education (CAIE) to offer free resits and award full marks on affected questions. This has called into question the credibility of the Cambridge board. A-level students are facing chaos and are afraid of their future.
This blog will cover what exactly happened in the June 2025 exams and what the consequences were for A-level students and Cambridge International Education.
What happened with A-level papers in June 2025 Exams?
Cambridge International Education offers international qualification education across many countries of the world. For so many years, Cambridge has always claimed that its system is fair and has unchallenged confidentiality. This was a unique selling point of CIE, that it conducts fair examinations without any elements of cheating. Looks like the June 2025 exams raised a question about their trust and confidentiality.
According to Dawn, on Thursday, CIE confirmed a partial leak of 3 A-level papers across Pakistan. These included the question papers of AS and A-level examinations. In response to this incident, Cambridge took it personally as its responsibility to address the parents and students, as they required an explanation.
Response of Cambridge International Education to the leak of A-level Papers:
According to the message by Cambridge, it claims that it has been serving education for around 150 years and is trusted by a lot of schools in Pakistan. Candidates choose Cambridge because of its quality of education and global recognition. The results are widely recognised as valid, reliable, fair, and impartial by employers, universities, and other schools. It is the responsibility of Cambridge to ensure the security of its question papers.
What happened with the A-level paper, according to Cambridge’s Message:
The statement of Cambridge is: “We have written to our schools in Pakistan, to tell them that against our regulations, some content from the question papers listed below was available before the timetabled exam dates in Pakistan.”
The following A-level paper was affected:
- Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics Paper 12: One question shared from this paper before the examination.
- Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics Paper 42: From this paper, parts of two questions were shared before the examination.
- Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science Paper 22: From this paper, parts of one question were shared before the June 2025 exam.
There was no evidence found that the whole paper was leaked.
Will Cambridge Issue grades for June 2025 Exams?
CIE stated that yes, it will issue a syllabus grade to all the affected A-level subject exams listed above. The result will be released as per the selected date, August 12’2025. The most demanding part of what action Cambridge will take regarding this paper leak incident is what parents and students are waiting for.
What action will Cambridge take?
Cambridge International Education, in its official message to the parents and students, announces that:
- Students who sat for any of the above-stated exams will receive an overall syllabus grade. Your grade will be based on the content of the question paper you have attempted.
- Cambridge has decided to take action on leaked questions to maintain the integrity and fairness of the assessments. Awarding all the candidates, including the private candidates, with an overall grade.
However, Cambridge ensures that candidates who appeared for these examinations are not at a disadvantage. They will be awarded with all fair and reliable final grades. It will make sure that those candidates who got access to the leaked questions for the above-stated examinations will not be at an advantage. They will not achieve higher marks by cheating.
Cambridge makes sure that it maintains the integrity of its assessments so that they remain a trusted qualification by schools and universities worldwide.
Cambridge’s Take on the investigation of the leaked A-level Paper:
Cambridge states that it takes these malpractices very seriously. It claims that multiple investigations are ongoing. Anyone proven to have been involved in this malpractice will face decisive actions against them.
It advised the examination centers found involved to deregister and also inform other awarding organisations about them. For candidates, it’s a clear disqualification and barring to entering their exams.
Government & Parliament’s Reactions to the leak of A-level paper:
The Government and the parliament body are dissatisfied with the findings of the paper leaks. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Education launched an official probe into the scandal.
However, during the probe, it was established that there was partial leakage of three papers that include AS & A level Mathematics Paper 12, where one question was shared before the exam, and AS & A level Mathematics Paper 42, where parts of two questions were shared before the exam.
This official meeting concluded that the members wanted to know more about the paper leak, and the subcommittee was to meet again on June 30th for the finalization of the recommendation.
The Statement by gonvenor of the subcommittee MNA Sabheen Ghoury: “Today, we inform Cambridge that we are not satisfied with the report. We wanted to know more, like who was involved and from where the papers were leaked. Anyhow, we directed them to consult students and come up with a viable proposal for the next meeting.”
The government and the National Assembly bodies are disappointed by this incident of A-level paper leak.
The Key Takeaways:
- A subcommittee was formed to investigate the leaks in depth.
- Lawmakers criticized Cambridge’s internal security, citing video evidence of questions being shared before the exam.
- Demands were raised for completely free retakes, penalties for the involved parties, and review of CAIE’s operational permissions in Pakistan.
Student reaction to the A-level paper leak in Pakistan:
Students and parents have expressed their frustration over social media. Many of them were not satisfied with the action of Cambridge in awarding full marks to students, especially those who prepared for this exam with full honesty.
A petition titled “Expose Cambridge A-Level Paper Leaks in Pakistan” was launched on Change.org, gathering thousands of signatures.
The issue raised by the A-level students in this petition was that they have spent months, even years, preparing for this exam. Their parents have spent lacks of rupees on this education system, expecting a fair system that offers respect and honesty. But they claim, “The trust has been broken.”
They also highlighted in this petition that, besides the paper leaks, invigilators were caught helping students cheat.
Students argued that Cambridge failed to acknowledge the severity of this situation, leaving honest students to bear the consequences of others’ misconduct.
Students demanded the following for the Cambridge International:
- Acknowledge the leaks and misconduct.
- For subjects where all components were leaked, offer fair alternatives such as predicted grades or a resit option in July, not months later.
- Hold those responsible accountable, not punish the entire student body.
- After the results are released, provide students the option of free retakes in the October/November session
They even stated that last year, Cambridge offered students to opt for October/November retakes before the results were announced, but this year, they let the window of retake stay open even after the results.
Results of the Petition regarding A-level paper leak:
According to the Tribune, after the rage over the issue, Cambridge decided against offering CIE free resits in November 2025 after the June 2025 exam. Students who appeared for any of the three exams leaked papers of June 2025 will be offered free resits in the November 2025 session. No additional costs will be charged.
The results of the June 2025 session will be announced according to the decided date. CIE has already announced its free resit policy for the students. Further details will be shared by the schools of the respective students. “Candidates with questions are encouraged to reach out to their schools,” CIE added.
What Happens Next?
Cambridge has promised to release final results on August 12, 2025, including adjustments for the leaked questions. Meanwhile, students have the option to sit for the November 2025 exams, free of cost.
The Pakistani government continues to monitor the situation through the parliamentary subcommittee, which is expected to present its final report in the coming weeks.
Conclusion:
The A-Level paper leak in Pakistan is more than a breach of confidentiality—it’s a breach of trust. While Cambridge’s remedial actions are a step in the right direction, the damage to student morale and academic integrity runs deep.
For students, the key takeaway is to stay informed, prepare for potential resits, and stay focused on long-term academic goals rather than this unfortunate setback. Practice past papers regularly for better results. Follow a strict yet effective study schedule to avail the opportunity for better grades. Choose your A-level subjects wisely and perform better for a good result.
At VACE Global, we understand the uncertainty and pressure this situation has created. Our expert faculty, including highly experienced A-level tutors and O-level tutors, is committed to guiding students through this challenging phase. Whether you’re aiming to revise effectively, build a smart recovery plan, or simply need academic reassurance, our team is here to support you.
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FAQs:
Q: Which A-Level papers were leaked in June 2025?
A: Maths Paper 12, Maths Paper 42, and Computer Science Paper 22.
Q: What is Cambridge doing to compensate students?
A: They are awarding full marks on the leaked questions and offering free November 2025 resits.
Q: Will this affect results?
A: Cambridge says grades will be fairly calculated, but many students remain concerned about parity.
Q: Can students opt to retake in November even if they pass?
A: Yes, the November 2025 exam entry is free for impacted candidates.
Q: Is the Pakistani government involved?
A: Yes, the National Assembly has launched a full investigation and may take regulatory action.