Cambridge sets June 9 retake for Pakistan candidates after AS Level Mathematics paper cancellation

ISLAMABAD: Cambridge International Education has confirmed that all candidates in Pakistan entered for Cambridge International AS Level Mathematics question paper 9709/12 will sit a replacement exam on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in the PM session, after the original paper was cancelled over premature sharing.

In a message shared with principals and school leaders, Cambridge said the cancelled question paper would not be used to generate results through calculated assessment.

The message, signed by Marion Tucker, Director, Customer Support, said schools would be contacted separately with further details on examination arrangements before June 9, including venue information.

The latest update follows Cambridge’s May 7 announcement that Mathematics 9709/12 had been cancelled after the paper was shared prematurely in breach of examination regulations. Cambridge’s public update said the paper, taken in administrative zones 3 and 4 on April 29, would not be used for final results or calculated assessment.

Cambridge had earlier said the replacement paper for Mathematics 9709/12 would take place on June 9 as part of the June series timetable, with no additional charge for candidates or schools. The examination body also said the Cambridge International AS and A Level results release date of August 11 would remain unchanged.

Under the latest guidance, Cambridge has extended the withdrawal deadline until seven days after the end of the examination series. Candidates can be withdrawn from 9709/12 until June 17 and will receive a full refund.

Cambridge said schools should contact the British Council, which will arrange the withdrawal and refund process. However, refunds will not include additional fees paid for late or very late entries.

The examination body clarified that withdrawal from the June 2026 series would mean full withdrawal from all components of the syllabus, not only component 12. Candidates who wish to re-enter for the same syllabus and component combination in November 2026 will have to register again.

Cambridge has advised schools to wait until the end of the exam series before submitting withdrawal requests. At the end of May, the British Council will provide an Excel file where schools can add details of all withdrawals and submit them by June 17.

The latest update also gives relief to candidates who were due to complete their Cambridge International A Level in June 2026 but are unable to sit the replacement paper on June 9.

Cambridge said it would extend the 13-month carry-forward rule for such candidates, allowing them to carry forward marks from the June 2026 series to the November 2026 series.

To qualify for the extension, candidates must have been entered in the June 2026 exam series, must have withdrawn because they were unable to sit the replacement 9709/12 paper on June 9, and must be entered for the same option code in November 2026 as they were in June 2026.

For candidates who withdraw from 9709/12 and re-enter in November 2026 for the same syllabus and component combination, Cambridge said entry fees would remain the same as the June 2026 series. A refund will be issued for the difference between June and November entry fees.

In response to frequently asked questions, Cambridge said candidates who are unavailable on June 9 may withdraw from the syllabus and receive a refund under the revised withdrawal policy.

It also clarified that candidates cannot re-enter in November 2026 for 9709/12 only. If a candidate withdraws in June 2026, they withdraw from the whole syllabus and must re-enter for the whole syllabus in November 2026.

The cancellation of 9709/12 came after Cambridge confirmed on April 30 that the paper had been shared prematurely in regions including Africa, Europe, Middle East, Pakistan and South Asia. Cambridge said at the time that it was investigating the incident and working to determine the extent of the leak.

Earlier reports said the paper had surfaced online before the scheduled examination, raising concerns among students and schools during the ongoing May-June examination series. Cambridge has said the theft and unauthorised sharing of the paper remain under active investigation, with relevant law enforcement authorities involved.