ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has ordered a cybercrime investigation into the alleged premature sharing of Cambridge examination papers after a British diplomat told officials the controversy appeared to involve theft rather than an actual leak, according to a government statement issued on Thursday.
The development follows weeks of controversy surrounding Cambridge mathematics examinations in Pakistan after students complained that multiple O and AS Level papers had circulated on social media before scheduled exams, triggering anxiety among students and parents and prompting Cambridge to reschedule some tests.
A high-level meeting chaired by Interior Secretary Muhammad Khurram Agha brought together officials from the education ministry, the British Council, Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE), the foreign ministry and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
The British deputy high commissioner told participants the matter appeared to involve theft rather than an actual paper leak, while Cambridge representatives reiterated that the examination body maintained strict standards to ensure transparency and integrity in the conduct of examinations.
“Secretary Interior expressed serious concern over the alleged leakage of examination papers and underscored the need for coordinated and effective measures for the early resolution of the matter,” the interior ministry said in the statement. “He directed the DG [director general] NCCIA to conduct a thorough investigation in coordination with Cambridge.”
“It was also decided that Cambridge would further strengthen its system capacity to address weaknesses and loopholes in the examination process,” it added.
Cambridge said on Wednesday that an AS Level Mathematics paper conducted in Pakistan this week had been shared prematurely, marking the second such incident acknowledged by the examination board during the current exam series.
The board earlier confirmed that an AS Level Mathematics paper administered on Apr. 29 had been leaked and announced a retake for June 9, while also postponing another mathematics examination scheduled for May 15 as a “precautionary step.”
Cambridge has described the incidents as “unprecedented” and said it believed criminals were attempting to undermine examinations and students’ futures. The board said it was pursuing legal action against those responsible.
Each year, thousands of Pakistani students sit Cambridge O and A Level examinations, which are widely used for university admissions in Pakistan and abroad.
