Cambridge International has reversed its earlier decision regarding the leaked AS & A Level Mathematics Paper 52 (9709/52), deciding to award grades based on students’ original exam scripts after concluding that the leak had no significant impact on candidates in Pakistan.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Cambridge informed affiliated schools through a written communication that an investigation found the prematurely shared paper did not gain widespread circulation in Pakistan and did not materially affect students’ performance.
As a result, students’ original exam answers will now be used for grading instead of the previously announced assessed marks approach.
Cambridge had earlier stated that it would disregard the marks from Mathematics Paper 52 and use its assessed marks methodology after the paper was leaked before the examination in Administrative Zones 3 and 4, raising concerns over exam integrity.
Following a detailed review, however, the examination body concluded that the leak had limited visibility among candidates in Pakistan and did not significantly influence exam outcomes.
The decision has received mixed reactions from students. While many welcomed the return to grading based on actual exam performance, others expressed frustration over the weeks of uncertainty and anxiety caused by the initial decision to replace exam marks with assessed grades.
The controversy began after Cambridge confirmed that the Mathematics Paper 52 had been shared prematurely in violation of examination regulations, prompting an investigation into the extent of its impact before the latest decision was announced.
