Students protest Cambridge exam leaks
ISLAMABAD: Accountability4Cambridge has called for a student protest against Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) over alleged examination paper leaks during the 2026 examination cycle, saying the incidents have raised serious concerns about fairness and the credibility of Cambridge examinations.
The student group said reports of leaked papers emerged in 2024 and increased in 2025, but Cambridge failed to provide sufficient public explanations or demonstrate that it had effectively strengthened its examination security system.
According to Accountability4Cambridge, leaked material from several major papers circulated before scheduled examination times in 2026. The group compiled evidence from 17 alleged cases, including screen recordings showing time-zone information that it says established that the material was available before the relevant examinations.
Cambridge recognised four cases and took action, but the students say the remaining evidence was not adequately addressed.
The group raised the issue before the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training on May 18 and again on June 16. Following the meetings, a sub-committee comprising IBCC, Cambridge, Accountability4Cambridge, the British Council, the Ministry of Education and NCCIA was formed.
During a July 13 meeting, the students presented the 17 recordings and asked Cambridge to respond. After Cambridge questioned the reliability of the videos, Accountability4Cambridge sought forensic verification from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
The group said NCCIA’s report, received on July 29, found no evidence of tampering in the submitted recordings.
Accountability4Cambridge subsequently requested another sub-committee meeting to present the forensic findings. The meeting was initially scheduled for August 7 but was postponed to August 12 after Cambridge said it was unavailable.
The students have also criticised Cambridge’s decision to use S1 paper marks instead of assessed marks. They argue that using compromised papers for grading could unfairly benefit students who accessed leaked material while disadvantaging those who did not.
Accountability4Cambridge is demanding reversal of the S1 marking decision, lower grade thresholds for Computer Science and Mathematics, recognition of additional leaks supported by forensic evidence, publication of a detailed investigation report and a transparent mechanism for handling compromised examinations.
The group has also urged schools to demand greater accountability from Cambridge.
Founder Samaak Iqbal Malik said the dispute concerns the integrity of the entire examination system rather than a few individual papers.
The organisation has announced a student demonstration outside the IBCC office in G-10, Islamabad, at 1pm on Wednesday, August 12, calling for immediate action before the controversy further affects students’ academic futures.
