CAIE at it yet again

Published May 31, 2026 Updated May 31, 2026 08:36am

THIS is with reference to the letter ‘CAIE must come clean in leaked examination papers’ (May 17). The Cambridge Assess-ment International Education (CAIE) has repeatedly failed in carrying out its duties. The AS level Mathematics paper was leaked in its entirety across Pakistan ahead of the examination.

This followed the leak of confidential instructions for Physics and Chemistry practical exams, the authenticity of which was confirmed when Physics practical (variant/33) cent per cent matched the leaked material.

Such unfortunate happenings, indeed, are nothing new. This has happened before. And every time it has, the pattern has been the same: students air their voices, Cambridge and the British Council go silent, the media news cycle moves on, and nothing changes. There is no accountability.

In previous years, students tried putting pressure through social media, but such campaigns die a silent death within days. This year, the relevant authorities even stopped picking up phone calls. Official complaints have been ignored.

As institutions operating in Pakistan and collecting fee from Pakistani students, such a silence is unacceptable. The authorities concerned are simply waiting for the noise to die down. Students deserve to know their hard work would not be rendered meaningless by the failure of a system that they were asked to trust.

Name withheld on request
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2026

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