How to buy a Cambridge exam paper online in Pakistan

This summer has brought on a nightmare for students across Pakistan and a PR bloodbath for the Cambridge examinations board. Its Mathematics paper leaked hours before hundreds of thousands of teenagers were supposed to attempt it across the country on April 29. The memes were eviscerating: Next time, print out the leaked .pdf and when the invigilator hands you the question paper, say, ‘It’s OK, I’ve brought my own’.

In truth, though, no one was laughing. “It was a bit of doom and gloom,” said Lahore student Hamza Nasir*, describing the mood outside the hall after his AS Level Mathematics P1 exam. Some students who had no idea about the leak were livid and others were celebrating its veracity.

This is the third time leaks have ruined exam season. Each year, in May-June and November, Pakistani students sit for the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) exams in subjects that range from English Literature to Islamiyat. Grades 10 and 11 prepare for the Ordinary or O Levels and grades 12 and 13 sit the Advanced Subsidiary or AS and Advanced Levels. Results are announced by August and tie in with university admissions.

The CAIE reported the cases to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016. “The theft and unauthorised sharing of examination papers is a breach of confidentiality and, potentially, criminal breach of trust,” said CAIE to Dawn. “We’re investigating both incidents thoroughly through digital forensics, analysis of online platforms, and cooperation with law enforcement.”

The first complaint was filed on May 7 for the Mathematics Paper 12 breach. The second complaint was filed on May 14 on the broader misinformation campaign. False information about other exam papers, particularly the AS Level Business Studies, was spreading like wildfire. For its part, the Inter-Board of Coordination Commission announced it would seek a report from CAIE.

The NCCIA has sent evidence to the platforms where the leaks circulated and is expecting to hear back from some on May 27, Director-General Syed Khurram Ali told Dawn. The agency has asked Cambridge to check if this was an inside job as well.

Parents flooded the examiner with screenshots, complaints and questions as the misinformation spread, especially for the Business Studies exam of May 5. “Upon review, it became apparent that such material consisted of content extracted from examinations conducted in previous years,” the CAIE told Dawn. The fabricated and manipulated images and material were apparently generated through artificial intelligence and other editing tools.

Cambridge receives thousands of reports about alleged exam leaks every year, but most of them are false. “This is a real problem,” it said. “Fraudsters claim to have exam papers for sale in order to deceive students financially. Students panic and pay money for fake papers. Beyond the waste of money, there are bigger risks: students risk cancellation of their grades if caught with unauthorised materials. Some fall victim to identity theft or blackmail.”

CAIE country director, Uzma Yousuf, acknowledged the strain. “If you are a student approaching your exams, the last thing you need is this kind of uncertainty,” she said in a statement shared with Dawn. “I want you to know that we see you… We see the extra revision you may feel compelled to do. We see the uncertainty you are living with. And we want you to know that every action we are taking is designed to protect you and your future.” She sympathised with parents concerned about fair assessments and reassured schools that they would be given timely information about any replacement........

© Dawn Prism