AS Mathematics Paper 12 (9709/12) cancelled for June 2026
Cambridge International has cancelled the original 9709/12 paper that was taken on Wednesday 29 April 2026 in administrative zones 3 and 4, after the question paper "was shared prematurely against our strict regulations." A replacement paper will be held on Tuesday 9 June 2026 for all candidates in the affected regions. The 11 August 2026 results-release date is unchanged.
Last updated: 16 May 2026 · Read Cambridge's official announcement →
Who has to sit the replacement paper?
Only candidates who meet all three of the following conditions need to sit the replacement on 9 June 2026:
You are entered for Cambridge International AS Level Mathematics, Paper 1, Variant 2 (component code 9709/12) in the June 2026 series.
Your school is in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Pakistan, South Asia, or in Cambodia, parts of Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand or Vietnam — Cambridge's administrative zones 3 and 4.
Cambridge's announcement does not list which countries fall under "South Asia." It is typically understood to include India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives — but this is a LumiExams interpretation, not Cambridge's wording. Confirm with your school's exam officer.
You took the original 9709/12 exam on Wednesday 29 April 2026 (or were absent and were due to take it).
You do NOT need to re-sit if:
- ✓You are entered for 9709/11, 9709/13, or any non-Paper-1 component (9709/21, 9709/22, 9709/23, 9709/31, 9709/32, 9709/33, 9709/41, 9709/42, 9709/43, 9709/51, 9709/52, 9709/53, 9709/61, 9709/62, 9709/63). Only Paper 12 is cancelled.
- ✓You are taking a different syllabus — A Level Further Mathematics (9231), IGCSE Mathematics (0580), or any non-9709 qualification.
Other regions (Americas, Caribbean, East Asia, Australia, Pacific):
Cambridge's announcement only names zones 3 and 4. It does not state what happens for 9709/12 candidates outside those zones. If your school is in another region, contact your exam officer — they will have direct guidance from Cambridge.
Always confirm with your school first. LumiExams summarises Cambridge's public announcement — your school receives detailed guidance Cambridge does not publish openly. For the original notice, see the official Cambridge update.
Key facts
| Paper cancelled | 9709/12 — AS Level Mathematics, Pure Mathematics 1, Variant 2 (only this component) |
| Original exam date | 29 April 2026 |
| Replacement exam date | Tuesday 9 June 2026 (within the existing June series timetable) |
| Affected zones | Cambridge administrative zones 3 and 4: Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Pakistan, South Asia, plus Cambodia, parts of Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Cambridge does not enumerate which countries fall under "South Asia"; typically understood as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives — this is a LumiExams interpretation, not Cambridge's wording. If your country is not explicitly named, confirm with your school's exam officer. |
| Reason | The paper was shared prematurely. Cambridge: "The theft of this paper is the subject of an active investigation." |
| Cost to candidates | No additional charge to candidates or schools. |
| Results release date | 11 August 2026 — unchanged |
| Who handles it | Your school and exam officer. Students do not register separately. |
Student FAQ
Should I keep preparing the same way?
Yes. The syllabus (Pure Mathematics 1) and the paper format are unchanged. Continue revising the same topics: quadratics, functions, coordinate geometry, circular measure, trigonometry, series, differentiation, and integration.
Practice with past Pure Mathematics 1 papers (Variant 12) on LumiExams:
Will the replacement paper be harder than the original?
Do I need to register or pay anything?
Will my original 29 April attempt still count?
Does this affect my other 9709 papers?
What if I'm sitting 9709/12 in the Americas, Caribbean, East Asia, or Pacific?
When will I get my results?
Cambridge's advice: stay away from claimed leaks and fake papers
The 9709/12 leak has spotlighted a wider, ongoing problem: social-media accounts, WhatsApp and Telegram groups, and "tutoring" pages routinely claim to sell or share Cambridge papers — for every subject, every session, not just this one. Expect more of these around the replacement paper, but Cambridge's advice below applies year-round to every Cambridge exam you sit. Engaging with any of them is itself malpractice — even if the material turns out to be fake.
Do not engage
"Looking for, sharing, selling, or engaging with confidential exam content is not allowed, even accidentally — it's malpractice."
Cambridge's instruction is direct: "do not engage or share the content." Don't click, don't download, don't forward — not even to warn a friend.
The consequences are severe
"Those who cheat or engage with fake paper sellers face serious consequences, including the withholding of results, disqualification from exams or being banned from taking exams for up to five years."
A five-year ban from Cambridge exams ends most university plans. Cambridge applies this to candidates who engage with claimed leaks, not only to those who organise them.
Most "leaks" are scams or recycled fakes
"Accounts claiming to sell or guarantee access to exam papers are almost always scams and are always illegal. These materials are often completely fake, recycled from old exams with changed dates and text, nothing more."
If you see something suspicious
- Don't open or share the content.
- Report the account or post to the platform immediately (Cambridge's exact instruction).
- Inform your teacher or Head of Centre so your school can guide you and notify Cambridge through official channels.
Cambridge's bottom line:
"Your best advantage is genuine preparation."
Quotations are from Cambridge International's official announcement — read the full statement. If you're unsure whether something you've seen counts as a leak, ask your school's exam officer rather than guessing.
What's still being clarified
Cambridge said it would issue detailed guidance to exam officers by 15 May 2026, including "information on when and how they will receive question papers, steps to follow to run the replacement question paper, as well as frequently asked questions."
If you have questions not answered here, your school's exam officer is the authoritative source. This page will be updated as Cambridge publishes more information.
Announcement first published 7 May 2026 (with earlier updates on 30 April and 12 May 2026). Always verify the latest position with Cambridge or your exam officer.
Practice & related
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