Latest update regarding Cambridge AS and A Level Mathematics question paper (9709/12)
We confirmed on 7 May that we have cancelled the Cambridge International AS Level Mathematics question paper (9709/12) and we will not use it to generate results through calculated assessment.
A new version of the exam paper should be sat by all candidates in Pakistan on Tuesday 9 June 2026, PM session.
We acknowledge this situation may cause challenges, and we are grateful for your continued cooperation and understanding.
Best wishes
Marion Tucker
Director, Customer Support
Here is what you need to know:
Withdrawals
We have extended our withdrawal deadline until seven days after the end of the exam series. You can withdraw candidates from 9709/12 until 17 June. You will receive a full refund.
Please contact British Council who will arrange the withdrawal and refund. Any refund for withdrawals will not include additional fees if the entries were late or very late. If a candidate withdraws from the June series, this is a full withdrawal from all components, not just component 12.
If the candidate wishes to re-enter for the same syllabus and component combination in November 2026, you will need to register them again.
We advise you to wait until the end of the exam series before withdrawing candidates. At the end of May, the British Council will provide an Excel file where you can add details of all withdrawals before submitting back by 17 June. This means you will only need to submit one request for all candidates who are withdrawing from 9709/12.
Extension of the 13-month carry forward rule
We will extend the 13-month carry forward rule for any candidate who is due to complete their Cambridge International A Level in June 2026 but who must withdraw because they are unable to sit the replacement paper 9709/12 on 9 June.
This means that candidates can carry forward marks from the June 2026 series to the November 2026 series.
To be eligible for the extension to the 13-month rule, candidates must:
- have been entered in the June 2026 exam series and
- have been withdrawn, because they are unable to sit the replacement paper 9709/12 on 9 June, from their entry in the June 2026 exam series and
- be entered for the same option code in November 2026 as they were in June 2026.
November 2026 entry fees for candidates deferring
For any candidate who withdraws from 9709/12 and wishes to re-enter in November 2026 for the same syllabus and component combination, fees will remain the same as the June 2026 series. A refund will be issued for the difference between the June and November entry fees.
Frequently asked questions
Thank you to everyone who has shared questions with us. We have included answers to the most-asked questions below.
What if a candidate is unavailable to sit the replacement question paper 9709/12 on 9 June?
We understand that some candidates may not be able to attend the replacement exam 9709/12 on 9 June. In such cases, a candidate can withdraw from the syllabus, and a refund will be issued (see above for details about withdrawals).
Can candidates re-enter in the November 2026 series for 9709/12 only?
No, syllabus entries cannot be split across different exam series. If a candidate withdraws in June 2026, they withdraw from the whole syllabus. If they want to re-enter in November 2026, they must re-enter for the whole syllabus.
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