More than 100,000 students from over 850 Pakistani schools sat Cambridge exams in June 2026. For 2026-27, leaders should plan around IBCC equivalence (eight O Level subjects, including Urdu, Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies), revised Pakistan Studies 2059 from 2028, new A Level Urdu 9866, exam security after the 2026 leaks, and provincial fee rules.
How big is Cambridge in Pakistan?
Large, and concentrated in O Level. Cambridge said that in June 2026 “more than 100,000 students from over 850 schools in Pakistan sat Cambridge International AS & A-level, Cambridge O Level and IGCSE exams” (Geo News, 11 August 2026). The most popular O Level subjects were English Language, Mathematics, Pakistan Studies, Islamiyat and Urdu as a Second Language. At AS & A Level they were Physics, Mathematics, Business, Chemistry and Computer Science (The News, 19 August 2026).
AS & A Level results came out on 11 August 2026, and O Level and IGCSE results on 18 August. Cambridge’s Country Director for Pakistan, Uzma Yousuf, noted that “some students prepared for their examinations against a backdrop of regional tensions, uncertainty and disruption”.
Which Cambridge syllabuses are specific to Pakistan, and what is changing?
Four O Level syllabuses and one A Level matter most, because IBCC equivalence depends on them.
| Syllabus | Code | Series | What’s changing |
|---|---|---|---|
| O Level Pakistan Studies | 2059 | June and November | Revised for exams from 2028; content “aligned … with the national curriculum”, new Topic 4: Society and culture in Pakistan |
| O Level Islamiyat | 2058 | — | Revised for June 2028 |
| O Level First Language Urdu | 3247 | June only; “not available in all administrative zones” | — |
| O Level Urdu as a Second Language | 3248 | — | Republished 2027–2029 |
| A Level Urdu Language and Literature (for centres in Pakistan) | 9866 | — | New; replaces A Level Urdu 9686, whose last series is November 2026 |
Sources: Cambridge pages for 2059, 2058, 3247 syllabus, 3248 and 9866; and the syllabus changes guide.
9866 has three components (Reading, Writing and Literature), “each … weighted at approximately 33%”. Schools currently teaching 9686 should move students who will sit after November 2026 onto 9866. Our list of Cambridge syllabus changes 2027–2029 covers every other change.
What are the IBCC equivalence rules for O and A Level?
The Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC) converts Cambridge results into Matric (SSC) and Intermediate (HSSC) equivalents. Its rules shape every school’s subject choices (IBCC equivalence form and FAQs):
- O Level to Matric: eight subjects, “including Mathematics, English, Urdu, Islamiyat, Pakistan Studies as compulsory subjects and three elective subjects” for students who sit from Pakistan. Students who sit abroad need five subjects including Mathematics and English.
- Dual and foreign nationals are “exempted in three subjects namely Urdu, Islamiyat, and Pakistan studies”.
- Mixed routes: a student who takes O Level abroad and A Level in Pakistan, or the reverse, “has to pass Urdu, Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies at ‘O’ level”.
- Minimum grade: E. IBCC “does not accept grades F or G”. Both First Language and Second Language Urdu count.
- A Level to Intermediate: three relevant subjects at grade E or above. For Pre-Medical, that means Physics, Chemistry and Biology, and Biology must also have been studied at SSC level. For Pre-Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
IBCC converts grades to marks (conversion table):
| Grade | A* | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equivalent marks | Above 90 (from 2021) | 85 | 75 | 65 | 55 | 45 |
For 9–1 grades, IBCC gives 9 as above 90, 7 as 82, 5 as 70 and 4 as 60. It also publishes subject-wise A* marks for the 2026 session, because “equivalence is calculated on a session-by-session basis”.
Is O/A Level equivalence for medical admissions changing?
Possibly. In September 2026, Punjab’s Specialised Healthcare & Medical Education Department asked IBCC to review O and A Level equivalence for medical admissions. It argued that “Cambridge students who obtain the highest possible grades … may find themselves at a comparative disadvantage” (ProPakistani, 7 September 2026). No decision has been published. Schools with Pre-Medical cohorts should brief parents that the current conversion may change.
What happened with the 2026 paper leaks?
Cambridge wrote to Pakistani schools in May 2026 after content from AS & A Level Mathematics and Computer Science papers became available early. It warned of sanctions including “deregistration” for centres and disqualification for candidates (Pakistan Today, 7 May 2026). By August, Cambridge had decided that for one Mathematics paper “the leak did not have significant visibility in Pakistan”, so original answers would be graded. AS Level Computer Science 9618/12 had been “shared widely in Pakistan”, so assessed marks were used. Affected candidates can retake in November 2026 “free of charge” (Pakistan Today, 4 August 2026).
For school leaders, the practical lesson is the same as in the Gulf. Keep strong internal evidence of each student’s performance, because a board may have to grade from something other than the live paper. See how to build a defensible assessment evidence base.
How are Cambridge school fees regulated in Pakistan?
By province, and Cambridge exam fees are under political scrutiny. In July 2025, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Education called for a review of the “Rs60,000 fee per Cambridge exam paper in Pakistan”. It also asked for “a clear and comprehensive regulatory mechanism” for international board exams (The News, 23 July 2025). School fees are set locally:
| Region | Rule (2026) |
|---|---|
| Islamabad (PEIRA) | Fees may rise “by up to five percent annually”; never more than eight percent (ProPakistani) |
| Punjab | New registration rules require schools to disclose fee structures and admit at least 10% of students from underprivileged backgrounds (ProPakistani) |
| Sindh | Charging fees beyond the approved tuition fee without prior approval breaches the 2005 Rules (ProPakistani) |
Cambridge schools in Karachi therefore work under Sindh’s rules, and those in Lahore under Punjab’s. Our lists of the top IGCSE schools in Karachi and in Lahore cover the local landscape.
Are Cambridge digital exams available in Pakistan?
Not in 2026. Cambridge’s first digital exams, in June 2026, were limited to Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and the US. Cambridge has not confirmed when Pakistan joins. See Cambridge digital exams.
How schools do this with AI Buddy
AI Buddy has been piloted in Pakistan. In a structured pilot at Beaconhouse Cantt Campus, Lahore, Tutopiya reports that 66 students and 13 teachers used AI Buddy across seven subjects. The pilot recorded a 100% student login rate and 649 quiz attempts. For O and A Level schools, AI Buddy gives students past-paper-style practice with instant marking and feedback. Teachers get topic-level data for mocks and predictions, which is useful evidence in a year when boards may need to grade from internal work.
Frequently asked questions
How many Cambridge schools are there in Pakistan?
Cambridge reported more than 850 schools and over 100,000 students taking its exams in Pakistan in June 2026.
What are the IBCC equivalence rules for O Level?
Eight O Level subjects at grade E or above, including Mathematics, English, Urdu, Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies, for students who sit from Pakistan. Dual and foreign nationals are exempt from Urdu, Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies.
How does IBCC convert O Level grades to marks?
A* is above 90, A is 85, B is 75, C is 65, D is 55 and E is 45. Grades F and G are not accepted.
When were Cambridge IGCSE and O Level results released in Pakistan in 2026?
O Level and IGCSE results came out on 18 August 2026, and AS & A Level results on 11 August 2026.
For more countries, see Cambridge & Edexcel Schools by Country.
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Sources
- Geo News, Cambridge releases June 2026 results as over 100,000 students in Pakistan sat exams (11 August 2026)
- The News, Over 100,000 Pakistani students receive Cambridge O Level, IGCSE results (19 August 2026)
- IBCC, Equivalence form (British system), Equivalence FAQs and Conversion for equivalence
- Cambridge International, syllabus pages for 2059, 2058, 3248 and 9866
- ProPakistani, Punjab seeks change in O/A Level equivalence for medical admissions (7 September 2026)
- Pakistan Today, Cambridge gives major update on leaked papers for Pakistan (4 August 2026)
- The News, Parliamentary body calls for reviewing Rs60,000 fee for each Cambridge exam (23 July 2025)