Cambridge and British Council Cancel Exams in Pakistan
- Abeera Marium Siddiqui
- May 9, 2025
- 5:02 pm
- 44
- Trending
Cambridge exams in Pakistan will not take place on May 9 in many areas. This is because of the rising security risks and tensions between India and Pakistan. Cambridge International Education and the British Council confirmed the cancellation. The exams affected include O Level, IGCSE, and International AS & A Level. These exams were planned for Friday.
The exams are cancelled in Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Islamabad Capital Territory, and all over Punjab. Officials said they made the decision after talks with local authorities and security teams. They said the safety of students and staff is their top concern. The cancellation affects both Cambridge Direct schools and British Council partner schools.
In Lahore, all afternoon (PM) exams for May 9 were already cancelled earlier. Schools sent alerts to parents, asking them not to bring their children for exams. This cancellation also includes exams from Edexcel and OxfordAQA boards. School officials said they made the decision to protect students and staff.
On Thursday, the British Council had also suspended several exams in Lahore. These included GCE, IGCSE, IELTS, and University of London exams in the afternoon. This happened because of rising tensions after cross-border attacks between India and Pakistan. Lahore and many other cities were put on high alert. Even flights were delayed or suspended due to the situation.
Punjab’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced a state of emergency in the province. She ordered hospitals to stay open with full staff. Police and district teams were also told to stay alert across Punjab.
India had launched sudden strikes in Pakistan early Wednesday. These came two weeks after India blamed Pakistan for a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). That attack had killed 26 people. Pakistan denied the claims and responded strongly. Officials said Pakistan shot down five Indian jets and destroyed 25 drones.
Due to these events, Cambridge exams in Pakistan are now on hold for safety reasons. Both Cambridge and the British Council said their main focus is to keep students safe. They also promised that no student will face unfair results. Cambridge has special systems to give fair grades when exams are cancelled.
A new update for exams on Monday, May 12, will be shared with schools by Sunday evening. Students and parents are advised to follow only official updates from Cambridge and the British Council Pakistan. Private candidates should contact the British Council Customer Services. School students should talk to their schools directly.
These steps show that Cambridge exams in Pakistan are being managed with care during this crisis.
