A printing error in a GCSE physics exam has caused confusion for tens of thousands of students.
Candidates were given a faulty grid on which to write answers to multiple choice questions. Examining board AQA, which is responsible for the paper being taken by 199,000 teenagers, apologised for the error. The board said it was made aware of the problem this morning.
Shropshire education bosses are trying to assess the impact on county schools though few are thought to have been affected.
County council spokesman, Simon Alton, said: “The council is looking into the effects of the papers containing the printing error, and will support schools where necessary.”An AQA spokeswoman said the problem was with the answer grid, which did not align properly with the question paper.
Schools have been told that candidates should write their answers on their question papers instead.
One teacher said the mistake would confuse pupils.
He said: “I’ve just come out of the exam hall and everyone is fuming in there.
“One of our staff spotted the mistake and we have called the exam board. It took three-quarters of an hour to get through.”
In a statement AQA said: “Due to a printing error on the Objective Test Question answer sheet, which candidates would normally use to show their answers, candidates are unable to use the answer sheet to answer the questions.
“The advice we have issued to centres is that candidates should instead use their question booklet to answer questions. However, if candidates have attempted to use the original answer sheet, or have used any other means of answering, we can reassure them that all their responses will be marked.
A spokeswoman for exams regulator Ofqual said: “As the regulator of qualifications and exams, we will ensure that AQA takes the necessary action to make certain that no candidate is unfairly affected.”
By Education Correspondent Dave Morris
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