Thousands of teenagers are facing uncertainty over their exams after their GCSE music papers were found to have the answers on the back.
Thousands of teenagers are facing uncertainty over their exams after their GCSE music papers were found to have the answers on the back.
The paper - taken across England - apparently featured a list of composers which related to answers written on the other side.
The paper - taken across England - apparently featured a list of composers which related to answers written on the other side.
The OCR exam board (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations) said pupils would not have to resit the exam.
The OCR exam board (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations) said pupils would not have to resit the exam.
It said the paper in question was one of four taken by GCSE music students.
It said the paper in question was one of four taken by GCSE music students.
The relevant question would account for no more than 5% of the marks on that paper, the board added.
The relevant question would account for no more than 5% of the marks on that paper, the board added.
In a statement OCR said: "OCR regrets that a printing error may have affected a small number of marks on the GCSE music question paper.
In a statement OCR said: "OCR regrets that a printing error may have affected a small number of marks on the GCSE music question paper.
This puts a shadow over pupils' exams and adds to the anxiety Chris Keates, NASUWT teachers' union
This puts a shadow over pupils' exams and adds to the anxiety Chris Keates, NASUWT teachers' union
It said all exam papers had a copyright statement dealing with source material on the back page and that this particular one had more detail than usual in a music paper.
It said all exam papers had a copyright statement dealing with source material on the back page and that this particular one had more detail than usual in a music paper.
The board had received "a handful of calls" from schools querying the situation since the exam was taken on Friday.
The board had received "a handful of calls" from schools querying the situation since the exam was taken on Friday.
But it added: "It is unlikely that any of the 12,000 students sitting the examination would have recognised the value of the information in the copyright statement and subsequently used it".
But it added: "It is unlikely that any of the 12,000 students sitting the examination would have recognised the value of the information in the copyright statement and subsequently used it".
"However, OCR is putting procedures in place to identify the effect, if any, this had on candidates and to make allowances accordingly to ensure that no candidate is disadvantaged. There will be no need for candidates to retake this component."
"However, OCR is putting procedures in place to identify the effect, if any, this had on candidates and to make allowances accordingly to ensure that no candidate is disadvantaged. There will be no need for candidates to retake this component."
The exam board has not said exactly what action it will take but admitted "thousands of pupils" could be affected.
The exam board has not said exactly what action it will take but admitted "thousands of pupils" could be affected.
Last year OCR's music GCSE was taken by 12,637 candidates - roughly a fifth of the total number of students taking music GCSE (61,249).
Last year OCR's music GCSE was taken by 12,637 candidates - roughly a fifth of the total number of students taking music GCSE (61,249).
General secretary of the NASUWT teaching union Chris Keates said it was an incident which showed once again that exam boards were "accident prone".
General secretary of the NASUWT teaching union Chris Keates said it was an incident which showed once again that exam boards were "accident prone".
"This puts a shadow over pupils' exams and adds to the anxiety. No system is perfect and we would not expect it to be but the exam boards seem to have a dubious track record."
"This puts a shadow over pupils' exams and adds to the anxiety. No system is perfect and we would not expect it to be but the exam boards seem to have a dubious track record."
'Simple thing'
'Simple thing'
A spokeswoman for the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations (NCPTA) said the mishap raised questions about the future of privatised exam boards.
A spokeswoman for the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations (NCPTA) said the mishap raised questions about the future of privatised exam boards.
She said: "Every year we have mistakes made by examining boards, mistakes which seriously undermine the hard work done by our students.
She said: "Every year we have mistakes made by examining boards, mistakes which seriously undermine the hard work done by our students.
Looking for assurances no one will be disadvantaged
"Every year we are told it will never happen again but still it goes on; no doubt before the end of the exam cycle there will be more.
"Every year we are told it will never happen again but still it goes on; no doubt before the end of the exam cycle there will be more.
"Is it time for an end to individual boards when a simple thing like proof reading and print checking cannot be achieved?"
"Is it time for an end to individual boards when a simple thing like proof reading and print checking cannot be achieved?"
Two GCSE music students in Buckinghamshire, Helen Mulhall and Rebecca Jeffries, said they felt let down and they were sceptical about OCR's assurances.
"It's really unfair. Loads of us have worked really hard for this," said Helen.
The 16-year-olds sat their exams with a different board, Edexcel. They assumed that those who had taken the OCR paper would be asked to resit.
Told that this was unlikely but that OCR had promised no-one would be disadvantaged, Rebecca said: "How many kids are there sitting this exam? They can't make sure that everyone is not disadvantaged in some way."
Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Will you or your child have to retake this exam? Send us your comments using the form below.
Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Will you or your child have to retake this exam? Send us your comments using the form below.
