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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Confusion over GCSE print error | Confusion over GCSE print error |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tens of thousands of GCSE students have faced confusion because of a printing error in a physics exam. | Tens of thousands of GCSE students have faced confusion because of a printing error in a physics exam. |
| Exam board AQA sent out a faulty grid on which students were meant to write answers to multiple choice questions. | Exam board AQA sent out a faulty grid on which students were meant to write answers to multiple choice questions. |
| It says the problem affects a modular physics paper being taken by 119,000 students. | It says the problem affects a modular physics paper being taken by 119,000 students. |
| AQA has apologised and says students will not be disadvantaged. An exam invigilator who alerted the BBC said the mistake would cause confusion. | AQA has apologised and says students will not be disadvantaged. An exam invigilator who alerted the BBC said the mistake would cause confusion. |
| He said: "I've just come out of the exam hall and everyone is fuming in there. | 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. | "One of our staff spotted the mistake and we have called the exam board. It took three-quarters of an hour to get through. |
| "Now we have been told that pupils should put their answers on the question paper." | "Now we have been told that pupils should put their answers on the question paper." |
| Normally, the answers are entered on a grid which is then marked electronically. | Normally, the answers are entered on a grid which is then marked electronically. |
| Apology | Apology |
| AQA has apologised for the error and says the problem is limited to the physics paper. Students will not be disadvantaged by the error, the exam board insists, but the paper will not be re-scheduled. | AQA has apologised for the error and says the problem is limited to the physics paper. Students will not be disadvantaged by the error, the exam board insists, but the paper will not be re-scheduled. |
| A spokeswoman said: "AQA became aware this morning of a problem with a physics paper (PHY1AP) being taken by candidates today. | A spokeswoman said: "AQA became aware this morning of a problem with a physics paper (PHY1AP) being taken by candidates today. |
| "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. | "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. | "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. | "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. |
| "AQA apologises for this error and we are reviewing our monitoring procedures to establish exactly how this has occurred. As always, we will take all steps to ensure we protect the interests of all our candidates." | "AQA apologises for this error and we are reviewing our monitoring procedures to establish exactly how this has occurred. As always, we will take all steps to ensure we protect the interests of all our candidates." |
| The printing errors involve the answer sheet for the physics paper - which is separate to the question paper. | |
| The exam invigilator who contacted the BBC said the possible multiple-choice answers for one question had been put in a slot for another and that in another case, were missing altogether. | |
| The exams are taken in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. |