Why major exam board landed themselves £270k fine

LocalBusiness & Finance
16 Apr 2026 • 5:55 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Exam board Cambridge OCR has been fined £270,000 by regulator Ofqual due to significant errors in its 2025 physics A-level and AS-level papers and mark schemes.
  • Ofqual identified 12 mistakes, which resulted in some students receiving incorrect grades, with 37 students ultimately having their final grades increased after results day.
  • The regulator criticised Cambridge OCR for failing to ensure paper content was fit for purpose and for not having clear procedures for schools to request mark adjustments.
  • Cambridge OCR has apologised for the errors, acknowledging they did not meet the high standards expected, and stated they are implementing improvements based on a root cause analysis.
  • This development coincides with Ofqual's new proposals to allow some GCSE and A-level exams to be taken on screens by 2030, with a consultation launched for new on-screen assessment specifications.

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