The number of pupils caught cheating in exams has fallen sharply as schools increasingly turn to technology to monitor students. Examiners issued 3,678 penalties this year, compared with 4,131 last year – just 0.02% of exams sat – according to figures published by the exams regulator Ofqual.
However, thousands more pupils were allowed extra marks in this summer's GCSE and A-level exams – with the regulator admitting that some of the rise was in response to errors in exam papers.
The figures show that 354,170 teenagers were given "special consideration" for unforeseen circumstances – a 12.5% rise on last year. Pupils can gain 5% more marks in compensation if a close family member dies or is seriously ill shortly before or during their exams. Examiners also give some dispensation to pupils who are proven to be experiencing an illness or extreme stress.
Qualifications regulators for England, Wales and Northern Ireland are investigating mistakes that appeared in 12 exam papers this summer. Ten of the errors were in papers sat by pupils in England.
The Joint Council for Qualifications, which represents exam boards, said it had taken action to ensure no pupil would be disadvantaged by the errors. In some cases, exam boards have awarded pupils full marks for rogue questions, while in others they have discounted the question and changed the total number of marks available for a paper.
Glenys Stacey, chief executive of Ofqual said the exam errors accounted for some of the rise in pupils awarded special dispensation. "We do wish now to explore further with the awarding organisations the details behind this year's figures, particularly the relationship with the exam paper errors," she said. " Our inquiry is ongoing and we will publish a final report before the end of the year."
The proportion of pupils given special consideration this summer is the highest for five years, but represents only 2.4% of all GCSE and A-level exam scripts. Schools made 372,300 requests for special consideration – a 13% rise on last year.
Schools also made more requests for their pupils to have special arrangements due to a disability. Around 271,700 requests were made, a 6% rise on last year. Of these, 93% were approved. Some 9,443 of these were for supervised breaks during exams. Last year 7,683 such requests were made.
More schools also requested a bilingual dictionary for their pupils. And more pupils marred their exam scripts with "inappropriate or offensive" words or symbols this year – 422 students compared with 372 last year.
Nick Gibb, schools minster, said a "robust" system was needed to deal with pupils who needed extra time or special consideration, and the "strongest possible arrangements for preventing and rooting out cheating".
Jessica Shepherd- Education correspondent