Ofqual has fined Cambridge OCR £270,000 for serious errors
relating to A and AS Level physics exam papers in summer 2025
– which also meant some students were issued with the wrong
grades.
Between April and October 2025, 12 errors were
identified in Cambridge OCR's AS and A Level physics exam papers
and mark schemes. The exam board failed to ensure the papers'
content was fit for purpose, in breach of its conditions.
Errors were contained in assessment materials delivered to
over 14,000 students. They included errors in exam paper
questions and in the marking scheme which guides examiners.
Some of the errors were identified before exams, and
Cambridge OCR issued correction notices to schools to
correct these mistakes.Others were identified after exams had
taken place and Cambridge OCR took action prior to issuing
results when necessary, including by awarding full
marks to all candidates for the affected
question.
However, 2 errors were identified after results day. Correction
of these errors led to 37 students receiving a grade increase by
1 grade. In total, 33 of the incorrect grades were issued to AS
Level students due to an exam paper error, and 4 resulted from a
mark scheme error for A Level.
Cambridge OCR also failed to have in place clear arrangements for
Special Consideration – by which schools could request
adjustments to marks because of the errors. This led to 3 other
incorrect higher results being issued. Cambridge OCR chose
not to reduce those by one grade, to prevent an adverse
effect on the students affected.
Amanda Swann, Ofqual's Executive Director for Delivery, said:
Students deserve quality exam assessment materials. After
years of hard study, these unacceptable failures caused anxiety
for students during their exams. Some were issued incorrect
grades.
We will always act to protect students' interests and maintain
public confidence in our qualifications system.
The root causes of the incidents related to inadequate systems of
control, workplace competence and insufficient workplace
capacity.
Ofqual's enforcement panel took into account mitigating
factors. They included that Cambridge OCR accepted the
breaches, entered into settlement agreements, and had taken
action to minimise the impact on students, standards and public
confidence.
Cambridge OCR has also provided an action plan (an undertaking)
to prevent the errors recurring. It includes strengthening
technical checking across AS and A Level physics exams papers.
Ofqual will take action should Cambridge OCR not follow through
on its action plan.
For more details, see our Notice of Financial
Penalty published today.
Background information
Ofqual's Supporting compliance and
taking regulatory action guidance sets out how it will
use its powers to take regulatory action.
Previous cases and fines can be viewed in Regulatory actions and
interventions by Ofqual - GOV.UK.
