Surge in GCSE and A-level candidates penalised for ‘malpractice’ in England

Possession of mobile phones and smartwatches the biggest single cause for sanctions

This year's A-level and GCSE exams had a surge in the number of students penalised for potential cheating or disruptive behaviour, with possession of mobile phones and smartwatches the biggest single cause for sanctions.

Ofqual, the exam regulator for England, said more than 4,300 candidates were penalised for malpractice" during the exams taken this spring. Although the total represents just 0.03% of all A-level and GCSE exams taken, it was a more-than-40% increase compared with 2019, when 3,040 students were penalised.