Students in line for exam compensation

GCSE and A-level students whose exam papers are marked incorrectly could soon be awarded compensation if new government plans are approved.

According to AQA, the UK's largest exam board, should plans for independent exam regulator Ofqual be approved, pupils whose work is incorrectly marked could be in line for collective recompense of £1 million.

However, AQA has asserted that "some errors of judgement or process" are always going to occur when markers are grading papers.

The body said: "Compensation to candidates or their families…is a vexed and difficult area.

"These new powers, if adopted, would have far-reaching and, indeed, unintended consequences, not least the crippling burden on awarding organisations of, say, having to meet 20 claims of £50,000."

The new body is being introduced next month and will become fully operational in 2009.

In 2007, over 20,000 pupils in the UK had their GCSE and A-level exam marks changed after querying the decision of the relevant exam boards.