Simple. DON’T Trust It!
You might have seen rumours online or even TikToks claiming “Paper 1 is leaked!” or “Someone’s selling the Edexcel paper!”—but what actually happens if a real GCSE or A-level paper is leaked?
Let’s break it down 👇
💥 What is an exam paper leak?
An exam paper leak is when someone gets access to an exam before it’s meant to be taken—and shares it.
This could be a full paper or even just some of the questions.
Leaks usually happen in one of these ways:
A photo of the paper is taken and shared online.
Someone from inside a school or exam board leaks the questions.
Students get early access through dodgy Telegram or WhatsApp groups.
🚨 What does the exam board do when a leak happens?
If a paper is leaked, here’s what the exam boards (like AQA, Edexcel, or OCR) might do:
1. ✅ Use a backup paper
Most boards prepare backup papers just in case something goes wrong.
If the leak is caught early enough, students might end up sitting a different version of the paper instead.
2. 📉 Remove the paper from final grade weighting
If the leak is found after everyone has already sat the paper, the exam board might:
Not use that paper at all
Base your grade more heavily on Paper 2 or 3
Look at your mock results or other assessments to calculate your grade fairly
They’ll always try to make sure you’re not unfairly punished because of something that wasn’t your fault.
🧠 Has this happened before?
Yes! A few times.
In 2019, parts of an Edexcel A-Level Maths paper were leaked on Twitter before the exam.
Some students got an unfair advantage, and the board had to adjust how the final marks were calculated to keep it fair for everyone else.
🙋 So what should I do if I see a leak?
First, don’t trust it.
Most leaked papers online are fake—either old mocks or made-up questions.
Even if it’s real, sharing or using a leaked paper is illegal.
You could get disqualified, and schools can report students to the exam board if they’re caught.
Best thing to do? Ignore it and report it (if you can). Focus on your own prep—you’ve got this.
🔚 Final Thoughts
It’s totally understandable to feel panicked when you hear about a leak.
But remember: exam boards plan for this. If anything goes wrong, they have systems in place to make sure things stay fair.
If you’re prepared and put the work in, a leak won’t affect your success.
Just focus on revising properly, doing your past papers, and staying calm. You’re already on the right track.