Dosh dilemma – my son’s thinking about buying a dodgy GCSE exam paper – what should I do?

Julie reached out sounding very worried. Her son, Adam, is gearing up for his GCSEs and like many students, the pressure is starting to mount. He’s been feeling stressed, says his revision isn’t going as planned and he's getting nervous he won’t get the grades in needs to get into college.  

Then, Adam came across something online that set off alarm bells for Julie. He saw an advert on social media claiming to offer ‘leaked’ GCSE exam papers for this year’s exams, for £75 per paper.  

She’s deeply concerned and rightly so. Not only is she worried Adam might end up wasting his money on a scam but she’s even more scared he could end up in serious trouble for even attempting to cheat, whether or not the papers are real. 

So, what should a parent do in this situation? 

Well Julie, it might not offer much consolation, but you’re not alone.  

Fake exam papers sold online  

A BBC investigation last year uncovered dozens of social media accounts claiming to sell leaked exam papers, some charging hundreds of pounds. The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), which represents the UK’s major exam boards, has made it clear that it's highly unlikely that real exam papers are being leaked online. 

But that doesn’t mean it’s harmless. Even attempting to buy a fake paper can land a student in serious hot water. England’s exam regulator, Ofqual, has warned that students caught trying to cheat, even if the papers they buy are bogus, could potentially lose their qualifications altogether. 

So, what should Julie do?  

Report the advert  

As well as having an open and honest conversation with her son, Julie should report the ad to the appropriate authorities, including:  

• Action Fraud - the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. 

• Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) – if the ad is misleading, report it here. The ASA regulates advertising and can take action.  

• The relevant exam board – major UK exam boards are listed online.  

• Ofqual - report any malpractice or wrongdoing directly to them.  

• The school or college - they may have their own procedure for handling these issues. 

We hope this helps Julie and good luck to Adam in his exams.