EXAM -[MICROCHIPS-TRACKED]- PAPERS

EXAM papers to be tracked using microchips as police probe maths test leaks.

Microchips will be placed in packets of exams paper this summer as parts of efforts to stop tests being leaked online, an exam board has said.

Pearson, the parent company of Edexcel, said the pilot scheme would allow it to track the date, time and location of exam packs in case they are opened early.

It comes as prosecutors said they were considering criminal charges after A-level maths papers from 2017 were leaked online ahead of the test, leading to replacement questions being issued at the last minute.

An investigation into a second A-level maths paper leak last year is continuing.

Vice president Derek Richardson wrote to head teachers saying that ''breaches of security can significantly undermine trust in the system'' and it would continue to use tracking technology which helped in their investigations.

He added that both incidents were ''caused by individuals deliberately setting out to subvert our controls'' and urged headteachers to regularly inspect the areas where papers are kept.

In a statement on its website, Pearson said : In the U.K. summer examination series in 2017 and 2018, Pearson was subject to a limited external breach of its maths A-level paper.

The police have made progress in their investigation from the first limited breach and have referred the first case to the Crown Prosecution Service.

''They are also finalising their investigation with the second case and we hope they will soon be sending materials to the Crown Prosecution Service.

We hope this latest update will act as a deterrent for any other isolated individuals that consider this course of action. [Agencies]