Pupils get answer sheet instead of question paper

Ajman Grade 11 students from private and public schools in Ajman were astounded on Wednesday when test supervisors mistakenly handed the answer sheet to their examination instead of the question paper.

The supervisors eventually noticed the anxiety that washed over the students, and quickly withdrew the answer sheets.

Eisa Hamed, Director of Examinations at Ajman Education Zone, said that the supervisors were quick to realise that they have handed over the answer sheets, and quickly withdrew them.

"The exam, which was scheduled to begin at 8.30am, was postponed to 10.30am, and a different exam paper was given to the students," he said.

"Buses were also made available for students who wanted to return home during the two-hour period."

Hamed admitted that it was a big mistake, and that it was not intentional. "Such things can happen, and it has happened a few years ago during an examination for Grade 12 students," he said.

In another incident, Grade 12 literature students yesterday came across a glaring error during an English language examination.

The question, worth three marks, asked students to provide the definition of an adjective which was not used in the comprehension piece.

The concerned department in the Ministry of Education quickly informed all education zone and test evaluation committees to scrap the question, and to distribute the originally intended three marks to different questions.