Bath University accidentally prints answers on economics exam paper - as 150 students sign petition against plans for immediate resit

• The mistake means more than 400 economics students have to resit the exam
• Students have spoken out about the ‘stress and anxiety’ it has caused them
• Were you one of the students affected? [email protected]

A university accidentally attached the answer sheet to one of their exams and now students are protesting the plans for an immediate resit date.

Bath University unwittingly handed out the marking scheme containing the answers alongside the questions.

The mistake means more than 400 economics students now have to resit the exam on Friday, January 26.

But protests have been raised over the date, which is the last day of the university’s first semester, as many international students had already booked flights home.

Bath University is ranked fifth in the Complete University league table and has 20,311 students enrolled – 32 per cent of which are international students.

The University of Bath’s main Claverton Down campus (pictured). A spokesperson for the university said it was ‘very sorry’ for the error and ‘fully understands’ the response from students

University students graduating at Bath Abbey (stock image). The students on the module have all been forced to resit to uphold the integrity of their degree

A University Bath spokesperson said it was ‘very sorry’ for the error and ‘fully understands’ the response from students.

The row over the resit date has caused 150 students to sign a petition against plans for an immediate resit.

A student, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the BBC he was initially ‘confused’ when he saw the papers which had the answers attached.

But said he continued with his exam and used it to help his answers.

The exam was completed without any communication from staff, and it was only the next day that students were told there would be a resit.

‘I thought – who on earth managed to do this? I was quite angry, too. It was chaos’, he said.

‘I think the university needs to understand the stress and anxiety, performances are definitely going to fall.’

A University of Bath spokesman said it has a ‘strong track record’ in delivering excellent education.

He said this type of error is ‘rare’ and the university is taking steps to avoid a similar mistake happening again.

But to ensure quality standards are met, the students will need to resit with a fresh exam paper to uphold the integrity of their degree.

He added: ‘We expect the majority of students to take the new exam on Friday, January 26 – which is within the period that we ask all students to keep clear in case assessments need to be rescheduled.

‘However, for those students who are unable to do this due to exceptional circumstances, there will be another opportunity to retake the exam in semester two.’

Semester two runs from February, 5 to May, 31.

The spokesman added: ‘We will continue to liaise with the Students’ Union on this matter and we would like to thank our students for their patience and ask them to speak to their Director of Studies or our Student Support Service if they need additional support at this time.’

The mistake comes after Bath University was rocked by several scandals in recent years around the pay of its staff.

Its previous vice-chancellor was the highest paid boss in England – taking home an eye-watering near £500,000 sum.

The university also paid 66 senior colleagues six-figure salaries.

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