This is because on Friday, the original paper was prematurely released by mistake to exam quality assurer Umalusi by one of the assessment bodies. 

Umalusi has explained that assessment bodies are required to submit question papers to the quality assurer after each exam as part of the post-examination quality assurance process. 

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"The papers will be replaced in order to protect the integrity of the whole assessment system because it has the potential to put the credibility of the examination at risk," says Umalusi's Biki Lepota. 

"Although they were not released to the candidates, they are released prior. If you release a question paper before it is written the exams are classified in the form of an irregularity." 

Close to 5 000 students sitting for the NSC exams under the SA Comprehensive Assessment Institute are affected.

Jacaranda News