PUPILS whose history paper turned out to be identical to a paper set two years ago have been told they will not suffer for the exam board's mistake.

Twenty-five students from Maidstone Grammar School were among thousands across the world who went into their International Baccalaureate higher level history paper exam and discovered it was the same as a 2005 paper.

The mix-up by the exam board for the IB, which is taken by only a handful of schools in Kent, left many pupils and parents wondering if they would have to re-sit or lose marks.

But the exam board has now said it will not affect students' marks.

Paul Smith, deputy head teacher and IB co-ordinator at the school, said: "The IB were extremely quick to be in touch with us and have given an absolute assurance that the students' results will not be affected."