Both physics and history exam papers were leaked on Tuesday to a number of Facebook page specifically designed to share answers for thanawaya amma (high school) final exams, whose results decide the students' university courses. This is the latest in a series of exam leaks over the past few weeks. At least four Facebook pages shared the questions and answers of the physics and history examinations online, less than half an hour after the exam began. An education ministry source told Ahram Gate Arabic news website that the two students, both from the Qena governorate, who shared the exam paper online are being reprimanded. All of the officials who were responsible for the student's exam room are to be punished for failing to prevent him from having a mobile phone with him during the course of the exam. This is the latest in a string of online leaks since the thanaweya amma exams, which are standardized across the country, started two weeks ago. The questions and answers of the French, English, Arabic language, algebra and solid geometry exams have all been leaked online during the exam, allowing students who managed to smuggle their mobile phones into exam rooms to copy the answers. More than 650,000 students are sitting this year's tests. Over recent years, exam questions and answers for several thanaweya amma subjects have been leaked online, prompting officials to cancel, void or postpone some exams and investigate possible leaks from within the education ministry. Egypt's Parliament approved amendments last year to a law toughening penalties for academic cheating and other exam violations, including publishing exam questions and papers and possessing mobile phones and others wireless devices in examination rooms. Penalties for aiding in exam leaks include hefty fines of EGP 100,000-200,000 and jail terms between two and seven years.
