LONDON - Hundreds of pupils sitting French GCSE exams were given last year's papers by mistake, exam board Edexcel said on Friday.

Around 1,800 students sitting French reading and listening papers may be affected by the slip-up on Thursday, the exam setter said.

The two exams, taken by students aged 15 and 16, count for 40 percent of the overall grade.

"Students affected will be treated on a case-by-case basis and there are mitigation plans in place to ensure that no one is disadvantaged or advantaged," Edexcel said.

"Edexcel apologises for the anxiety this has caused to schools, students and parents and would like to reassure them that we are dealing with this to ensure that appropriate grades are awarded."

Just over 200,000 students took French GCSE last year.