Exam boards are to be fined over future mistakes in GCSE and A-level papers, it has been revealed.
This comes after a series of blunders in this summer's exams which affected tens of thousands of teenagers.
Under the move, England's exams watchdog, Ofqual, will be given new powers to impose financial penalties on boards that make mistakes.
In a letter, Schools Minister Nick Gibb said that following the "significant" errors seen this summer, the Government had considered whether Ofqual had sufficient powers to deal with such problems, and concluded that it did not.
Other regulators have the power to issue fines, the letter to awarding bodies says, but Ofqual does not.
Currently, Ofqual's strongest sanction is to withdraw recognition of an exam board, or withdraw its right to offer a particular qualification.
"Financial penalties would provide an effective and flexible sanction for the regulation of the qualifications system," Mr Gibb wrote. He added that it is the Government's intention to give Ofqual a power to fine similar to that held by other watchdogs.
A board could face a maximum financial penalty of 10 per cent of its turnover, with the size of any fine imposed in proportion to the scale and seriousness of the error.
An Ofqual spokesman said: "We welcome the announcement that, subject to the will of Parliament, Ofqual is to be given powers to fine awarding organisations in circumstances where they fail to meet the standards required of them. We will ensure that these powers are used proportionately and appropriately, and will carry out a consultation into when and how the powers to fine will be used."
Mr Gibb said: "It is unacceptably poor practice for even one paper to contain an error. But this summer there were numerous errors. We want to give Ofqual tougher powers so it has a range of sanctions at its disposal and can take action against exam boards who fall short of the high standards students and parents expect. Giving Ofqual the power to fine would provide a powerful incentive to awarding organisations to comply with their regulatory obligations and improve standards."