A ‘DISTRAUGHT’ student accused of cheating on her exam could have her dreams of going to university shattered.

Wanstead High School student Fabienne Ruttledge has been disqualified from her A-Level sociology exam after three of the questions were leaked in a Whatsapp group she was in.

The 18-year-old from Loughton joined the group chat of about 40 people after finding it recommended for revision tips on The Student Room.

At around 9.20am on the day of her sociology paper (June 23) someone who claimed they had already sat the exam because of a timetable clash posted three out of four questions in the group.

Miss Ruttledge maintains that, although she read which questions were due to come up, the decision to disqualify her is “unfair” and she has been “victimised”.

She said: “I did read them, but didn’t think they were the real questions.

“I found it extremely difficult to believe someone would be able to get away with having their phone on them and then leave the hall mid-exam to tell someone.

“I’d already revised these topics thoroughly, so three hours of cramming before the exam at 1pm wouldn’t have made much of a difference.

“I feel completely victimised – everyone in the group chat had the same message sent to their phones yet it seems they’ve only chosen to penalise four or us."

The Wanstead High sixth former can now only score 15 out of 90 in the exam after exam board AQA found out about the leaked questions and disqualified her and three others in the Whatsapp conversation.

She said: “On July 4 my mum told me AQA had contacted her to say I was being investigated for suspected malpractice.

“In reality, the problem lies in exam clashes, something which should not be allowed to happen.”

She has now logged an appeal with the exam board, which cost her £174.

But if this is unsuccessful, her low grade means she will have to resit next June and could lose out on a place to study law at Kent University.

She said: “I needed AAB for my course and this situation makes those grades unachievable.

“I am gutted and so upset, I don’t have a second choice because I had my heart and mind set on Kent.

“I was looking forward to going to university so much, it has motivated me through my whole final year at school, and now the thought of having to stay at home just seems unreal.

"I will also have to pay higher fees, which isn't fair, as they are listed as £9,250 a year for 2017."

Miss Ruttledge, who was predicted an A* in sociology, added: “My school have been very supportive, but it’s so frustrating, I would have done fine anyway.

“I worked hard throughout the whole year and don’t believe my future should depend on someone else’s actions I had no control over.”

A spokesman for AQA said they could not discuss the particulars of Miss Ruttledge’s case for legal reasons.

He said: “No-one taking our exams should have an unfair advantage, so we thoroughly investigate accusations of cheating and only take action when there’s clear evidence against specific individuals.

“Our advice to any student who receives supposedly leaked details about an exam is to report it to a teacher straight away."