GCSE and A level exams were altered in the wake of the Manchester terrorist attack to remove sensitive content, the awarding bodies have revealed.

Examiners combed through over 2,000 exam papers to search for any questions that might cause distress to students, and a number of last minute changes were made.

A mention of terrorism was removed from a religious studies GCSE question, and also from an general studies paper, as exam board Edexcel said it would be an “unnecessary distraction” to pupils.

AQA phoned schools likely to have been affected by the Manchester arena atrocity to alert them about an AS level French paper which mentioned Ariana Grande.