[URGENT] I got caught cheating in my as psychology exam (mock), please help!

There was a part in the mark scheme where there was both an actual answer and an alternative "accept" answer. In my exam I wrote both, that and the fact that I scored 67/70 and many answers were very similar to the mark scheme, the teachers confronted and exposed me as a cheater.

I flat out denied it. The teacher highly suspects I cheated, but has no concrete proof I did. Many students also come up to me asking about this, teacher keeps asking me trying to force a confession. What do I do? What do I say?

Admit it tbh. You are not helping your teacher by cheating in a mock as they need to know what the class is collectively weak on and make sure this is strengthened by May

Strict school, I am only in year 12, will face terrible sanctions if I do.

If you feel that it is really detrimental to admit it - DON'T but never do it again

Well… you're going to have to admit it. Next time, don't cheat. That result you got from that test is completely meaningless anyway - it's not your work. Sorry… no real sympathy here.

Don't cheat and you won't get into trouble.

Most likely that's not true.

She probably won't be doing the actual AS exam (psychology is a reformed A-level and most schools don't do the exams anymore) and so teachers will use mocks to predict grades. This could have potential consequences on her predicted grades.

Of course it's true. The result they have in that mock exam, regardless of if the A-level is reformed… is still completely meaningless because OP cheated - there is no way they would have done so well if they wouldn't have cheated.

That's a pretty big, and also insulting, assumption and not something I'd expect from the ST

No one knows how well they would have done, it could have just been a confidence issue because at times when I've felt like resorting to cheating during mocks (asking what the paper was from other classes) it was due to a lack of confidence yet I still did pretty well in the end without the cheating.

I apologise if that's the sentiment you got from that message, not what I was aiming for! What I'm saying is that cheating instantly discounts any result you would get on a test because you aren't doing the work, the mark scheme isn't going to be there on the day of the exam - why use a safety net or what have you and set yourself up to fail? Resorting to cheating just isn't the right response in my eyes if you're struggling or have low confidence in the subject. There's plenty you can do to make sure your knowledge is to a good standard without point-blank cheating.

There was a part in the mark scheme where there was both an actual answer and an alternative "accept" answer. In my exam I wrote both, that and the fact that I scored 67/70 and many answers were very similar to the mark scheme, the teachers confronted and exposed me as a cheater.

I flat out denied it. The teacher highly suspects I cheated, but has no concrete proof I did. Many students also come up to me asking about this, teacher keeps asking me trying to force a confession. What do I do? What do I say?

I am in year 12 BTW, 1st year at college. Defo learnt my lesson and won't cheat again (ever).