diff --git a/src/steerbench/metrics.py b/src/steerbench/metrics.py
index 61802f1..ca2ca09 100644
--- a/src/steerbench/metrics.py
+++ b/src/steerbench/metrics.py
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ def load_mmlu_slice(
         raise ValueError(f"n must be >= 1, got {n}")
     path = _cache_path(cache_dir, f"mmlu_{n}_{seed}.json")
     if path.exists():
-        rows = json.loads(path.read_text())
+        rows = json.loads(path.read_text())[:n]
         return [
             MMLUExample(question=r["question"], choices=list(r["choices"]), answer=int(r["answer"]))
             for r in rows
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ def load_gsm8k_slice(
         raise ValueError(f"n must be >= 1, got {n}")
     path = _cache_path(cache_dir, f"gsm8k_{n}_{seed}.json")
     if path.exists():
-        rows = json.loads(path.read_text())
+        rows = json.loads(path.read_text())[:n]
         return [GSM8KExample(question=r["question"], answer=str(r["answer"])) for r in rows]
 
     from datasets import load_dataset  # local import: gated optional dependency
diff --git a/tests/test_metrics.py b/tests/test_metrics.py
index f84fdf9..77ce2e3 100644
--- a/tests/test_metrics.py
+++ b/tests/test_metrics.py
@@ -294,6 +294,50 @@ def test_load_gsm8k_slice_accepts_n_equal_1(
     assert isinstance(ex.answer, str)
 
 
+def test_load_mmlu_slice_cache_hit_slices_to_n(
+    tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """A cache file holding more rows than ``n`` must still yield exactly ``n``."""
+    _block_network(monkeypatch)
+    cache_dir = tmp_path / "cache"
+    cache_dir.mkdir()
+    fixture = cache_dir / "mmlu_1_0.json"
+    fixture.write_text(
+        json.dumps(
+            [
+                {"question": "What is 2+2?", "choices": ["1", "2", "3", "4"], "answer": 3},
+                {"question": "What is 3+3?", "choices": ["5", "6", "7", "8"], "answer": 1},
+            ]
+        )
+    )
+
+    examples = load_mmlu_slice(n=1, cache_dir=cache_dir)
+
+    assert len(examples) == 1
+
+
+def test_load_gsm8k_slice_cache_hit_slices_to_n(
+    tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """A cache file holding more rows than ``n`` must still yield exactly ``n``."""
+    _block_network(monkeypatch)
+    cache_dir = tmp_path / "cache"
+    cache_dir.mkdir()
+    fixture = cache_dir / "gsm8k_1_0.json"
+    fixture.write_text(
+        json.dumps(
+            [
+                {"question": "How many apples?", "answer": "42"},
+                {"question": "How many oranges?", "answer": "7"},
+            ]
+        )
+    )
+
+    examples = load_gsm8k_slice(n=1, cache_dir=cache_dir)
+
+    assert len(examples) == 1
+
+
 def test_no_optional_deps_imported() -> None:
     # Importing steerbench.metrics must not pull in the heavy optional deps.
     # Checked in a fresh interpreter: a global sys.modules check is unreliable