THE Victorian Government and the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) are taking swift action after errors in 56 Year 12 exams, including mathematics, biology, and English, caused widespread concern. The breach, which saw exam materials accidentally published online in a “hidden” section of sample assessments, affected nearly half of this year’s VCE exams.
Education Minister Ben Carroll apologised, acknowledging the frustration for students and families. “I am extremely disappointed by what has occurred. I have instructed the VCAA to take all necessary action to ensure that all students are treated fairly, and no student is disadvantaged in the marking of this year’s exams,” he said.
To ensure fairness, the VCAA is implementing its anomalous grade check process. This process will:
Review student marks in the affected exams and identify any anomalies in how students have responded to the affected questions.
Analyse if any discrepancies are identified and if so, further analysis will be undertaken. This could include comparing how students performed compared to other students, and how students performed on other examinations.
Adjust student marks if any questions are identified as providing anyone with an unfair advantage. This could mean invalidating questions and awarding all students who sat this exam a full mark if necessary.
An independent advisory panel, led by former VCAA CEO Professor John Firth and including education experts, will oversee this process. Additionally, a full review of VCAA practices is scheduled for January 2025 to prevent future issues.
Students concerned about their results are advised to contact their schools, which are working closely with the VCAA. Results will be released on December 12.
