Overview of the situation
Brisbane State High School, one of Queensland’s largest state secondary schools, has issued a formal apology after admitting it taught the incorrect topic for a Year 12 external Ancient History examination. The error centers on the unit focus: students were prepared to answer questions on Augustus instead of Julius Caesar, a distinction with potential implications for the exam’s outcomes.
The sequence of events
The school notified families on Monday that an error had occurred, with the correct topic identified as Julius Caesar but the teaching over recent weeks had centered on Augustus. The external examination for Year 12 Ancient History was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon and accounts for a significant portion of the final grade.
Queensland’s Department of Education confirmed that the school realised the mismatch in topic less than 48 hours before the exam. In response, Brisbane State High School expressed sincere regret and said it had contacted the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) to seek a remedy.
What the school is doing now
The school explained that, due to the nature of external examinations, writing an additional paper is not feasible. It stated that the exam is skills-based and would proceed as scheduled, but that measures would be taken to ensure fairness in marking. The school also indicated it would lodge an Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments (AARA) submission with the QCAA to document the error and request consideration during marking for affected students.
To support students, the school announced accelerated resources focusing on Julius Caesar, the correct topic, and organised emergency study sessions to review exam questions and model answers ahead of the Wednesday afternoon paper.
Impact on students and assessments
The Ancient History exam accounts for 25% of the final subject mark, with internal assessments comprising the remaining 75%. Two classes from Brisbane State High School are enrolled in the subject, meaning a substantial portion of the cohort will be affected by the topic error.
Education officials emphasised that the department is committed to ensuring no student is disadvantaged. The QCAA indicated it would process a whole-cohort misadventure application to enable special consideration when final results are compiled. The aim is to maintain fairness while acknowledging the extraordinary circumstance.
Statements from authorities
A QCAA spokesperson said the agency would apply additional quality assurance procedures in marking and would support the school in ensuring fair outcomes. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek reassured families that external exams are not treated as a single high-stakes event; the system is designed to avoid catastrophic failure in such situations and to protect student interests as much as possible.
Broader context and upcoming exams
Alongside Ancient History, students faced other assessments in the week, including Visual Arts and Accounting. While some Queensland schools faced disruption due to weather-related power outages prompting suspension of certain exams, the focus for Brisbane State High School remains on addressing the misalignment with the Ancient History unit and preserving equity for all students involved.
Closing thoughts
Education authorities emphasise accountability and continuous safeguarding of student outcomes. While errors in curriculum delivery are regrettable, the priority in this instance is transparent communication, appropriate adjustments, and ensuring students receive a fair chance to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in the exam process.
