Students sit exam on topic they did not prepare for

Image: Year 12 students sitting their exams last year. Facebook.

DAYS after 140 ancient history students were found to have been taught the wrong topic in preparation for their final year 12 exams, more questions than answers remain.

Particularly since it was revealed the same mix-up happened at Rochedale South High School – two months earlier.

Flagstone State Community College (FSCC) was one of nine schools caught in a curriculum mix-up last week, where year 12 ancient history students were taught the wrong topic – more specifically, the wrong Caesar – in preparation for their final exam.

FSCC realised late on Tuesday 28 October, that their year 12 ancient history cohort had been taught and assessed on Emperor Augustus instead of Julius Caesar.

FSCC offered ancient history students an emergency study session to cram information on Julius Caesar from 9am on Wednesday, 30 October, the day of the exam, worth 25% of their final grade.

But on Friday, it was revealed a parent from Rochedale South reported the same teaching error back in August to the Education Queensland’s Metropolitan South region education services.

Rochedale South teachers corrected the mistake, teaching students the right exam topic (Julius Caesar).

An investigation as to whether the education department investigated this report thoroughly enough or at all is underway.

The investigation will also seek answers as to how nine schools could have taught students the wrong exam topic for months without detection.

Emperor Augustus was the ancient history topic before changes were made by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) in 2025.

QCAA said they notified schools of the curriculum change in 2023 and 2024. The correct ancient history syllabus topic, Julius Caesar, was also listed on their website.

Internal schooling assessments, including assessments on Emperor Augustus, which made up the other 75% of their grade, had already been completed.

“I want to reassure these students and their parents and the teachers affected that we’ll be making every investigation into how this happened,” Queensland education minister John-Paul Langbroek said.

“I’m very unhappy about the situation developing as it has, for the stress, of course, for everyone, the communications that have not been carried out appropriately.

“For all of us, as parents or students, who have been through situations like this, it would be extremely traumatic.”

QCAA said it would lodge a “whole-cohort” special considerations request for ancient history students, to ensure students receive a fair mark.

Mr Langbroek said at a media conference on the morning of the exam that he did not expect students to sit an exam on a topic they had two days or less to prepare for.

“We’re not going to ask them to do an exam for which they have not been prepared,” Mr Langbroek said.

“I don’t think they’ll be sitting an exam for something which they haven’t prepared.”

Students sat the exam anyway.

Mr Langbroek said the 75% students had already been assessed in the form of exams and assessments delivered by their schools, which would be scaled up to determine their final grade and compensate for the exam worth 25%, which he suggested they would not be sitting.

Brisbane State High School was the first to realise the mistake on the morning of Tuesday, 18 October, just one day before the final Ancient History examination would take place.

Seven other schools (nine in total) including Meridan State College, Redcliffe State High School, Yeronga State High School, St Teresa’s Catholic College, West Moreton Anglican College, James Nash State High School, and Kuranda District State College, have also been impacted.

“The QCAA regrets the impact this situation has had on students,” QCAA’s Claude Jones said. “We are committed to ensuring every student receives fair and accurate results.”