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Why Year 12 results in one state are being recalculated


Year 12 students in Tasmania have had some end of year results recalculated due to a “human error”.

Those students across the state who completed Asian Studies were shocked when they received their final tertiary entrance rankings on Tuesday.

The Asian Studies scores dropped 30 per cent from last year, and the top mark any Tasmanian student in the subject received was 17.6 when last year the highest score was 26.

The ABC reports students were thinking they would not be accepted to university or be successful in receiving a scholarship due to their ATAR being reduced by the score.

“We were all shocked, and pretty emotionally distraught over it, a lot of people were quite reliant on the marks they needed to receive from that subject,” student Yasmine Wright Gittins told the ABC.

“We’re pretty upset at the moment.”

Asian Studies students in Tasmania received a lower score than expected after a ‘procedural error’. Source: Getty
Asian Studies students in Tasmania received a lower score than expected after a ‘procedural error’. Source: Getty

Following the release of the results a post on a Facebook support group for Asian Studies students said “pranked”.

Stressed out students said they hoped it was a mistake, with one saying it was totally unacceptable.

A teacher also claimed it was “the most shocking and disgraceful thing” she had experienced in her whole teaching career.

‘Students should ignore previous results’

The Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standard and Certification (TASC) told students to ignore their previous scores as they would be recalculated.

“The error was identified prior to the University of Tasmania finalising its selection processes for tertiary courses and scholarships,” TASC told the ABC in a statement.

“The university has been supplied with the revised ATAR and subject data, and selection processes will be re-started using the new data.

“The transfer of data to interstate Tertiary Admissions Centres was not scheduled to occur until late Tuesday evening, and as such this transfer has not been impacted by the error.

“The correct ATAR scores and subjects will be transferred on Wednesday 19 December.

“Students should ignore results previously received.”

Jeremy Rockliff assured students their chances of getting into university would not be impacted. Source: AAP
Jeremy Rockliff assured students their chances of getting into university would not be impacted. Source: AAP

Calls for review into mistake

Tasmania Education and Training Minister Jeremy Rockliff has instructed the Secretary of the Department of Education to launch an independent review to determine how the ATAR scores were incorrectly calculated.

“I understand this error will have been upsetting for some students and I’d like to reassure them that their tertiary admissions will not be impacted,” he told Yahoo News in a statement.

“The quick response by the Department of Education to fix the issue within the same day means that university admission processes nationally and internationally are using correct data.”

Yahoo News has contacted TASC for comment.