Year 12 students from at least eight schools in Queensland were taught the wrong topic for their final history exams and authorities are now checking with 172 schools to see if any more were affected.
Students were meant to study Julius Caesar, but the affected pupils instead learned about his nephew Augustus, according to the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority.
“We are now proactively checking with all 172 schools to confirm the number is not higher,” authority acting chief executive Claude Jones said in a statement.
“Schools are notified of the topic for the ancient history external exam more than 12 months in advance.”
Jones said schools involved in the bungle would submit an “illness and misadventure application” so students receive special consideration when their papers were marked.
“We are committed to ensuring every student receives fair and accurate results,” he said.
An entire class at one of the schools affected – Brisbane state high school – has already applied for special consideration due to “illness and misadventure” before they were due to sit the external exam on Wednesday.
A Department of Education spokesperson said Brisbane state high school “identified that incorrect content had been taught this semester for the year 12 ancient history external exam” on Monday.
“Due to an error, students were taught the unit on Augustus, instead of Julius Caesar, the topic for the 2025 external exam,” the spokesperson said.
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Augustus was a focus of the 2024 exam, but in 2025 the exam topic changed to instead focus on his uncle.
Augustus, the first Roman emperor, was the adopted son and heir of Julius Caesar and inherited the famous surname after Julius’ assassination on the Ides of March in 44BC.
The Department of Education spokesperson said the marking of the papers would “ensure consideration is given to the circumstances when student results are finalised” – while noting that students had already completed 75% of their assessments in the subject.
The spokesperson said Brisbane state high school – the only school named so far as being affected – had “designed a plan for the two impacted classes”, including “a full day of support for students on Tuesday and on Wednesday morning to run through practice exam questions and exemplars”.
“The department and school are deeply sorry for this mistake and are supporting students and families during this time,” the department spokesperson said.
Brisbane state high school was contacted for comment.
