Year 12 students across Queensland have been sent an email saying they are ineligible for an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, vital for their entry to university.
The message has caused outrage among students, with many saying they became stressed after receiving the correspondence early on Saturday.
The email was allegedly sent by the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre just after midnight, using QTAC letterhead.
It was dated December 18 but ATAR results are not due to be released until the following day.
Students have vented their frustration about the message on the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority's Facebook page.
"Can you explain why, at 12:03AM, myself and many other former Year 12 students received an email stating that we were ineligible for an ATAR rank?" Lochlan Ibbertson asked.
"This email that was sent out has sparked and reignited numerous mental health issues and has lead to many students suffering unnecessarily.
"This is a disgrace, and I for one hope that the person responsible for this is held to account."
Ella Gilmore, 18, was on holiday with her family and a schoolmate when the email landed.
"I got very scared. I got quite panicked when it first arrived," she told AAP.
"My school friends are all talking on group chat and they were all scared too.
"But we've figured it out it is probably a mistake when we saw everyone in the state got the same email."
Ella's mum Anna is surprised QTAC hasn't communicated with students.
"A lot of kids would have been up late and seen it when first arrived. It's all over my kid's school parents Facebook page," she said.
"But there is nothing from QTAC. The response is slow. It's not good enough."
Parent Danielle Cassar expressed her frustration on the QTAC Facebook page.
"This is cruel and unnecessary. These kids have been through enough," she wrote.
"Hopefully someone can explain this because it's not good my daughter is so stressed from this email."
The ATAR system is operating for its first year in Queensland.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
