VCAA backflips on external audit into trouble-plagued 2023 VCE exams

A plan for an external audit into the laundry list of VCE exam errors has been shelved, days after the latest stuff up saw Chinese Second Language students forced to cross out a question in their exam.

Students were forced to cross out an exam question in another VCAA exam stuff up.

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority has backflipped on its plan to conduct an external audit into this year’s error-plagued VCE exams, despite outgoing CEO Stephen Gniel supporting the idea three days ago.

Mr Gniel said having someone unassociated with the VCAA conduct an impartial and independent review was a “good idea” on Tuesday, amid mounting pressure the government agency should investigate what led to eight embarrassing year 12 exam blunders, revealed by the Herald Sun.

“We don’t want to just look at it internally here, we do want some fresh eyes on this … Something has gone wrong and we’ll make sure we’re better for it,” he said.

But the VCAA will no longer seek “fresh eyes” to review the bungled exams, with a spokesperson confirming a comprehensive review “of exam writing and vetting processes” will now occur internally alongside the Department of Education.

“The VCAA reiterates the apology for undue stress this has caused schools and students and has taken steps to ensure that no student is disadvantaged by these errors,” the VCAA spokesperson said.

Stephen Gniel initially supported calls for an external audit into the error-plagued VCE exams. Picture: Ian Currie

Opposition spokesperson for education Jess Wilson has labelled the VCAA’s decision to not commission an independent review as “unacceptable”.

“Just two days ago, students, school communities and families were led to believe an independent review of these errors would occur – now the government has backflipped in an effort to keep the truth hidden,” she said.

“A review conducted by the same people responsible for these mistakes will not get to the bottom of what went wrong, or fix the system for future years … (Education Minister Ben Carroll) must ensure a truly independent review is conducted.”

The VCAA said its internal review will be completed in time for next year’s VCE exams.

Last week’s leaking of the 2023 Chinese Second Language paper led to students deleting a question in the final exam of the error-ridden 2024 VCE test period on Wednesday.

Students were asked to cross out a question and write on another topic instead.

Chief supervisors instructed students before reading time to cross out the question and remove all subsequent references to it.

An image of students leaking the Chinese Second Language exam.

As the Herald Sun revealed last week, the Chinese Second Language paper was accidentally given to six students at two schools instead of the Chinese Second Language Advanced paper.

Students started sharing the contents of the exam online although they were later asked to sign confidentiality agreements.

The VCAA, which did not have a spare exam paper, was forced to modify the leaked one, with a VCAA spokesperson adding it was to “protect the integrity of the exam”.

It’s the eighth embarrassing error in this year’s exam period, which also included mistakes in general, methods and specialist maths and chemistry.

Students are now calling on the VCAA to publish a full list of this year’s mistakes, overhaul its exam processes and have experts write and vet every test paper in a change.org petition that’s gained almost 200 signatures in 48 hours.

Other demands from the High School Activate group include releasing all unedited exam papers and marking schemes by December 11 – the day year 12 VCE students receive their ATARs.

“These errors have consequences – they decide whether students can get into the university course they want,” the petition by the new student-led group said.

“For Victoria to be taken credibly as the ‘Education State’, this is one of the things that the government just can’t drag its feet on. It must be fixed, properly, by the next exam cycle.”

It comes as the VCAA released its delayed 2021 to 2022 report on Wednesday, which shows the agency has spent more than usual in that period.

“The impact of COVID-19 on the 2021–22 financial statements has seen increased expenditure related to conducting key activities such VCE examinations in line with COVID-19 requirements,” the report said.

Meanwhile, the 2022/2023 report has not been tabled by the parliamentary deadline.

Ms Wilson said Mr Carroll has “serious questions” to answer about the VCAA’s performance.

“How can Victorians have confidence in an assessment authority that has failed students during the VCE exams and is also shrouded in secrecy when it comes to its own financial performance?” she said.

“Labor cannot keep this report buried for another 12 months and must ensure it is finalised and publicly released before the end of the year.”

The VCAA Board Chair will work with the Department of Education to conduct a comprehensive review of the 2023 VCE exam period, with any recommended changes to be made prior to the 2024 VCE exams to ensure they meet the highest possible standard.