Year 12 Students In Victoria Get ATAR Results Five Days Early Via SMS

Thousands of final year students in Victoria were shocked to find their results delivered five days early after a computer and SMS bungle.

Year 12 students registered to receive their ATAR results in a SMS next Monday morning. To their surprise, students were immediately greeted with a text message of their final results.

The Victoria Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) said they had experienced a technical glitch. (A pretty hefty technical glitch, perhaps?)

A closed Facebook page called “VCE Discussion Space” (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority) blew up with comments about the results leak. “Someone at VCAA [Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority] is going to get fired lol,” one person posted.

Other students, like Isabelle Torney, found out about the glitch through Facebook and thought to see whether it was legitimate or a rumor. Speaking to the ABC she said, “I thought it was a scam so I wanted to try it out and see if it worked.” She confirms: It did.

Mathilde McInnes, another Year 12 student, told SBS her results were sent as soon as she registered for the text alert. “I was like, ‘is this real, like, should I get excited about this and then be told it’s fake’,” she said.

I'm so thankful I didn't get my ATAR today

— hb (@heatherbarlow_) December 7, 2016

Early Thursday morning VTAC and VCAA have confirmed the ATARs which have been received early are correct.

“Clearly a significant error has been made and a full investigation will be carried out to get to the bottom of this,” said Minister for Education James Merlino.

VTAC and VCAA will be getting in touch with schools and all students affected to confirm the accuracy of the information they’ve received and to provide further counsel.

Hate to say it but:

Photo: iStock and KnowYourMeme