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Deputy Education Minister Chaiwuti Bannawat said yesterday that the initial IT probe found that the hackers had accessed the NIETS system via students' application details.

His comment was made during a visit to the GAT/PAT university entrance exams at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.

The GAT morning session's 40-per-cent absentee rate was probably caused by students' misunderstanding that the failure to print their information from the NIETS website meant they could not take the test, he said, adding that the institute might have to arrange special test sessions for them.

The hackers' attacks, believed to be carried by dissatisfied students, led to the NIETS website shutting down on Friday.

NIETS chief Uthumporn Chamaraman said if specially rearranged exams had to be held, the office would consider suing the hackers for compensation.

Previously held special rounds for 400 absentees due to the type-A (H1N1) flu outbreak cost Bt1.2 million, she said.