Entrance Test Policy

​​​​​The Queensland Aca​​​demies Entrance Test

An applicant must complete a Queensland Academies Entrance Test before their application can be assessed and they can be considered for enrolment. Applicants for the Brilliant Futures Gold Coast Program must also sit an Entrance Test.   

Entrance Tests are conducted by an independent third-party Testing organisation selected by Queensland Academies (currently Edutest).  

The applicant’s Primary contact Parent/Carer must create an account and register for the Entrance Test directly with the Testing organisation.  The Testing organisation’s Terms and Conditions should be reviewed prior to submitting an application to Queensland Academies.

Access Arrangemen​ts and Reasonable Adjustments (AARA)

We are committed to ensuring that students across Queensland from all abilities are able to participate in the Queensland Academies selective entry application process supported by reasonable adjustments and supports tailored to meet their individual needs. 

Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments (AARA) are available to enable an applicant with a disability or chronic medical condition to access the Entrance Test on an equivalent basis to their peers. 

AARA requests are considered on a case-by-case basis, and must be supported by evidence of the applicant’s learning support needs and the support/s provided in exam conditions at the applicant’s current school, or during NAPLAN.  

Whilst all efforts are taken to accommodate AARA requests, it is important to note that they must be reasonably possible for the school to administer to be approved.

AARA requests must encourage independence and enable the work produced to be authenticated as the student’s own. Note that adjustments that are appropriate in a learning environment may not be appropriate in an assessment environment. 

Applicants requesting Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments must contact Queensland Academies for advice prior to registering for the Entrance test. 

An applicant with approved AARA may be offered registration for an Alternate sitting of the Entrance test, in order that approved access arrangements and reasonable adjustments can be put in place. Alternate test sittings are conducted on a school day and supervised by Queensland Academies staff.  Multiple choice subtests are completed on a laptop (provided). 

To request Access Arrangements or Reasonable Adjustments:

• Contact the Queensland Academies Admissions Manager prior to applying, or when prompted during the online application process
• Provide supporting documentation (typically in the form of medical documentation, approved NAPLAN adjustments, evidence of adjustments in current school-based exams).
• Supporting documentation will be forwarded to the appropriate Academy staff (Guidance officer/Director of Inclusion and Principal).  
• The Parent/Carer will be informed of approved Entrance Test AARA and invited to register for an Entrance test, which may be the scheduled or an alternate sitting (depending on individual needs and approvals).
  

Registering for an En​​trance test

After a Primary contact Parent/Carer has submitted an online application through the Queensland Academies applications portal, Queensland Academies will send that Parent/Carer an Invitation to Register for an Entrance Test, via email.  

Registration must be completed as soon as possible, and before the Test registration close date and time noted on the Invitation.

The Primary contact Parent/Carer can expect to receive the Invitation to Register for an Entrance Test email within 5 school days of submitting the application and by no later than the end of the school day following the Standard Applications Process Close date.  

• If you have not received an Invitation to register for an Entrance test within these timeframes: Check your Spam/Junk email folders, and contact Queensland Academies if unable to locate.

All Primary contact Parents/Carers are expected to:

• complete registration for an Entrance test within 3 days of receiving the Invitation to register for an Entrance test, and by the Test Registration Close date and time, whichever is sooner.
  
• check emails frequently and save emails ending in eq.edu.au to your safe senders list
  
• contact Queensland Academies if you believe you are not receiving emails

If you do not register for the Entrance Test noted on your Invitation:

Prior to the Test registration close date: Queensland Academies works hard to ensure all applicants register for an Entrance Test.  From the original invitation, up to 24 hours prior to the Test Registration Close date and time, Queensland Academies will send the Primary Contact Parent/Carer up to 2 Reminder to register emails for the test session noted on the original Invitation.  

After the Test Registration Close date and time, you will not be able to register for the test session noted on your Invitation. 

If you are unable to register for the test session noted on your Invitation by the Registration close date and you are requesting a reschedule: you must contact the Queensland Academies Manager within 3 school days of the Registration close date, and provide supporting documentation/statements to explain why you cannot/did not register.  The Queensland Academies Manager will review your request and determine whether a reschedule can be offered:

• Where a reschedule is offered, you will be invited to register for an Entrance Test at the next possible opportunity.  If your application was submitted through the Standard Application Process, it will be moved into the Principal’s Discretionary Process*.
  
• Where a reschedule is not offered, your application will be cancelled.  Any application fees paid will be forfeited.

The Queensland Academies Manager will notify you of the decision via email. 

If you do not register by the Registration Close date and we do not receive email contact from you within 3 school days of the Registration close date, your application will be cancelled and any application fees you have paid will be forfeited.

*There is no Principal's Discretionary Process for the Brilliant Futures Gold Coast Program. 

Test da​​tes

Test days, sessions and times

Entrance tests are conducted during Queensland state school terms, and may be conducted on school days or on weekends (Saturday and Sunday), in morning and afternoon sessions, in or outside of regular school times.

Where a test is conducted over multiple sessions, you will be allocated a test session through an automatic scheduling process.  

We are not able to accept requests for preferred session, change of session or preferred test venue.

You must attend the Entrance Test to which you have been invited and registered*, and the session which you have been allocated, at the designated test venue (QASMT [Toowong], QACI [Kelvin Grove] or QAHS [Gold Coast]).

* if you have a registered Remote test, or are registered and part of the Edutest Transfer of results process, you will not attend an on-campus test, however, your results will be provided to Queensland Academies alongside those of other applicants registered to that test sitting.

If you do not attend your test:

If you cannot or do not attend your registered test or session and are requesting a reschedule, you must email the Queensland Academies Manager within 3 school days of the test date, providing reasons for your non-attendance.

If you do not attend your registered Entrance test session and we do not receive email contact from you within 3 school days of the Entrance test date, your application will be cancelled and any application fees you have paid will be forfeited.

Requesting a Defe​​​​​rred Entrance test:

We will consider a request for deferral of an applicant’s Entrance test where:

• The applicant experiences illness on or prior to the Entrance test date, or misadventure on test day (see section below).
• the applicant is participating in a special school-based activity, such as a school exam, school camp, or (non-routine) special school sport, leadership, academic, cultural or performance event
• the applicant is representing Queensland or Australia in an official duty (in a sporting, academic or cultural) event.
• the test coincides with the birth, death, unexpected serious health impact or marriage of an immediate family member or close personal friend.

We will not consider a request for a Deferred Entrance test where: 

• The scheduled test date clashes with:
• Routine school activities
• Local or regional cultural, sporting or academic events: team or individual
• Group or individual rehearsals
• Family holidays scheduled during Queensland state school terms
• Personal travel
• Birthdays and celebratory days (eg Father’s day)
• Spectating at a sibling or family member event
• non-attendance on the scheduled Entrance test date is due to matters that could have been avoided:
• missed alarm or traffic delays
• missing or misreading an email
• forgetting the test date
  

Contact Queensland Academies to seek advice if you are requesting test date deferral for a reason other than noted above.  

All requests for a Deferred test must be made in writing and accompanied by supporting statements/documentation or evidence, to the Queensland Academies Manager, admissions@qa.eq.edu.au. Supporting documentation must be on official letterhead (including statements from religious and cultural authorities).

A candidate who is unable to provide suitable evidence to support a request for a Deferred test, may request to be moved into the Principal’s Discretionary Process* and invited to test at the next testing opportunity (should there be one).  Such a request should be made prior to registering for the Entrance test.

Known Medical con​​ditions that may impact on test day

If an applicant normally suffers from a condition which may present with symptoms similar to illness (eg persistent sneezing due to seasonal allergies), these must be noted in the application. This is to avoid disturbing the applicant to check wellbeing during testing.  Parents/carers must take reasonable measures to support applicants on test day to ensure they can perform optimally in the test.

Medications and​​ health support needs

Except where directed as a first aid response, Queensland Academies staff are not able to administer medications or attend to an applicant’s health support needs.

Information about medical and health support needs that is held by the school where the applicant is currently enrolled is not accessible by Queensland Academies, and arrangements and approvals in place at the school of enrolment are not automatically approved for the Entrance Test. 

Applicants who, at their current school of enrolment, are permitted to carry medications, self-medicate or have an action plan, individual health plan or emergency health plan must contact Queensland Academies for advice prior to the test, and wherever possible before registering for an Entrance Test, to make appropriate arrangements.  This may include arrangements for the applicant’s parent/carer to attend to the applicant’s health support needs during testing.

Illness or misad​venture

Illness prior to the test

An applicant who is sick or has any symptoms of illness on the day of your Entrance Test:

• must not attend the Entrance Test
• Email admissions@qa.eq.edu.au to advise of your absence (Note: We may not be able to respond to emails received on the day of the Entrance test until the following school day).
• Email a valid medical certificate within 3 school days of the scheduled Entrance test to: admissions@qa.eq.edu.au
• Medical certificate dates must be inclusive of the Entrance test date
• A Deferred test will be offered where supported by a valid medical certificate and where a subsequent test opportunity is available. (If a subsequent test opportunity is not available, the application must be withdrawn).
  

Misadventure prior to the test

If an applicant experiences misadventure on the day of the Entrance Test (eg accident or personal trauma):

• Email admissions@qa.eq.edu.au as soon as possible and within 3 school days of the scheduled Entrance test, to advise of your circumstances and absence, providing a statement and evidence, where possible (Note: We may not be able to respond to emails received on the day of the Entrance test until the following school day).  
• Queensland Academies Admissions will review your case and advise you further.
  

Illness or misadventure during the Entrance test:

If an applicant becomes ill or suffers from misadventure (accident or personal trauma) during the Entrance test, they must immediately inform the test supervisor.

If a test supervisor is notified of, or observes visible symptoms of, illness or misadventure during the test, the supervisor will consult with Queensland Academies – Admissions.  Queensland Academies will assess the circumstances and make a decision whether to cease or continue the applicant’s test.  An applicant may be required to move from their testing seat.  The health and wellbeing of the applicant, as well as impacts on other students and staff in the testing room, will be considered.

An applicant may be requested to move, or their test may be discontinued, if it is considered to be in the best interests of the testing applicant and/or other applicants and staff in the testing room.  This may include where an applicant expresses that they are not able to complete the test.  The applicant’s parent/carer will be contacted and consulted as soon as possible; this may be after a decision has been made to discontinue testing.

Where a test is discontinued, the Queensland Academies Manager will consider the circumstances:

• Reason for disturbance/discontinuation
• Whether the cause (illness or event) was unforeseen and beyond the applicant’s and/or applicant’s parent/carer’s control
• Whether there was an adverse effect on the candidate or other candidates

In consultation with the Principal, the Queensland Academies Manager will determine whether the applicant will be allowed to complete any non-attempted subtests in a subsequent test sitting (should there be one), and will advise the applicant’s Primary contact parent/carer.

Items permitte​​​d in the testing room:

Applicants are required to bring into the testing room: 2 black or blue pens, 2 pencils, eraser, sharpener, ID.

Applicants are also permitted: jumper, water bottle, snack for the break, reading glasses, hearing aids, watch with simple time-telling functionality only (all noises [beeping, alarms] on watches must be disabled)

Please contact Queensland Academies prior to bringing any of the following items (pre-approval or prior arrangements may be required):

• diabetes monitor (including phone), food & drink
• epipen
• asthma puffer
• crutches
• noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs
• dyslexia rulers
• fidget devices 
• tissues

Not permitted in the testing room:

• Smart watches
• Fitbits
• Internet-enabled devices
• Watches where noises cannot be disabled
• Medications (refer to Medications and health support needs, above)
  

Behaviour during the ​​Entrance test

A successful applicant will demonstrate high standards of personal behaviour; applicants are expected to demonstrate this throughout the application process, including on Entrance Test day. 

If an applicant’s behaviour on Entrance Test day, unintentionally or intentionally, causes a disturbance that is deemed to be dangerous, unacceptable or to have an adverse impact on other testing applicants, the test supervisor and Queensland Academies will consult.  A decision may be taken to discontinue testing for the applicant causing the disturbance.  The applicant’s parent/carer will be contacted and consulted as soon as possible; this may be after a decision has been made to discontinue testing.