Standard application process steps:
1. Submit an online application through the Queensland Academies Portal.
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2. Applicants sit the Edutest Entrance test at the designated venue on the scheduled date.
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3. Selected students are invited to participate in an interview.
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4. Applicants receive notice of outcome.
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The Standard Applications Process has a scheduled Applications close date and Entrance test date. After the close date, the school will commence testing, interview and assessment processes, and making offers of enrolment to successful candidates.
Students seeking entry should apply through the Standard Application Process within advertised timelines wherever possible. If a student has been unable to apply during this period, they may submit a late application through the school's Principal's Discretionary Process, to be considered for vacancies should they arise.
Standard application process timeline for Year 10 entry in 2026
| QACI | May 2025 | 6 June 2025 | 21 June 2025 | QACI
| Shortlisted candidates only
| TBC
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QAHS
| 18 February 2025
| 28 February 2025 | 15 March 2025
| QAHS
| TBC
| TBC
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Principal's Discretionary Process
Late applicants may apply through the Principal's Discretionary Process*.
*International students must contact Queensland Academies Admissions to confirm eligibility before applying through the Principal's Discretionary Process.
Step 1: Apply Online
Queensland Academies - Admissions will invite you to register for an Entrance Test at the next available testing opportunity.
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Step 2: Sit the Entrance Test
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Once Queensland Academies receive Entrance test results from Edutest, an initial assessment of academic evidence (reports, NAPLAN, Entrance test results) will be undertaken.
Candidates will receive:
- Invitation to interview (should a vacancy be under consideration at that time); or
- Notification that the application will continue to be considered through the Principal’s Discretionary Process merit pool for future vacancies; or
- Notification of Unsuccessful outcome
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There are no published timelines or dates for Entrance tests, interviews and assessment for outcomes during the Principal's Discretionary Process. These activities will occur around normal school operations and in response to vacancies arising.
Online application
To apply, one parent/carer is required to register their details as the Primary contact for their child ('the applicant') in the Queensland Academies Portal. Once registered, the Primary contact parent/carer is able to register the applicant's details and start a new application for the applicant. Only a parent/carer registered as an applicant's Primary contact can start or edit an application.
For the Year 10 entry application, the Primary contact Parent/carer will be prompted to provide information from and/or attach the following documentation in the online application:
- A recent photograph of the applicant (a school ID or passport-style photo taken within the last 2 years)
- Evidence of identity and citizenship - details from the applicant's birth certificate, passport and, where applicable, visa evidence (Australian and New Zealand permanent residents, international students and temporary residents). A physical copy of the applicant's Birth Certificate may need to be sighted - we will inform you if this is required.
- 2 most recent semester school reports
- NAPLAN results for Year 3, 5, 7, and 9 (or a reason why this cannot be provided—Year 9 NAPLAN may be requested once available).
- if an applicant is seeking Access Arrangements or Reasonable Adjustments (AARA) in the entrance test, please read the 'AARA' section of our Entrance Test Policy. Medical diagnosis letters/reports, supporting documentation from the current school or authority (eg learning plan, NAPLAN-approved adjustments, if available): should generally be no more than 3 years old. Letters must be on official letterhead and give clear information on the candidate's condition as it affects their ability to sit the entrance test, and specify recommended adjustments.
- Evidence of giftedness (where available)*. Formal assessment or report issued by a suitably qualified professional, school Guidance Officer or Gifted Education Coordinator. Only provide where the author of the report has given written consent to share this.
*Queensland Academies nurtures the development of Highly Capable Learners: students who have high levels of natural academic abilities, a record of strong academic performance, and are motivated to learn. Some highly capable learners have also been formally assessed for giftedness. Where available, information in reports may be used to assist the school in understanding a successful candidate's learning needs. Many highly capable learners have not undertaken such assessments; there is no requirement to undertake formal assessment for giftedness. Learn more about how we nurture the development of Highly Capable and/or Gifted Learners, at Queensland Academies.
Entrance test
The Entrance test is a series of tests that will be facilitated by Edutest. The tests will cover both ability and achievement.
Ability tests are designed to measure a child's ability to think, reason and solve problems, without necessarily relying on prior knowledge. Ability generally predicts how quickly a child will be able to learn and the level of complexity they can comfortably deal with.
| Achievement tests are designed to measure actual achievement or performance in some key academic areas. Achievement scores are influenced by a child's ability, as well as the application and practise of knowledge that has been learned.
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| Ability | Verbal reasoning | 30min | Measures the ability to think and reason using words and language. This includes vocabulary, word relationships, classification and deduction. |
| Ability | Numerical reasoning | 30min | Measures the ability to think and reason using numbers. This includes series, matrices, arithmetical reasoning and deduction. |
| Achievement | Reading comprehension | 30min | Measures the capacity to read and interpret meaning from written passages, as well as correct, complete and punctuate sentences. |
| Achievement | Mathematics | 30min | Measures year-level appropriate mathematical knowledge, including items tapping numbers, measurement, algebra, space and data. |
Remote Testing
Applicants who wish to sit the Entrance Test at a remote venue (ie. Other than Queensland Academies), must contact both
admissions@qa.eq.edu.au and remote@edutest.com.au immediately upon completing your Queensland Academies application. Depending on personal circumstances and location, remote testing arrangements can take several weeks to organise.
Early contact with Edutest is strongly advised - requests for remote tests should be made to by Edutest at least 10 school days before application close dates.Entrance Test Policy
Read the full Entrance Test Policy before applying and for detailed information about:
- Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments (AARA)
- Registering for an Entrance Test
- Entrance Test dates, days, sessions and times
- Non-attendance
- Request for a Deferred Entrance test
- Medical conditions, medications and health support needs
- Illness or misadventure
- Items permitted in the testing room
- Behaviour expectations on Entrance Test day
Entrance Test results
Please note that we do not distribute individual test results or parent reports.
The application process is to enable selection of the most suitable candidate from among a cohort of highly capable students for a place at the school. Entrance Test results are not reviewed in isolation but are considered alongside the other evidence provided in your application and the applications of other candidates, to form a holistic assessment of your student's academic ability and relative suitability for a place.
We do not provide diagnostic information about an applicant's strengths or areas for growth; please refer to your current school if you are seeking information and advice about your child's academic progress.
Interview
Applicants invited to attend a campus interview must bring the following:
Sample of academic work
The purpose of this sample is for the applicant to use it as a basis to respond to questions during the interview as well as communicate reasons they should be considered for a place at the campus for which they are applying. A portfolio of awards and certificates is not required. The sample of work should be from an area of the applicant's interest and should demonstrate academic excellence and innovation. The work sample should evidence an extended piece of writing or journaling; examples may include anything from a scientific research assignment, to a creative piece with supporting written analysis, to a school assignment. Please provide a copy of the work sample to be left with the interviewer (hardcopy printout or USB).
A statement of academic journey
This statement should be a maximum of one A4 page, font size Arial 10, outlining the applicant's academic journey, including the highlights and challenges.
Re-interview arrangements
The Principal will reinterview an applicant where further information or clarity is required.
Notice of outcome
Outcomes are notified via email. Applicants will receive either:
- invitation to interview; or
- notification of unsuccessful outcome; or
- notification that a place is not being offered at this time but that your child's application will continue to be considered for a place through the Principal's Discretionary Process. Further documentation (academic evidence) may be requested.
Where an Academy's capacity has been reached, highly capable candidates who cannot be offered progression to interview or offer of a place, due to limited vacancies, may be considered in a merit pool. Candidates in a merit pool will continue to be considered for all suitable vacancies that may arise. While an application is under consideration, the Queensland Academies Admissions Office will routinely request updated academic reports at the time of their anticipated release.
Application for admission is no guarantee of available vacancies or successful enrolment and any fees paid are non-refundable.
Parents/carers of successful candidates will be contacted by the school campus to accept their offer and pay the deposit fee. This deposit is deducted from the annual International Baccalaureate Programme fee when the student commences Year 10.
The Principal is responsible for all decisions on selective entry enrolment. Assessment of applications involves a number of quality assured processes to ensure every application is considered fully on its own merits as well as in relation to the strength of all other applications put forward. The Principal's decision on selection is final.
Given the detailed analysis that is undertaken in reviewing each application and the number of applications we receive, we are unable to give individual feedback to each unsuccessful applicant.
Application fees
Application fee: $250.00 (non-refundable)
Please note that we cannot accept payments via international credit/debit cards or from overseas. If you are experiencing issues with this, please email admissions@qa.eq.edu.au.
Remote online testing incurs an additional fee. See the Edutest website for more details.
Refund policy: All application fees are final and non-refundable. This includes where: an application is withdrawn; an application is submitted with incorrect information; an application is unsuccessful; an application is submitted in error, or for the wrong program; an application is submitted for a candidate who is not eligible to apply for that program; a Mid-course entry application where the Principal determines course continuity is not possible; a successful application where the candidate is unable to commence studies on the offered commencement date; an applicant is unable to complete the application process.
There is no application process for scholarships. Eligible students and their parents/carers will be contacted by the relevant principal should opportunities arise. Applicants seeking fee relief for program and other fees are requested to contact the relevant Academy Principal.
Before you apply
Choose your Queensland Academy. A student can submit 1 application only for entry into Year 10 in a given year. When a student applies to a Queensland Academy, they are making a commitment to that school. When selecting a Queensland Academy, students should consider which school best suits their interests as well as subjects on offer.
Before you apply, you must also know that:
- The International Baccalaureate Diploma is the only senior years curriculum offered at Queensland Academies.
- Enrolment is only through a selective entry applications process.
- Applicants seeking special consideration (Access Arrangements or Reasonable Adjustments) for the entrance test must contact Admissions prior to lodging an application and for alternate sitting test dates.
- International students must first apply through Education Queensland International (EQI) and meet EQI criteria. Confirm EQI criteria have been met before applying to Queensland Academies. Earlier cut-off dates for EQI applications apply. Contact EQI for details.
- Temporary Residents may be required to provide an Authority to Enrol email on enrolment. Contact Temporary Residents Admissions to confirm eligibility, prior to applying to Queensland Academies.
- Applicants for Queensland Academies Creative Industries campus (QACI): it is an expectation that students entering the QACI Dance program have previously been enrolled in an accredited dance syllabus course (e.g. RAD, Cecchetti, ATOD, CSTD). It is encouraged to continue structured dance classes either in the style of ballet, contemporary or jazz.