Selective schools in Queensland: which route fits your child?
Independent. Not affiliated with the Queensland Department of Education, Queensland Academies, ACER, Edutest or any school named.
Queensland's selective routes each set their own test: the three Queensland Academies use Edutest, while Brisbane State High and several school programs use ACER's HAST. For Year 10 in 2028, QAHS tests on 13 March 20271Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Which selective routes does Queensland have?
Queensland has several routes, and each sets its own test and dates. The Queensland Academies are a set of three state high schools2Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published; other state high schools run selective programs inside the school.
| Route | Test | Entry | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland Academies: QASMT, QACI, QAHS | Edutest entrance test 3Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 7 at QASMT; Year 10 at all three | Queensland Academies |
| Brisbane State High School | Academic Selective Entry test, from ACER's HAST 4Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 7, tested in Year 5 or Year 6 | Brisbane State High |
| School programs that use the HAST | ACER's HAST, three or four tests, chosen by the school4Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 7, a class inside the school | See the schools |
| Brisbane South's Biomedical Science Academy | a test at the college; dates sent by email5Brisbane South SSC · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 7 | Brisbane South |
| Brilliant Futures | an Edutest entrance test of about 3 hours6Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published | Enrichment in Years 7 and 8, not a school place | Brilliant Futures |
Which test falls in my child's year?
Start with your child's school year in 2026. Queensland routes start early: QASMT Year 7 is applied for in Year 53Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published.
| Your child in 2026 | What comes next | Published dates |
|---|---|---|
| Year 4 | QASMT applications for Year 7 in 2029, next year in Year 5 | Not published3Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Not published |
| Year 4 | Robina's Kingfisher Experience Day | 16 October 20267Robina SHS · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Year 5 | Brisbane State High's Year 6 test, for Year 7 in 2028 | Not published8Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Not published |
| Year 5 | A late QASMT application, for Year 7 in 2028 | Late applications run during Year 5 and Year 6, for a limited period3Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Year 6 | Brilliant Futures Brisbane test, for enrichment | 17 October 20266Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Year 8 | Year 10 in 2028 at a Queensland Academy | QAHS closes 26 February 20271Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Year 9 | Year 10 in 2027 at a Queensland Academy | Late applications are open now1Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published |
Most Year 7 in 2027 rounds have finished. Brisbane State High's Year 6 test was on 27 April 20269Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published, and its Year 5 test for Year 7 in 2028 was on 29 July 202610Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published.
When are the next Queensland dates?
The next dated test for an Academy place is QAHS on 13 March 20271Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published, for Year 10 in 2028. QASMT's Year 10 test is during Term 1 20271Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published, with no exact date yet. Brilliant Futures Brisbane, an enrichment program, tests on 17 October 20266Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published.
16 October 20267Robina SHS · 12 October 2026 · Published
Robina Kingfisher Experience Day
For children in Year 4.
17 October 20266Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published
Brilliant Futures Brisbane test
For Year 6 children who applied.
29 October 20261Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published
QACI information session
For Year 10 in 2028.
Term 1 20275Brisbane South SSC · 12 October 2026 · Published
Biomedical Science Academy applications open
Brisbane South, for Year 7 in 2028.
26 February 20271Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published
QAHS applications close
In the afternoon, Brisbane time.
13 March 20271Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published
QAHS entrance test
For Year 10 in 2028.
19 June 20271Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published
QACI entrance test
Applications close 4 June 20271Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Every Academy date by year is on the Queensland Academies dates page.
What are the Queensland Academies?
They are a set of three state high schools2Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published for highly capable students, teaching the International Baccalaureate Diploma only1Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published in the senior years. The campuses are QASMT in Toowong, QACI in Kelvin Grove and QAHS on the Gold Coast11Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Entry is by one application in a given year3Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published to one Academy, and an Edutest test of about 33Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published hours. Test results are read with school reports, NAPLAN and the rest of the application. 3Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published
What does an Academy application need?
A few documents, then more steps if your child is shortlisted. An application needs a recent photo of your child3Qld Academies · 14 October 2026 · Published, plus birth certificate and any visa details, the 2 most recent semester school reports and NAPLAN results3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published.
There is no automatic sibling entry3Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published, so a younger child applies the same way as an older one did. Shortlisted QASMT applicants then receive a letter of recommendation form for the primary school principal3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Missed the QASMT close? Late applications run during Year 5 and Year 6, for a limited period3Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published, with testing at the next opportunity. 1Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published
What is the HAST, and which schools use it?
The HAST is ACER's test for school selective programs. 12ACER · 14 October 2026 · Published It has three or four tests, chosen by the school4Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published, so the same name can mean a different mix at each school.
| School | Program | How children are chosen | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach Currumbin | Academic Excellence | HAST results, NAPLAN and school reports, then a group task and interview13PBC SHS · 12 October 2026 · Published | Palm Beach Currumbin |
| Robina | Kingfisher | HAST results with NAPLAN, reports and supporting documents14Robina SHS · 12 October 2026 · Published | Robina |
| Albany Creek | Catalyst | based on the HAST held at the school15Albany Creek SHS · 12 October 2026 · Published; it fits Years 7–9 in two years15Albany Creek SHS · 12 October 2026 · Published | Albany Creek |
| Balmoral | Innovate Academy | The HAST, then references 16Balmoral SHS · 12 October 2026 · Published; your child must be enrolled at Balmoral first17Balmoral SHS · 12 October 2026 · Published | Balmoral |
| Murrumba | Engineering Excellence | the HAST, STEM tasks and an engineering challenge video18Murrumba SSC · 12 October 2026 · Published | Murrumba |
Each school sets its own fee, from A$9118Murrumba SSC · 12 October 2026 · Published at Murrumba in its latest round to A$20016Balmoral SHS · 12 October 2026 · Published at Balmoral. Check the school's page for its next round.
How do the Edutest test and the HAST differ?
They are different tests from different makers. The Academies' test is run by an independent testing organisation chosen by Queensland Academies, currently Edutest19Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published, while school programs use ACER's HAST. 4Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published
| Academies' Entrance Test | HAST | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Edutest 19Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published | ACER 4Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Parts | Five tests, about 33Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published hours in all 1Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published | three or four tests, chosen by the school4Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Free past papers | Not published3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Not published | Not available 12ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published |
In the Academies' test, children answer by shading bubbles on the answer sheet, not circling answers in the question booklet20Edutest · 13 October 2026 · Published. Edutest scores each child compared with thousands of students in the same year level across Australia21Edutest · 13 October 2026 · Published.
A HAST report shows how your child did compared with students of a similar age who sat the same test12ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published. Either way, a score means something only next to the group who sat it.
How does Brisbane State High choose students?
Brisbane State High runs its own Academic Selective Entry test, and test results are the primary selection criterion8Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published. Applying costs A$4208Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published, and there are no alternative test dates8Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Later years
Entry to Years 8 to 11 is very limited and heavily oversubscribed8Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Can families moving from NSW apply?
Yes, but each Queensland route needs its own application. The NSW Selective test is held only in NSW22NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, so its results don't carry across.
For a Queensland Academy, a remote test is possible if you live and study a long way from the school; contact Edutest at least 3 weeks before the test1Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published. Ask Edutest whether it can be arranged, at least 3 weeks before you apply3Qld Academies · 14 October 2026 · Published, then apply early. For a school program, ask the school about testing before you move.
What if my child misses out?
Most routes have a later door. Capable QASMT applicants without an offer may be considered in a merit pool to the end of Year 73Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published, and Year 10 applications open from Term 3 of Year 81Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published.
At Brisbane State High, a Year 5 applicant who misses out has a further chance at the Year 6 test in 20278Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published. For school programs, ACER says the HAST is built to challenge high achievers, so missing a place doesn't mean your child did badly12ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
The Academies' decision is final, with no individual feedback for unsuccessful applicants1Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published. So talk with your child about what comes next, not about the score.
Does my child need coaching?
Brisbane State High points families to everyday school learning, not past papers: it says past test papers are not available8Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Edutest sells practice tests for the Academies' test, but they have fewer questions, untimed, not necessarily as hard23Edutest · 12 October 2026 · Published. Keep the weeks before any test calm and ordinary. Your child is more than one test.
Questions parents ask about selective schools in Queensland
Does Queensland have selective schools?
Yes. The Queensland Academies are a set of three state high schools2Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published with selective entry. Brisbane State High also selects students by its own test. 8Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published
Is there one test for every school?
No. The Academies use an Edutest test, while school programs use the HAST in three or four tests, chosen by the school4Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published. Each route has its own application.
Do these routes cost anything to apply?
Yes, most charge a fee. QASMT's fee for Year 7 in 2028 was A$2703Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published, and Brisbane State High's is A$4208Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Do other states have selective tests?
Yes, most states run their own selective entry, with different tests, ages and dates. Compare selective tests in every state.