Queensland Academies entrance test format: what your child sits
Independent. Not affiliated with Queensland Academies, the Queensland Department of Education or Edutest.
The Queensland Academies Entrance Test for Year 7 and Year 10 entry in 2028 is run by Edutest1Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published and takes about 31Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published hours. It has five tests: four of 301Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published minutes and written expression of 151Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published minutes.
What are the five tests in the Queensland Academies Entrance Test?
The Entrance Test is five tests in one session: two ability tests and three achievement tests. Four are multiple choice and take 301Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published minutes each. Written expression takes 151Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published minutes.
| Kind | Test | Minutes | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ability | Verbal reasoning | 301Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published | vocabulary, word relationships, classification and deduction1Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Ability | Numerical reasoning | 301Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published | series, matrices, arithmetical reasoning and deduction1Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Achievement | Reading comprehension | 301Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published | reading passages, and correcting, completing and punctuating sentences1Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Achievement | Mathematics | 301Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published | year-level number, measurement, algebra, space and data1Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Achievement | Written expression | 151Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published | punctuation, creativity, construction, grammar, spelling and relevance1Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published |
The bars show each test's minutes to scale, in test order.
Year 10 applicants sit the same five tests and minutes as for Year 7 entry2Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published. The test is set by an independent testing organisation chosen by Queensland Academies, currently Edutest3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published, not by the Academies' own teachers.
What is the difference between ability and achievement tests?
Ability tests look at how your child thinks. Achievement tests look at what your child has learned and can use.
Ability tests
Verbal and numerical reasoning measure thinking, reasoning and problem solving, without necessarily relying on prior knowledge1Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published. School topics help less here than reading widely and puzzling things out.
Achievement tests
Reading, maths and writing scores reflect ability plus the use and practice of what has been learned1Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published. Steady schoolwork is the base.
How long is the test, and how does my child answer?
The whole session takes about 31Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published hours, with a break for a snack. Your child answers the multiple-choice tests by shading bubbles on the answer sheet, not circling answers in the question booklet4Edutest · 13 October 2026 · Published.
hours in the session, about
minutes for each of the four multiple-choice tests
minutes for written expression
Edutest says its real tests have between 40 and 605Edutest · 13 October 2026 · Published questions each. It doesn't publish the exact count for each Queensland Academies test, so treat that as a range, not a promise.
One answer-sheet rule matters more than it looks. If your child shades answers in the wrong rows, Edutest can't re-mark answers shaded out of order4Edutest · 13 October 2026 · Published. Teach your child to check the question number before shading.
How is the Entrance Test marked?
Edutest marks the tests, with no marks taken off for wrong or unanswered questions6Edutest · 13 October 2026 · Published. So a sensible guess is always better than a blank.
The test is meant to stretch strong students. Edutest says most students get only half of the questions correct6Edutest · 13 October 2026 · Published, and many students do not finish every question6Edutest · 13 October 2026 · Published. Results are compared with thousands of students in the same year level across Australia6Edutest · 13 October 2026 · Published.
What do families find out after the test?
Very little about the test itself. Queensland Academies give no individual results or parent reports1Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published, and no diagnostic information about a child's strengths or areas for growth1Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Edutest doesn't fill the gap: families get no access to raw scores, answer sheets or written responses7Edutest · 12 October 2026 · Published.
The Academies look at results read alongside the rest of the application1Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published. For Year 7 entry that means the Entrance Test, school reports and NAPLAN, an engagement activity and other information1Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published. Families get no score, so no one outside the Academies can tell you what mark a place needs.
When is the next Queensland Academies Entrance Test?
The next published tests are for Year 10 entry in 2028: QAHS on 13 March 20272Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published and QACI on 19 June 20272Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published. The Year 7 test for 2028 entry was on 5–6 September 20261Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published. QASMT is the science, maths and technology academy, QAHS the health sciences campus and QACI the creative industries campus.
| Entry | Academy | Test | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7, 2028 entry | QASMT | 5–6 September 20261Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published | late Term 4 20261Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Year 10, 2028 entry | QAHS | 13 March 20272Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published | Term 2 20272Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Year 10, 2028 entry | QACI | 19 June 20272Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published | Term 3 20272Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Year 10, 2028 entry | QASMT | during Term 1 20272Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published | Not stated |
| Year 7 entry in 2029 | QASMT | Not published1Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Not published | 1Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Not published |
Where is the test sat, and can my child sit it remotely?
Most children sit it on campus: QASMT in Toowong, QACI in Kelvin Grove or QAHS on the Gold Coast3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published. Sessions are allocated automatically, with no requests for a preferred session or venue3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published.
A remote test is possible for families who live and study a significant distance from the school1Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published. Check with Edutest that it can be arranged where you live, at least 3 weeks before you apply1Qld Academies · 14 October 2026 · Published. To arrange one, apply, register for the test, then contact Edutest Remote at least 3 weeks before the test date1Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published.
What should my child bring on test day?
Pack the night before. Your child must bring two black or blue pens, two pencils, an eraser, a sharpener and ID3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Must bring: two black or blue pens, two pencils, an eraser, a sharpener and ID3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published
May bring: a jumper, a water bottle, a snack for the break, reading glasses, hearing aids and a simple watch with its sounds turned off3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published
Leave at home: smart watches, Fitbits, internet-enabled devices and watches that can't be silenced3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published
Edutest also bans calculators, dictionaries, working-out paper, mobile phones or rulers4Edutest · 13 October 2026 · Published
What if my child is sick or needs adjustments?
A child who is unwell on the day must not attend the test3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published. The family then needs a medical certificate emailed within 3 school days of the test3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Missing the test without telling anyone is costly. If no email arrives in time, the application is cancelled and any fees paid are forfeited3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published.
For a disability or medical condition, contact Queensland Academies before registering for the test3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published. For Year 10, contact Admissions before you lodge the application2Qld Academies · 14 October 2026 · Published. Agreed adjustments may mean a separate sitting on a school day, with the multiple-choice tests done on a laptop provided3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Can my child sit it again?
No. Edutest says children can't re-sit an Edutest test for any reason7Edutest · 13 October 2026 · Published, and there is one application in a given year1Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published. Illness before the test is different: a deferred test is offered with a valid medical certificate, if a later test is available9Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published.
How should my child prepare for the whole test?
Prepare for the format, not for secret content. The ability tests reward clear thinking, and the achievement tests reward solid schoolwork.
Know the five tests
Read the table with your child. Knowing there are 301Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published-minute blocks and a short writing task removes surprises.
Read widely every day
Fiction, news and non-fiction build the vocabulary and reading speed that verbal reasoning and reading both use.
Keep maths fluent without a calculator
Mental arithmetic matters, because calculators are not allowed. 4Edutest · 13 October 2026 · Published
Practise the answer sheet once
Shading the right bubble, row by row, is a skill. Use any printed bubble grid at home.
Edutest sells practice tests with fewer questions, untimed, not necessarily as hard5Edutest · 12 October 2026 · Published. Our guide to practice and sample papers lists what exists. Keep the last week light: sleep, a normal routine and a calm breakfast matter more than one more set.
Questions parents ask about the Queensland Academies test
Is the Year 7 test different from the Year 10 test?
The format is the same. Year 10 applicants sit the same five tests and minutes as for Year 7 entry2Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Does Brilliant Futures use the same test?
Brilliant Futures Brisbane applicants sit an Edutest entrance test of about 3 hours10Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published. Gold Coast applicants also sit an Entrance Test3Qld Academies · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Can I see my child's answers or writing?
No. Families get no access to raw scores, answer sheets or written responses7Edutest · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Do siblings of current students skip the test?
No. There is no automatic sibling entry1Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published. Every child sits the same test.
Can my child use a calculator?
No. Edutest does not allow calculators, dictionaries, working-out paper, mobile phones or rulers4Edutest · 13 October 2026 · Published.