Brisbane State High School entrance exam: how does entry work?
Independent. Not affiliated with Brisbane State High School, the Queensland Department of Education or ACER.
Brisbane State High School ranks Academic Selective Entry applicants mainly on its own entrance exam, sat in Year 6 or, for a conditional place, in Year 5. For Year 7 in 2028, the Year 6 test date is not published1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Not published.
How does entry to Brisbane State High work?
There are two ways in: living in the local catchment area, or Selective Entry, where Academic places go by an order of merit2Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published. The school is Queensland's largest secondary school2Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published, and it is currently over capacity2Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Selective Entry has two other categories: Cultural (a music audition or art folio) and Sporting (sporting achievements)2Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published. This page covers the academic route, the one with an entrance exam. In it, test results are the primary selection criterion1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Apply to the school
Send the Selective Entry Online Application Form with a Student Summary, school reports for the previous three semesters and the Year 5 NAPLAN report1Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published, plus evidence that you paid the processing fee1Brisbane State High · 14 October 2026 · Published. You apply to the school itself.
Wait for the ranking
Applicants are ranked. Each decision is made by the Executive Principal, and final2Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published.
What are the Year 5 and Year 6 routes?
Your child can sit the exam in Year 5 for a conditional place, or in Year 6. Year 5 places are limited, so a child who misses out has a further chance at the Year 6 test in 20271Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published.
| Year 5 route | Year 6 route | |
|---|---|---|
| Test | HAST Primary (HAST-P) | HAST Secondary |
| For Year 7 in 2028 | Sat 29 July 20263Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published | Not published1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Not published |
| What success brings | a conditional offer, two years ahead1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published | A Year 7 place, by order of merit 1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| What it asks of your child | transition activities in 2027, continued excellence through Years 5 and 6, and an enrolment interview1Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published | a Student Summary, school reports for the previous three semesters and the Year 5 NAPLAN report1Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published |
A conditional place still depends on Years 5 and 6 going well. Results for the Year 5 route came in September 20263Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published.
What is in each entrance exam?
Both tests are ACER's HAST, which comes as three or four tests, chosen by the school4Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published. The parts below are the ones in the school's own information.
| Year 6 test part | Questions | How children answer |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 35 to 404Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published | Multiple choice |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 28 to 354Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published | Multiple choice |
| Abstract Reasoning | 304Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published | Multiple choice |
| Written Expression | One piece of writing | A written response 4Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
The Year 6 timings, in order, are Reading Comprehension 45 min, Mathematical Reasoning 40 min, Abstract Reasoning 30 min, Written Expression 25 min4Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published. There are no marks deducted for wrong answers4Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published, so a sensible guess costs nothing.
The Year 5 test is shorter: Reading Comprehension 35 min, Mathematical Reasoning 35 min, Written Expression 30 min1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published. It has no abstract reasoning part.
How does the school choose between applicants?
By an order of merit, with the entrance exam as the main measure. 1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published School reports and NAPLAN go in with the application. 1Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published Those reports must show continued excellence in academics, behaviour, attendance and effort2Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published.
The Executive Principal makes each decision. 2Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published There is no internal review and no feedback on unsuccessful applications1Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published, so families don't learn why a child missed out.
Is there a cut-off score for Brisbane State High?
There is a cut-off, but the score is not published1Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Not published. Applicants must be ranked above it, and the school gives no number.
| What parents look for | What is known |
|---|---|
| A minimum exam score | Not published1Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Not published |
| Past exam papers | Not available 1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published 5ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published |
| A review of the decision | no internal review and no feedback on unsuccessful applications1Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published |
A "cut-off" quoted elsewhere is not the school's figure. ATAR results describe past Year 12 students, not how Year 7 places are given, and we don't rank schools.
What does applying cost?
The processing fee is A$4201Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published, paid once a year even if your child applies for sport or music too. 1Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published It is paid through the Qkr payment app1Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published.
If the fee is a barrier, you can apply for a Selective Entry Equity Bursary for families in sustained hardship1Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published. Ask the enrolment office about it early in the round.
How can my child prepare?
Keep school going well and skip the cramming. The school says past test papers are not available1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published, and the best preparation is everyday learning at primary school.
The official samples are ACER's Sample Question Booklet, sold in its online shop, plus a few free sample questions in each Student Information Bulletin5ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published. Working through a few shows the question styles, so the morning holds fewer surprises.
Around the exam, the school recommends a good night's sleep, a healthy breakfast and your help staying calm1Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published. Your child is more than one exam.
Can my child join Brisbane State High after Year 7?
Possibly, but places are scarce. Academic Selective Entry for Years 8 to 11 is very limited and heavily oversubscribed1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published.
| Years 8 to 11 | What the school says |
|---|---|
| Who should apply | Students with at least straight A's in English, Mathematics, Science and Humanities and Social Science1Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published |
| How long an application lasts | active each year until Year 11, with no Selective Entry for Year 121Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published, but only if you update it each year with recent reports and achievements, during that year's application period1Brisbane State High · 14 October 2026 · Published |
Where is Brisbane State High, and how do students get there?
The school is at Corner Cordelia and Glenelg Streets, South Brisbane Qld 41016Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published. The nearest stations are at South Bank, for bus and rail, with Cultural Centre Station also in walking distance7Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published.
There is no parking at the school7Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published, so plan on train, bus, bike or walking. Plan your commute opens the school in your own map app.
Is Brisbane State High a good fit for your child?
Only your family can answer that. Tick what's true; nothing is saved or sent.
Your child wants to go there, and is ready for Queensland's largest secondary school2Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published.
The daily trip into South Brisbane works, both ways. 7Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published
Your child can keep reports strong through Years 5 and 6 if a conditional place comes. 1Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published
You're comfortable with a decision that has no feedback. 1Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published
You've looked at the school's own pages, or been on a tour.
When are the dates for Year 7 in 2028?
The Year 5 round for Year 7 in 2028 is finished. The Year 6 exam date is not published1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Not published, and there are no alternative test dates1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published.
11 May 20263Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published
Year 5 applications opened
15 June 20263Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published
Year 5 applications closed
29 July 20263Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published
Year 5 exam (HAST-P)
September 20263Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published
Year 5 results
Not published1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Not published
Year 6 exam, for children in Year 6 in 2027
Last round's Year 6 dates show the usual season. They are a guide only.
| Year 6 route, Year 7 in 2027 | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications opened | 23 February 20268Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Applications closed | 20 March 20268Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Entrance exam | 27 April 20268Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Results | mid to late July 20268Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
Questions parents ask about Brisbane State High
Is Brisbane State High public or private?
Public. It is a Queensland state school, with enrolment rules gazetted by the Department of Education2Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published. The entrance exam still carries a processing fee. 1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published
Is Brisbane State High a selective school?
Partly. Local families enrol through the catchment, and others win a place through Selective Entry. 2Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published
Can we see past entrance exam questions?
No: past test papers are not available1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published. ACER's free bulletin has a few sample questions, and its booklet has more. 5ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published
What if my child is sick on the exam day?
There are no alternative test dates1Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published. Call the school's enrolment office straight away and ask what it can do.