Murrumba State Secondary College: how does the Engineering Excellence test work?

Your child spends a full day, 9 am to 2 pm, with STEM activities and the HAST^{1Murrumba SSC · 12 October 2026 · Published} at the college. The HAST is administered and marked externally^{1Murrumba SSC · 12 October 2026 · Published}, and the activities are led and assessed by the college's Engineering Excellence teaching team^{1Murrumba SSC · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

ACER lists Murrumba as a HAST school at the Junior and Middle secondary^{4ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published} levels. The college doesn't say which HAST papers it uses on the day, so ask if you want to know.

Mostly through ordinary reading and thinking, not a course. ACER, which writes the test, says short-term training is unlikely to improve performance, and the best preparation is to read widely and think critically^{5ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

There are no old tests to work through: past papers are not available^{5ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published}. To see the question styles, ACER offers ACER's Sample Question Booklet, sold in its online shop, plus a few free sample questions in each Student Information Bulletin^{5ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

The HAST is only one part of the day here. Building a small model at home, then saying what went wrong and why, is closer to what the STEM tasks and the video ask for. ^{1Murrumba SSC · 12 October 2026 · Published}

For Year 7 in 2028, the selection day date is not published^{1Murrumba SSC · 12 October 2026 · Not published}. For Year 7 in 2027, applications are closed, with later applications added to a waitlist^{3Murrumba SSC · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

1. Watch for the next round

   Check the college's Programs of Excellence page for its next date list. ^{1Murrumba SSC · 12 October 2026 · Not published}

2. Send the enrolment enquiry

   Mark your interest in Engineering Excellence when you submit it. ^{3Murrumba SSC · 13 October 2026 · Published}

3. Pay the HAST fee by the deadline

   Late payments weren't accepted last round. ^{1Murrumba SSC · 13 October 2026 · Published}

4. Selection day, then the video

   Last round, the video was due after the selection day. ^{1Murrumba SSC · 13 October 2026 · Published}

Yes, if your child applies there as well. ACER says it means a separate sitting at each school, and only one school when two test on the same day^{5ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Albany Creek's Catalyst class also uses the HAST, and so do several other Queensland programs. See the schools that use the HAST. Check every date as soon as each school publishes it.

The decision waits for all three parts: the HAST, the STEM tasks and the video. ^{1Murrumba SSC · 12 October 2026 · Published} For the HAST part, ACER sends results to the school, and the school contacts you^{5ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

ACER's report shows how your child did compared with students of a similar age who sat the same test^{5ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published}. So a HAST score describes one morning against one group, not your child as a learner.

If no offer comes, ACER notes the HAST is built to challenge high achievers, so missing a place doesn't mean your child did badly^{5ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published}. A family inside the catchment can still enrol at Murrumba in the usual way. ^{6Murrumba SSC · 13 October 2026 · Published}

It suits a child who likes building things and explaining how they work. Tick what's true; nothing is saved or sent.

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  Your child enjoys design problems and doesn't mind a model failing first time. ^{1Murrumba SSC · 13 October 2026 · Published}

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  Your child is happy to talk to a camera about their work. ^{1Murrumba SSC · 13 October 2026 · Published}

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  Choosing engineering over Dance, Music, Spanish or Football is fine. ^{3Murrumba SSC · 13 October 2026 · Published}

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  Your child can keep results, effort and behaviour high. ^{3Murrumba SSC · 13 October 2026 · Published}

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  The trip to Murrumba Downs works on school days. ^{8Murrumba SSC · 12 October 2026 · Published}