The Queensland Academies are three free, state-run selective schools that teach the International Baccalaureate (IB). Your child can apply for Year 7 entry at QASMT, or Year 10 entry at any of the three campuses. Entry is decided by an EduTest entrance test, school reports, NAPLAN results and, for shortlisted students, an interview or engagement activity.
This guide explains how the three campuses differ, when to apply, what the test covers and how to choose the right campus. You can only lodge one Queensland Academies application per year, so the campus choice matters.
The three campuses at a glance
| QASMT | QACI | QAHS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology | Queensland Academies Creative Industries Campus | Queensland Academies Health Sciences Campus |
| Location | Toowong, Brisbane | Kelvin Grove, Brisbane | Southport, Gold Coast |
| Focus | Science, maths and technology | Creative industries: visual arts, music, dance, theatre, film | Health and life sciences |
| University partner | University of Queensland | QUT (Kelvin Grove) | Griffith University (Gold Coast) |
| Entry points | Year 7 and Year 10 | Year 10 only | Year 10 only |
| Senior curriculum | IB Diploma | IB Diploma | IB Diploma |
All three are government schools, so there are no tuition fees for domestic students. Each campus is a full academic school. QACI is not an arts-only school and QAHS is not a medicine-only school; students take the full IB Diploma, including English, maths, a science and a language.
Year 7 or Year 10 entry?
Year 7 entry is only available at QASMT. The application is made while your child is in Year 5, and students start in the IB Middle Years Programme. For the full Year 7 picture, read our QASMT entrance test format guide and QASMT 2027 dates.
Year 10 entry is available at all three campuses. The standard application is designed for students in Year 8 Semester 2 or Year 9 Semester 1, for a start at the beginning of Year 10. Year 10 is a pre-IB year, and the two-year IB Diploma follows in Years 11 and 12.
A QASMT Year 7 application that doesn't succeed does not stop your child applying for Year 10 later, because the one-application limit is per year.
How selection works
Every Queensland Academies application follows the same four steps:
- Apply online through the Queensland Academies Portal. You upload your child's two most recent semester reports, all available NAPLAN results (Years 3, 5, 7 and 9), a recent photo and evidence of identity and citizenship.
- Sit the Entrance Test, run by EduTest at the campus you applied for (remote testing is possible for an extra EduTest fee).
- Shortlisted students are invited to an interview (Year 10) or an engagement activity (Year 7 at QASMT).
- Receive the outcome by email. The outcome is an offer, an unsuccessful notice, or a notice that your child's candidacy stays open for a future vacancy.
Selection is holistic. The Academies don't publish a cut-off score, and they don't release individual test results or parent reports. A child with a very strong test but weak reports can miss out to a child with a strong test, excellent reports and a good interview.
What the Entrance Test covers
The test is run by EduTest and lasts about three hours. It has two parts:
- Ability: verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning
- Achievement: reading comprehension and mathematics, with a written expression task for Year 7 applicants
The multiple-choice sections run about 30 minutes each. Questions are pitched at your child's year level but are designed to separate the strongest students, so expect content one to two years above grade level.
Two areas catch students out most often:
- Verbal reasoning: analogies, odd one out, word relationships, codes and logic puzzles. Children who read widely but have never practised this question style lose easy marks. See our guides to verbal reasoning and logic questions.
- Numerical reasoning: number series, matrices and coding problems with no calculator. See number series and matrices.
For a section-by-section breakdown, read our EduTest exam format guide.
Fees
The on-time application fee for Year 10 entry is $270 (non-refundable). A late application costs $300. Remote online testing incurs an extra EduTest fee. All fees are final, including if an application is withdrawn or unsuccessful. Check the current figure on the official enrolments page before you apply.
Key dates
Each campus sets its own Year 10 closing and testing dates, so check the dates for the campus you choose:
- QACI, Year 10 in 2028: open day Saturday 22 May 2027; on-time applications close 4pm Friday 4 June 2027; outcomes late Term 3 2027.
- QAHS, Year 10 in 2028: applications have been listed as closing 26 February 2027, with testing on 13 March 2027 and interviews on Saturday 17 April 2027.
- QASMT, Year 10 in 2028: on-time applications closed on 21 August 2026 and testing was held on 6 September 2026.
Late applications for Year 10 in 2027 are still being accepted. Late applicants sit the next available test and are considered only if a vacancy comes up.
Dates change every cycle. Always confirm them on the official Queensland Academies enrolments page for your campus.
How to choose a campus
Because you only get one application a year, start with your child's genuine interests, then check the practical side.
- Choose QASMT if your child loves maths and science and wants a research-heavy STEM environment.
- Choose QACI if your child is academically strong and also serious about an art form. Read our QACI entry guide.
- Choose QAHS if your child is drawn to medicine, biomedical science or allied health, and you can manage daily travel to the Gold Coast. Read our QAHS entry guide.
Then think about travel. Toowong and Kelvin Grove are both inner Brisbane, while Southport is about an hour from central Brisbane. Three years of daily travel is a real cost.
Finally, be honest about the IB. It is demanding, with an extended essay, Theory of Knowledge and six subjects. If your child prefers the QCE and ATAR path, Brisbane State High School may suit them better. See our QASMT vs Brisbane State High comparison.
How to prepare
Start 9 to 12 months before the test.
- Diagnose first. Sit a timed EduTest-style practice test to see which of the four sections is weakest.
- Learn the question types. Verbal and numerical reasoning are not taught at school, so teach the patterns directly.
- Build speed. About one minute a question is tight. Practise each section under real time limits.
- Keep school reports strong. Reports and NAPLAN results are part of the decision, so Year 8 and Year 9 results count.
- Prepare for the interview early. Shortlisted Year 10 applicants bring a work sample and a one-page statement. Read our Queensland Academies interview guide.
Our EduTest Year 9 to 10 practice tests are built for Year 10 entry: full timed papers at junior secondary level, with worked explanations and human-marked writing.
Frequently asked questions
Can my child apply to more than one Queensland Academy? No. Only one Queensland Academies application is allowed per year across QASMT, QACI and QAHS.
Is there a cut-off score? No published cut-off exists. Selection weighs the test, reports, NAPLAN and the interview together.
Do I get my child's test results? No. The Academies don't release individual test results or parent reports.
Are the Queensland Academies free? Yes, for domestic students. They are state government schools. International students pay fees.
Can a QASMT Middle Years student move to QACI or QAHS for Year 10? No. The Academies don't offer transfers from the QASMT Middle Years Programme into Year 10 at QACI or QAHS.
Sources: Queensland Academies Creative Industries Campus, Year 10 enrolments (qaci.eq.edu.au), reviewed 28 August 2026; Queensland Academies admissions and Entrance Test policies. Dates and fees change each cycle; confirm on the official enrolments page before applying.