Queensland Academies test format: components, timing and entry levels

Entry to a Queensland Academy is decided largely by a single ability-style entrance assessment rather than a school-report ranking, so understanding the paper your child will actually sit is the first step before any practice begins. Braintree Coaching Australia prepares students for the EduTest-style assessment used across the three Queensland Academies, and this page sets out the format at the centre of our Queensland Academies preparation programme for entry into QASMT (Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology) in Toowong, QACI (Queensland Academy for Creative Industries) in Kelvin Grove, and QAHS (Queensland Academy for Health Sciences) on the Gold Coast. The assessment is computer-based and sat at a designated test centre, and the components your child faces depend on whether they are applying for Year 7 or Year 10 entry.

Which components does the Queensland Academies test include?

The Queensland Academies entrance test includes four core components — Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension and Mathematics — with a Written Expression task added for Year 7 entry to QASMT. Each component is timed separately and the questions sit above standard year-level work, because the test is designed to measure reasoning rather than curriculum recall.

• Verbal Reasoning measures vocabulary, word relationships, analogies and language logic. Questions include synonyms and antonyms, word analogies, verbal classification (odd-one-out) and sentence completion using context clues.
• Numerical Reasoning measures pattern recognition and abstract reasoning rather than taught arithmetic. Questions cover number sequences, shape and symbol patterns, matrix reasoning and logical deduction — the component most often new to students, because it draws on reasoning not taught explicitly in class.
• Reading Comprehension measures how well a student reads, interprets and analyses written passages, with both literal recall and inferential questions on main idea, detail, author purpose and vocabulary in context.
• Mathematics measures problem-solving beyond the regular curriculum: multi-step word problems, fractions, decimals and percentages, ratios, early algebra, geometry and data interpretation. No calculator is permitted.
• Written Expression applies to Year 7 entry at QASMT only. It is a short writing task assessing clear expression, structure, grammar and ideas.

How does each component fit together?

Each component is individually timed, and the core sections run about 30 minutes each, so a sitting is roughly two to three hours including breaks and check-in. The table below sets out indicative timing and focus; exact figures are confirmed by the Queensland Academies in the instructions issued for each sitting.

Component	Format	Indicative timing	What it measures
Verbal Reasoning	Multiple choice	~30 min	Vocabulary, analogies, word relationships and language logic.
Numerical Reasoning	Multiple choice	~30 min	Number and visual patterns, matrices, sequences and logical deduction.
Reading Comprehension	Multiple choice	~30 min	Comprehension, inference, author purpose and vocabulary in context.
Mathematics	Multiple choice	~30 min	Multi-step problem-solving, number, algebra, geometry and data — calculator-free.
Written Expression (Year 7 only)	Written response	~15 min	Clear expression, structure, grammar and ideas.
Total testing time		~2–3 hours

Because the test is computer-based, your child reads each question and selects answers on screen, so familiarity with the on-screen format is part of preparation rather than an afterthought. For a chronological walk-through of the sitting itself — arrival, sign-in and what the test centre is like — see our Queensland Academies test-day guide.

How does Year 7 entry differ from Year 10 entry?

Year 7 entry is offered at QASMT only and adds a Written Expression task to the four core components; Year 10 entry applies across all three campuses and uses the four core components without a separate writing task. Year 7 candidates sit content pitched at roughly Year 7–8 level, while Year 10 candidates face material pitched higher, at roughly Year 10–11 level. The two entry points also run on different application timelines, so check the official Queensland Academies dates for the year your child is applying.

How do the three campuses vary?

All three Queensland Academies use the same EduTest-style assessment, but the additional requirements differ by campus, reflecting each academy's specialisation.

• QASMT (Science, Mathematics and Technology), Toowong — strong performance in Numerical Reasoning and Mathematics matters most, alongside school reports and NAPLAN results emphasising STEM. Shortlisted applicants may be interviewed.
• QACI (Creative Industries), Kelvin Grove — applicants submit a creative portfolio and attend a portfolio interview in addition to the entrance assessment, demonstrating evidence of creative practice.
• QAHS (Health Sciences), Gold Coast — Reading Comprehension and Verbal Reasoning carry particular relevance for the health-sciences pathway, alongside school reports and NAPLAN results. Shortlisted applicants may be interviewed.

Why do many students not finish every question?

The EduTest is designed so most candidates complete only about 50 per cent of questions in each timed section. Difficulty increases progressively within each component, with the hardest items towards the end. Speed, accuracy and knowing when to move on are therefore part of what the test measures — not just raw knowledge. Structured preparation with timed practice helps children build the pacing habits the format rewards.

How is the Queensland Academies test scored?

The Queensland Academies test is scored against the wider candidate group rather than a fixed pass mark, and the Academies do not publish cutoff scores or release individual results. Each component is scored and considered alongside the others, and selection is holistic — test performance is weighed alongside school reports, NAPLAN results and, depending on the campus, an interview or portfolio. Because places are limited and competition is strong, a balanced result across every component is more useful than a single standout section. For how results are reported and what families can read from them, see our Queensland Academies results guide.

What does the format mean for preparation?

The Queensland Academies test rewards reasoning that most classrooms do not teach explicitly, so a child performing well at school still benefits from targeted, format-specific work. The two areas families most often underestimate are the Numerical Reasoning component — which depends on pattern, sequence and matrix practice rather than curriculum knowledge — and the calculator-free Mathematics section, where multi-step problems must be worked under time pressure. The Queensland Government publishes the authoritative description of each academy and its entry process at the official Queensland Academies website. To turn the format into a study plan, read our Queensland Academies preparation strategies, work through our Queensland Academies practice resources, and if questions about eligibility, applications or campus choice remain, our Queensland Academies FAQ answers what parents ask most often.