Edutest Preparation for Queensland Academies: Master All 5 Components

What is the Queensland Academies Entrance Test?

The Queensland Academies Entrance Test is the assessment used for entry to QASMT, QACI and QAHS, and Queensland Academies describes it as "a series of tests approximately 3 hours of duration that will be facilitated by Edutest". It is not ACER's HAST, which is the test Brisbane State High uses for its Year 7 selective intake, so preparation materials written for one are not interchangeable with the other.

Unlike a school exam, the Entrance Test is built to assess reasoning as well as curriculum knowledge. Your child cannot revise for it the week before in the way they might revise for a science test, and searching for EduTest past papers will not help much either, because Queensland Academies does not release them. Each of the five components asks for a different skill, and those skills build over months.

One point worth settling early, because a great deal of published advice gets it wrong: Queensland Academies lists the same five components at Year 7 and at Year 10, Written Expression included. If your child is applying for Year 10 entry and has been told they will not sit a writing task, that advice is wrong and it will cost them 15 minutes of the test.

In this guide, you'll find:

• The published structure and timing of all five Entrance Test components
• Every question type within Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension and Mathematics
• Preparation strategies for each component, matched to how the test is actually described
• What genuinely differs between Year 7 and Year 10 entry, and what does not
• How to pace a 30-minute section when no question count is published
• The Written Expression task, including the six writing modes that may be assessed
• Key dates and fees for the current published cycle
• Common preparation mistakes and how your child can avoid them

How is the Entrance Test structured and timed?

The Entrance Test has five components totalling 135 minutes of timed testing. Queensland Academies publishes the section timings on its Year 7 enrolments page, and lists the same five components at the same timings on its Year 10 enrolments page. Neither page states a total in minutes, so the 135 is the sum of the five published timings rather than a figure Queensland Academies publishes.

Two things follow from those timings, and both matter for how you prepare.

First, the sitting is a single session, not a two-day event. Queensland Academies describes one Entrance Test of approximately 3 hours. The 135 minutes of timed testing sits inside that, with the balance absorbed by check-in, instructions and administration. Testing for Year 7 entry in 2028 was scheduled across 5 to 6 September 2026, which is the window candidates are allocated across, not the length of the test. Your child sits one test on one of those days. Applicants with approved AARA sit an alternative sitting, which may fall on a different date.

Second, no question counts are published. Neither Queensland Academies nor Edutest Australia publishes how many questions sit in any section. You will see a fixed per-section question count quoted confidently on other sites, usually a round number matched to the 30-minute timing; it has no primary source. Edutest does sell practice tests built from 20-question subtests, and that product structure is almost certainly where the figure came from, but a practice product is not evidence of the real paper. Practise against the clock, not against an invented question count.

Whether your child is targeting QASMT, QACI or QAHS, the component structure is the same. For how the format compares with the wider Edutest family, see our EduTest exam format guide, and for a structured programme across all five components, our Queensland Academies preparation course.

Component 1: Verbal Reasoning

Verbal Reasoning assesses your child's ability to think logically using language. This is not a vocabulary test. It evaluates how well your child identifies relationships between words, draws logical conclusions, and manipulates language-based concepts under time pressure.

Question Types

The Verbal Reasoning component includes six recurring question types:

• Sentence completion — selecting the word or phrase that best completes a sentence logically and grammatically
• Word relationships — identifying the relationship between pairs of words (cause-effect, part-whole, degree)
• Synonyms and antonyms — recognising words with similar or opposite meanings, often with subtle distinctions
• Classification — identifying which word does not belong in a group based on a shared characteristic
• Analogies — completing word pairs that follow the same logical relationship (for example, hot:cold as light:dark)
• Deduction — drawing logical conclusions from given premises or statements

Preparation Strategies for Verbal Reasoning

Build vocabulary breadth and depth. Strong verbal reasoning rests on a wide vocabulary. Encourage your child to read widely, since newspapers, editorials, non-fiction and literary fiction each build different vocabulary dimensions. When your child meets an unfamiliar word, have them note the word, its meaning and the context it appeared in.

Practise identifying word relationships systematically. Many children struggle with analogies because they spot the surface connection rather than the precise relationship type. Teach your child to name the relationship: is it a synonym pair, a part-to-whole, a degree relationship, a cause and effect? Naming the type makes analogies far more manageable.

Work on deductive reasoning separately. Deduction questions use a different skill from vocabulary questions. Logic puzzles and simple syllogism exercises build your child's capacity to draw valid conclusions from given information, and this improves markedly with structured practice.

One caution. Edutest publishes no target vocabulary level for this section, so treat any claim that your child needs "Year 10 to 12 level vocabulary" as guesswork. Broad, consistent reading is the defensible preparation.

Component 2: Numerical Reasoning

Numerical Reasoning tests your child's ability to think logically with numbers and quantitative concepts. It involves mathematics, but it is fundamentally a reasoning test: pattern recognition, logical sequencing, and extracting meaning from numerical information.

Question Types

The Numerical Reasoning component covers six question types:

• Arithmetic reasoning — solving word problems that require logical interpretation of numerical information
• Number series — identifying the pattern in a sequence of numbers and predicting the next term
• Matrices — completing numerical grids where rows and columns follow mathematical rules
• Data interpretation — reading and analysing graphs, tables and charts to answer questions
• Geometry reasoning — applying spatial and geometric logic to problems involving shapes and measurements
• Deduction — drawing logical conclusions from quantitative premises or constraints

Preparation Strategies for Numerical Reasoning

Master pattern recognition. Number series and matrices are pure pattern-recognition challenges. Expose your child to a wide variety of sequences: arithmetic progressions, geometric progressions, alternating patterns, nested patterns and Fibonacci-style sequences. The more patterns your child has met, the faster they recognise them under exam conditions.

Develop mental arithmetic fluency. Calculators may not be brought to any Edutest sitting, so strong mental arithmetic pays off directly. Practise times tables, fraction-decimal-percentage conversions, and basic operations with both speed and accuracy.

Practise data interpretation with real sources. Graphs and tables appear regularly here. Use newspaper infographics, sports statistics and weather data to practise pulling information out quickly and answering questions about trends, comparisons and proportions.

Separate reasoning from calculation. Children often lose marks not because they cannot calculate but because they misread the question or miss a logical step. Teach your child to read numerical reasoning questions twice: first for understanding, then for solving.

Component 3: Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension evaluates your child's ability to read, interpret and analyse written passages. Edutest describes the section as measuring "the capacity to read and interpret meaning from written passages, as well as correct, complete and punctuate sentences", which means sentence correction and punctuation sit inside this component rather than in a separate one.

Question Types

The Reading Comprehension component assesses across several dimensions:

• Passage comprehension — reading and understanding fiction, non-fiction and informational texts
• Inference — drawing conclusions that are not stated but are supported by the text
• Grammar and usage — identifying correct grammatical structures within and beyond the passages
• Spelling — recognising correctly and incorrectly spelt words in context
• Vocabulary in context — determining a word's meaning from how it is used in the passage
• Punctuation and sentence correction — completing and punctuating sentences correctly

Preparation Strategies for Reading Comprehension

Read actively, not passively. Sustained, purposeful reading is the single most effective preparation here. Passive reading, where your child's eyes move across the page without deep engagement, does very little. Encourage active reading: summarising each paragraph mentally, noting the author's purpose, identifying the main argument, predicting what comes next.

Practise with diverse text types. Your child should be comfortable with literary fiction, scientific articles, persuasive editorials, biographical texts and informational writing. Each has its own conventions, and familiarity with all of them cuts the adjustment time on test day.

Build inference skills explicitly. Inference questions are where many children struggle, because they ask your child to read between the lines. Practise by asking: "What do you think the author really means here?" or "What can you conclude from this paragraph that isn't actually said?"

Do not neglect grammar, spelling and punctuation. These are tested directly in this component, not treated as an afterthought. Review common grammar rules (subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, tense consistency), frequently misspelt words and punctuation conventions. These are marks your child can secure with targeted revision.

Edutest publishes no passage-type list, reading level or split between literal and inferential questions, so treat claims that "passages sit above grade level" as preparation advice rather than published test design. For material aligned to each component, see our Queensland Academies practice resources.

Component 4: Mathematics

The Mathematics component is a curriculum-aligned assessment of the mathematical concepts expected at your child's year level. Where Numerical Reasoning emphasises pattern-based thinking, Mathematics tests content knowledge: whether your child can apply mathematical skills accurately and efficiently.

Question Types

The Mathematics component spans five content areas, which map to the Australian Curriculum strands:

• Number and operations — whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, order of operations, estimation
• Algebra — patterns, algebraic expressions, simple equations, function rules, substitution
• Measurement — length, area, volume, mass, time, unit conversions, perimeter, capacity
• Data and statistics — mean, median, mode, range, probability, interpreting data displays
• Space and geometry — 2D and 3D shapes, angles, symmetry, transformations, coordinate geometry

Edutest publishes no blueprint or strand weighting for this component, so nobody can tell you that measurement is worth 15 per cent and algebra 30. Prepare across all five areas rather than betting on a split.

Preparation Strategies for Mathematics

Audit curriculum knowledge thoroughly. Start by identifying which topics your child has mastered and where the gaps are. The component covers the full curriculum scope, and a weakness in measurement or geometry can cost marks that stronger algebra will not make up.

Focus on application, not just procedure. The questions ask your child to apply mathematical knowledge in varied contexts, not simply to calculate. Practise word problems that require choosing the right operation, converting units, or combining several concepts in one question.

Build speed with core operations. Thirty minutes does not leave room for laborious working, particularly with calculators prohibited. Your child should be fluent with fraction operations, decimal arithmetic, percentage calculations and area and perimeter formulas. That fluency frees up thinking for the multi-step problems.

Practise geometry and spatial reasoning. Geometry and space content is easy to underestimate. Make sure your child is comfortable with angle relationships, properties of common shapes, symmetry and basic coordinate geometry. These topics are often lightly taught in primary school and appear reliably in the assessment.

Component 5: Written Expression

The Written Expression component is a 15-minute open response in which your child writes to a given prompt. Queensland Academies lists it among the five components for both Year 7 and Year 10 entry, and Edutest notes that the 15 minutes includes no separate planning or reading time.

This is the claim most often reported incorrectly. A number of preparation guides restrict Written Expression to the Year 7 intake alone. Queensland Academies does not say that, and its Year 10 enrolments page lists the same five components at the same timings, Written Expression included. If your child is applying at Year 10, they should prepare for this task.

What the Task Asks For

Edutest states that any of six modes of writing may be assessed: creative, descriptive, narrative, persuasive, expository or informative. The narrower framing you may have seen, where the task is either creative or persuasive, is not what Edutest publishes. Edutest also does not say that a candidate chooses the mode or picks between prompts, so prepare your child to write well in whichever mode arrives.

There is no published marking rubric and no criterion weightings, so any percentage breakdown of "structure 30 per cent, vocabulary 25 per cent" you encounter is invented. What follows is what strong short-form writing generally requires, offered as preparation guidance rather than as a marking scheme:

• Clear structure — a recognisable beginning, middle and end with logical flow between ideas
• Relevant content — directly addressing the prompt with original ideas and thoughtful reasoning
• Vocabulary range — using precise, varied, age-appropriate vocabulary naturally
• Sentence variety — mixing sentence lengths and structures for fluency and effect
• Grammar and mechanics — correct spelling, punctuation and grammatical accuracy
• Voice and engagement — writing that feels confident and authentic

Preparation Strategies for Written Expression

Practise the 15-minute format until the rhythm is automatic. Fifteen minutes is short, and there is no separate planning time built in. Your child needs to plan quickly (2 to 3 minutes), write purposefully (10 to 11 minutes) and review briefly (1 to 2 minutes). That rhythm only becomes automatic through repetition.

Develop a flexible planning framework. Teach your child one repeatable structure: identify the key idea, brainstorm two or three supporting points, decide on an opening, sketch a brief conclusion. It should take no more than 2 to 3 minutes and work for any prompt.

Rotate through all six modes. Because the prompt could ask for any of the six published modes, practise across creative, descriptive, narrative, persuasive, expository and informative writing rather than rehearsing a favourite.

Read the writing aloud. Reading their work aloud is one of the most effective editing techniques for young writers. It exposes awkward phrasing, incomplete sentences and unclear ideas that the eye slides past.

For strategies that connect across all five components, see our Queensland Academies preparation strategies guide.

How does Year 7 entry differ from Year 10 entry?

Less than most guides suggest. The component structure is identical. What differs is which campuses you can apply to, when your child applies, and how the curriculum content is pitched.

For Year 7 applicants, the application is designed to be made while your child is in Year 5, and QASMT is the named Year 7 entry point. That gives you a long runway, which is the main advantage of the earlier entry.

For Year 10 applicants, on-time applications open from Term 3 of Year 8, for entry two years later. The Mathematics content is pitched at junior secondary level, and Edutest reports scores by comparison with other students at the same year level nationally, so your child is measured against their own cohort rather than against Year 7 applicants. The Year 10 cycle publishes its own closing and testing dates, several of them still to be confirmed, so check the Year 10 enrolments page rather than assuming the Year 7 calendar applies.

One rule applies to both. A student can submit only one application to Queensland Academies in a given year, across QASMT, QACI and QAHS combined. Because the rule is scoped per year, an unsuccessful Year 7 application does not use up a later Year 10 application.

How should your child manage time in each section?

Four of the five components run for 30 minutes each, and the writing task runs for 15. Since no question counts are published, the honest way to build pace is against the clock rather than against a target number of questions per minute.

That distinction matters more than it sounds. A child drilled to answer one question every 60 seconds has been trained on a rhythm nobody can verify. A child trained to check where they are at the 10-minute and 20-minute marks, and to move on rather than stall, has a strategy that works whatever the paper contains.

What does a practice routine look like?

Effective preparation is about consistency and targeted improvement rather than volume. A child who practises purposefully for 30 minutes daily will generally do better than one who crams for three hours on a Sunday.

Practice Resources

Edutest sells official practice tests through its own site: $30.00 for one set, $55.00 for two sets and $65.00 for three, valid for 90 days from purchase. These are the closest thing to an authentic question style, and they are worth using. One caveat: those practice sets are built from 20-question subtests, and that is the structure of a commercial product, not evidence of how many questions the real paper holds.

Queensland Academies does not release past test papers, so families searching for EduTest past papers will not find an official set. Structured practice that mirrors the published component timings is the workable substitute. Families looking for EduTest free practice tests can start with our free mock tests to benchmark readiness, or download a free EduTest sample paper to see the question style before committing to a longer programme.

Children preparing for EduTest scholarship exams at independent schools will find the same work useful, since the five-component Edutest framework is shared across selective and scholarship testing.

What are the key dates and fees for Queensland Academies entry?

Dates and fees are cycle-scoped, so quote them with the entry year attached and check the enrolments page before you act on them.

• Year 7 applications (2028 entry) closed at 4pm on Friday 21 August 2026
• Entrance testing (Year 7, 2028 entry) was scheduled across 5 to 6 September 2026, with each candidate sitting one test within that window
• On-time application fee — $270.00, non-refundable, for Year 7 entry in 2028
• Late application fee — $300.00, non-refundable; late applicants are considered only where a vacancy arises, and no late-period testing timeline is published
• Notice of outcome (Year 7, 2028 entry) — late Term 4 2026, with no exact date published
• Year 10 entry — runs a separate cycle; several closing and testing dates are published as to be confirmed

Applications are submitted through the Queensland Academies application portal. Selection assesses four elements, and Queensland Academies publishes no percentage weighting for any of them:

1. The Entrance Test
2. Academic records, including school reports and NAPLAN
3. An engagement activity, to which only shortlisted candidates are invited
4. Additional relevant information

It is worth being clear about what is not published, because a great deal of confident-sounding advice fills the gap. Queensland Academies publishes no acceptance rate, no applicant count, no number of places, and no percentile band for successful candidates. Its own wording is that "the number of highly capable candidates seeking enrolment typically exceeds the number of places available". Any applicants-per-place ratio you see quoted for the Academies has been inferred rather than sourced, and any percentile figure has most likely been borrowed from a different state's test.

After the test, Edutest does not provide results to parents. The receiving school decides if and when a report is shared, so expect contact from Queensland Academies rather than from Edutest.

Common mistakes that cost marks

For advice on the day itself, see our Queensland Academies test day guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many components does the Edutest for Queensland Academies have?

Five. Verbal Reasoning (30 minutes), Numerical Reasoning (30 minutes), Reading Comprehension (30 minutes), Mathematics (30 minutes) and Written Expression (15 minutes). Queensland Academies lists the same five components for Year 7 entry and for Year 10 entry, totalling 135 minutes of timed testing.

How long is the Queensland Academies Entrance Test?

Queensland Academies describes the Entrance Test as a series of tests of approximately 3 hours, facilitated by Edutest. The published section timings add up to 135 minutes, or 2 hours 15 minutes; the approximately 3 hours sits above that and absorbs check-in, instructions and administration. It is one sitting, not a test spread over two days. Testing for Year 7 entry in 2028 was scheduled across 5 to 6 September 2026, which is the window candidates are placed in rather than the length of the test.

How heavily does the Edutest weigh in the selection decision?

Queensland Academies publishes no percentage weighting for any part of selection. It states that four things are assessed: the Entrance Test, academic records (school reports and NAPLAN), an engagement activity, and additional relevant information. Only shortlisted candidates are invited to the engagement activity. Treat any specific percentage you see quoted elsewhere as unsourced.

Are calculators allowed during the Edutest?

No. Calculators may not be brought to any Edutest sitting. The prohibited items list also covers dictionaries, working-out paper, rulers, mobile phones, digital and smart watches, fitness trackers and erasable pens. This is not a Mathematics-only restriction, so your child needs fluent mental arithmetic across both the Numerical Reasoning and Mathematics components.

Is there a penalty for incorrect answers?

Edutest Australia publishes no marking rule for wrong or unanswered questions, so we cannot tell you there is no penalty. What we can say is simpler and safe either way: a blank answer cannot earn a mark. If time is short, eliminate the options your child can rule out and commit to an answer rather than leaving the question empty.

When should my child start preparing for the Edutest?

This is our recommendation rather than a published rule. We suggest 6 to 12 months of structured preparation. That lead time lets reading and vocabulary habits build gradually, which is the part of the test that responds least well to short bursts of revision, and it keeps the final weeks for consolidation instead of cramming.

Does the Edutest differ between Year 7 and Year 10?

The component structure does not differ. Queensland Academies lists the same five components at the same timings at both entry points, 135 minutes of timed testing either way. What differs is the entry route. Year 7 entry applies to QASMT and the application is designed to be made while your child is in Year 5. Year 10 entry is available at QASMT, QACI and QAHS, with on-time applications open from Term 3 of Year 8. Edutest reports scores by comparison with other students at the same year level nationally.

When do applications close and what does it cost?

For Year 7 entry in 2028, applications had to be received by 4pm on Friday 21 August 2026, with an on-time application fee of $270.00 (non-refundable). A late application pathway is published with a fee of $300.00 (non-refundable), and late applicants are considered only where a vacancy arises. Year 10 closing and testing dates run on a separate cycle and several are published as to be confirmed. Check the enrolments page for your child's entry year before you rely on any date.

Where can I find official Edutest practice materials?

Edutest Australia sells practice tests through its own site, priced at $30.00 for one set, $55.00 for two and $65.00 for three, valid for 90 days from purchase. Queensland Academies does not release past test papers. Treat the structure of a practice product as a practice product, not as evidence of how many questions the real test contains.

What happens after the Entrance Test?

Edutest does not give results to parents. The receiving school decides if and when any report is shared, so expect to hear from Queensland Academies rather than from Edutest. Shortlisted candidates are invited to the engagement activity. For Year 7 entry in 2028, notice of outcome was published as late Term 4 2026, with no exact date given.

For a complete overview of the Edutest scholarship and selective exam system, see the EduTest selective exam preparation hub. Deeper guidance sits in our EduTest exam format guide, EduTest preparation strategies, EduTest practice resources and EduTest test day guide.

Dates, fees and test structure on this page were checked against Queensland Academies Year 7 enrolments, Year 10 enrolments, Edutest information for parents and the Edutest FAQ. Fees, dates and eligibility change from cycle to cycle. Confirm current figures on those pages before you apply. Guide last updated 16 August 2026.

Other state selective pathways

• Victoria SEHS preparation hub — Victorian selective entry for Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson, Nossal and Suzanne Cory