Can you apply to more than one Queensland Academy campus?

For Year 10 entry you may submit only one application per year across the three campuses, so you must choose QASMT, QACI or QAHS. QASMT Year 7 entry is a separate application and does not prevent a later Year 10 application to another campus. Campus transfers mid-programme are not permitted.

Which Queensland Academy offers Year 7 entry?

QASMT in Toowong is the only Queensland Academy offering Year 7 entry, applied for in Year 5. QACI and QAHS offer Year 10 entry only, applied for in Year 8.

Does choosing a campus change the entrance test?

The core EduTest-style assessment is the same across all three campuses. The differences are in the additional requirements: QACI asks for a creative portfolio and interview, while QASMT and QAHS may interview shortlisted applicants. Different campuses also give particular relevance to different components when weighing a holistic result.

How should we decide between QASMT, QACI and QAHS?

Start with the child's strongest sustained interest, since each academy is built around one field. Then check the entry level, weigh the additional requirements such as QACI's portfolio, and factor in location and travel. Because only one Year 10 application is allowed per year, match the choice to the child's clearest direction.

Queensland Academies campus selection: QASMT vs QACI vs QAHS

Quick answer

The three Queensland Academies use the same EduTest-style entrance assessment, but they specialise in different fields and have different entry levels, so the right campus depends on your child rather than on which is "best". This guide sets out what each academy specialises in, how their entry differs, and a simple framework for matching a campus to a child's interests and the years ahead.

The three campuses at a glance

QASMT (Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology) in Toowong specialises in STEM and is the only academy offering Year 7 entry as well as Year 10 entry. QACI (Queensland Academy for Creative Industries) in Kelvin Grove specialises in visual arts, design and media, with Year 10 entry only. QAHS (Queensland Academy for Health Sciences) on the Gold Coast specialises in health and the sciences underpinning it, also with Year 10 entry only. All three deliver the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the senior years.

QASMT — Science, Mathematics and Technology

QASMT suits students drawn to mathematics, the sciences and technology who enjoy problem-solving and investigation. Because it offers Year 7 entry, it is the campus families consider earliest, applying in Year 5. In the entrance assessment, strong Numerical Reasoning and Mathematics carry particular weight, and shortlisted applicants may be interviewed. Choose QASMT when a child's interests are clearly STEM-leaning and the family wants the option of an earlier, Year 7 start.

QACI — Creative Industries

QACI suits students with a genuine, demonstrable interest in the creative arts — visual art, design, film and media. In addition to the entrance assessment, QACI applicants submit a creative portfolio and attend a portfolio interview, so evidence of creative practice matters as much as test performance. Choose QACI when a child is already creating work they care about and wants a senior pathway built around the creative industries.

QAHS — Health Sciences

QAHS suits students interested in health, medicine and the life sciences, and partners with a university to extend that focus. Reading Comprehension and Verbal Reasoning carry particular relevance for the health-sciences pathway, alongside school reports and NAPLAN results, and shortlisted applicants may be interviewed. Choose QAHS when a child is oriented toward health and the sciences and is comfortable with the Gold Coast location.

A simple decision framework

Start with the child, not the campus. First, identify their strongest and most sustained interest — STEM, creative practice, or health and life sciences — because each academy is built around one. Second, check the entry level: only QASMT offers Year 7 entry, so families wanting an earlier start are choosing QASMT by default. Third, weigh the additional requirements: QACI's portfolio and interview suit children already making creative work, while QASMT and QAHS reward a balanced reasoning result. Finally, factor in location and travel, since QAHS is on the Gold Coast and the two Brisbane campuses are in Toowong and Kelvin Grove. Because for Year 10 entry you may apply to only one campus per year, this choice is made once per cycle — so match it to the child's clearest direction rather than hedging.

Primary sources

Queensland Academies — official information and entry process

Frequently asked questions

Can you apply to more than one Queensland Academy campus?: For Year 10 entry you may submit only one application per year across the three campuses, so you must choose QASMT, QACI or QAHS. QASMT Year 7 entry is a separate application and does not prevent a later Year 10 application to another campus. Campus transfers mid-programme are not permitted.
Which Queensland Academy offers Year 7 entry?: QASMT in Toowong is the only Queensland Academy offering Year 7 entry, applied for in Year 5. QACI and QAHS offer Year 10 entry only, applied for in Year 8.
Does choosing a campus change the entrance test?: The core EduTest-style assessment is the same across all three campuses. The differences are in the additional requirements: QACI asks for a creative portfolio and interview, while QASMT and QAHS may interview shortlisted applicants. Different campuses also give particular relevance to different components when weighing a holistic result.
How should we decide between QASMT, QACI and QAHS?: Start with the child's strongest sustained interest, since each academy is built around one field. Then check the entry level, weigh the additional requirements such as QACI's portfolio, and factor in location and travel. Because only one Year 10 application is allowed per year, match the choice to the child's clearest direction.

Prepare for your chosen Queensland Academy

Once you have chosen a campus, the entrance assessment is the same EduTest-style paper. Start with the Queensland Academies hub for the format, a staged study plan and practice resources.

Explore Queensland Academies preparation

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