This QCE exam timetable 2026 lists every external assessment from Monday 26 October to Tuesday 17 November, with session times, paper durations and exam rules for all General subjects.
⚠️ calcATAR is not affiliated with QCAA, QTAC, or any Queensland government body. Dates are sourced from the official QCAA 2026 external assessment timetable. Always verify with your school and QCAA directly.
📅 QCE External Assessment Period: Monday 26 October – Tuesday 17 November 2026
📝 First Exam: Economics & Aerospace Systems — Monday 26 October (AM session)
📝 Last Exam: Agricultural Science Papers 1 & 2 — Tuesday 17 November
📊 QCE Results Released: Wednesday 16 December 2026 (via QCAA learner account)
🎓 Queensland ATAR Released: Friday 18 December 2026, 9:00 am (via QTAC)
🏫 QTAC Round 1 Offers: Mid-January 2027
The QCE external assessment timetable runs over four weeks from late October to mid-November. This guide includes the complete day-by-day schedule sourced from the official QCAA timetable, covering every General and General Extension subject. Use it alongside the QCE ATAR Calculator to estimate where your results will land.
📋 Table of Contents
How the QCE System Works
Queensland’s QCE (Queensland Certificate of Education) system works differently from VCE or HSC. Here is how your results flow from the classroom to your ATAR:
- Internal assessments (IA) — your school marks you on 3 internal assessment instruments per subject throughout Year 12. These are moderated by QCAA to ensure consistency across schools.
- External assessments (EA) — the exams in this timetable. For most General subjects, the external exam is worth 25% of your final subject result. For Maths and Sciences, it is worth 50% (split across two papers).
- QCAA confirms your subject results — combining your moderated internal assessments with your external exam performance to produce a final result from A to E.
- QTAC calculates your ATAR — using your best five General subject results (or equivalent) to produce a rank from 0.00 to 99.95.
💡 Queensland ATAR is calculated by QTAC, not QCAA. QCAA determines your subject results. QTAC converts those results into an ATAR. This is different from NSW (where UAC calculates ATAR) and VIC (where VTAC calculates ATAR). Learn more about how ATAR is calculated.
Week 1: Monday 26 – Friday 30 October 2026
| Date | Session | Subject | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 26 October | |||
| 26 Oct | AM | Economics | 2h 15min |
| 26 Oct | AM | Aerospace Systems | 2h 5min |
| 26 Oct | PM | Music | 2h 20min |
| Tuesday 27 October | |||
| 27 Oct | AM | English | 2h 15min |
| 27 Oct | AM | English as an Additional Language (EAL) | 2h 15min |
| 27 Oct | AM | Ancient History | 2h 15min |
| 27 Oct | PM | Spanish | 2h 5min |
| 27 Oct | PM | Visual Art | 2h 20min |
| Wednesday 28 October | |||
| 28 Oct | AM | Chinese | 2h 5min |
| 28 Oct | AM | Philosophy & Reason | 2h 15min |
| 28 Oct | AM | Chemistry — Paper 1 | 90min + 5min reading |
| 28 Oct | PM | Legal Studies | 2h 15min |
| 28 Oct | PM | Chemistry — Paper 2 | 90min + 5min reading |
| Thursday 29 October | |||
| 29 Oct | AM | Physical Education | 2h 5min |
| Friday 30 October | |||
| 30 Oct | AM | Literature | 2h 15min |
| 30 Oct | PM | Health | 2h 15min |
Week 2: Monday 2 – Friday 6 November 2026
| Date | Session | Subject | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 2 November | |||
| 2 Nov | AM | Biology — Paper 1 | 90min + 5min reading |
| 2 Nov | PM | Biology — Paper 2 | 90min + 5min reading |
| 2 Nov | PM | Business | 2h 15min |
| Tuesday 3 November | |||
| 3 Nov | AM | Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies | 2h 15min |
| 3 Nov | AM | German | 2h 5min |
| 3 Nov | AM | Study of Religion | 2h 15min |
| 3 Nov | PM | Music Extension | 2h 20min |
| 3 Nov | PM | Accounting | 2h 15min |
| 3 Nov | PM | Drama | 2h 20min |
| Wednesday 4 November | |||
| 4 Nov | AM | Film, Television & New Media | 2h 20min |
| 4 Nov | AM | Chinese Extension | 2h 20min |
| 4 Nov | AM | French Extension | 2h 20min |
| 4 Nov | AM | German Extension | 2h 20min |
| 4 Nov | PM | Italian | 2h 5min |
| 4 Nov | PM | General Mathematics — Paper 1 | 90min + 5min reading |
| 4 Nov | PM | Specialist Mathematics — Paper 1 | 90min + 5min reading |
| Thursday 5 November | |||
| 5 Nov | AM | Modern History | 2h 15min |
| 5 Nov | AM | General Mathematics — Paper 2 | 90min + 5min reading |
| 5 Nov | AM | Specialist Mathematics — Paper 2 | 90min + 5min reading |
| 5 Nov | PM | Design | 2h 15min |
Week 3: Monday 9 – Friday 13 November 2026
| Date | Session | Subject | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 9 November | |||
| 9 Nov | AM | Physics — Paper 1 | 90min + 5min reading |
| 9 Nov | PM | Physics — Paper 2 | 90min + 5min reading |
| 9 Nov | PM | Psychology — Paper 1 | 90min + 5min reading |
| 9 Nov | PM | Earth & Environmental Science — Paper 1 | 90min + 5min reading |
| 9 Nov | PM | Engineering | 2h 5min |
| 9 Nov | PM | Food & Nutrition | 2h 5min |
| Tuesday 10 November | |||
| 10 Nov | AM | Dance | 2h 20min |
| 10 Nov | AM | Digital Solutions | 2h 5min |
| 10 Nov | AM | English & Literature Extension | 2h 30min |
| Wednesday 11 November | |||
| 11 Nov | AM | Psychology — Paper 2 | 90min + 5min reading |
| 11 Nov | AM | Earth & Environmental Science — Paper 2 | 90min + 5min reading |
| 11 Nov | AM | Geography | 2h 15min |
| 11 Nov | AM | Mathematical Methods — Paper 1 | 90min + 5min reading |
| 11 Nov | PM | French | 2h 5min |
| 11 Nov | PM | Japanese | 2h 5min |
| 11 Nov | PM | Mathematical Methods — Paper 2 | 90min + 5min reading |
| Thursday 12 – Friday 13 November | |||
| No General subject external assessments scheduled | |||
Week 4: Monday 16 – Tuesday 17 November 2026
| Date | Session | Subject | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 16 November | |||
| 16 Nov | AM | Marine Science — Paper 1 | 90min + 5min reading |
| 16 Nov | PM | Marine Science — Paper 2 | 90min + 5min reading |
| Tuesday 17 November | |||
| 17 Nov | AM | Agricultural Science — Paper 1 | 90min + 5min reading |
| 17 Nov | PM | Agricultural Science — Paper 2 | 90min + 5min reading |
⚡ Senior External Examinations (SEE) run earlier. If you are a SEE candidate (external-only pathway), your written exams begin from Monday 12 October 2026 — two weeks before the main QCE external assessments. SEE subjects include community languages, English SEE, and General Mathematics SEE. Check the full SEE schedule on the QCAA website.
Popular Subjects: Quick Reference
Here are the 15 most popular QCE subjects sorted by exam date — the ones most Year 12 students need:
| Subject | Date | Session | Format | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | Mon 26 Oct | AM | Single paper | 2h 15min |
| English / EAL | Tue 27 Oct | AM | Single paper | 2h 15min |
| Ancient History | Tue 27 Oct | AM | Single paper | 2h 15min |
| Chemistry | Wed 28 Oct | AM + PM | 2 papers | 90min each |
| Legal Studies | Wed 28 Oct | PM | Single paper | 2h 15min |
| Physical Education | Thu 29 Oct | AM | Single paper | 2h 5min |
| Literature | Fri 30 Oct | AM | Single paper | 2h 15min |
| Biology | Mon 2 Nov | AM + PM | 2 papers | 90min each |
| General Mathematics | Wed 4 – Thu 5 Nov | PM + AM | 2 papers | 90min each |
| Specialist Mathematics | Wed 4 – Thu 5 Nov | PM + AM | 2 papers | 90min each |
| Modern History | Thu 5 Nov | AM | Single paper | 2h 15min |
| Physics | Mon 9 Nov | AM + PM | 2 papers | 90min each |
| Psychology | Mon 9 + Wed 11 Nov | PM + AM | 2 papers | 90min each |
| Mathematical Methods | Wed 11 Nov | AM + PM | 2 papers | 90min each |
| Geography | Wed 11 Nov | AM | Single paper | 2h 15min |
Internal vs External Assessments: How They Work Together
Queensland’s QCE system combines internal and external assessments — but the weighting depends on the subject type. Here is the breakdown:
| Subject Category | Internal Assessment (IA) | External Assessment (EA) | Exam Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humanities & Social Sciences (English, History, Legal Studies, Economics, etc.) | 75% | 25% | Single paper (2h 15min) |
| Sciences (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Earth & Env Sci, Marine Sci, Ag Sci) | 50% | 50% | Two papers (90min each) |
| Mathematics (General Maths, Maths Methods, Specialist Maths) | 50% | 50% | Two papers (90min each) |
| Arts (Music, Drama, Dance, Visual Art, Film/TV) | 75% | 25% | Single paper (2h 20min) |
| Technologies (Digital Solutions, Engineering, Food & Nutrition, Aerospace) | 75% | 25% | Single paper (2h 5min) |
| Health & PE (Health, Physical Education) | 75% | 25% | Single paper (2h 5–15min) |
💡 Why this matters for your ATAR. If you are strong at Maths and Sciences, the external exam is worth half your result — so exam preparation is critical. If you are stronger in Humanities or Arts, your internal assessments carry more weight, but you still need a solid exam performance to confirm your IA grades. QCAA uses the external exam to moderate your school’s internal marks. Learn more about how scaling works.
QCE Exam Rules & What to Bring
What to Bring
- Student ID or photo identification — your school will confirm what form of ID is required
- Black or dark blue pens (at least two — bring spares)
- Pencils and eraser (for diagrams and multiple-choice)
- Ruler and clear pencil case (no opaque cases)
- QCAA-approved calculator — for Maths and Science papers only (see below)
- Water bottle (clear, no labels)
- Subject-specific permitted materials — check the QCAA examination specifications for your subject (some subjects allow formula sheets provided by QCAA)
What NOT to Bring
- ❌ Mobile phones or smartwatches (leave in your bag outside the exam room)
- ❌ Notes, textbooks, or reference sheets (unless specified as permitted)
- ❌ Correction fluid (liquid paper / whiteout)
- ❌ Programmable or graphing calculators (unless your subject permits them)
- ❌ Electronic dictionaries
⚡ Calculator policy for QCE. For Mathematics and Science papers, only QCAA-approved scientific calculators are permitted. The Casio fx-82AU PLUS II is the most commonly used approved model. Paper 1 of Maths subjects is typically non-calculator, and Paper 2 permits an approved calculator. Check the QCAA instrument-specific marking guide for your subject.
🚫 Zero tolerance on phones. If a mobile phone or smartwatch is found on your person during the exam — even if switched off — it is a breach of assessment conditions. The consequences can include cancellation of your result for that paper. Leave it in your bag, outside the room.
Tips for QCE Exam Preparation
1. Know the Weighting Before You Study
If your subject’s external exam is worth 50% (Maths, Sciences), it deserves proportionally more revision time than a 25% humanities exam. Allocate your study hours accordingly.
2. Use the QCAA Sample and Past Papers
QCAA publishes sample assessment instruments and past external exam papers on their website. These are the single best resource for understanding what examiners expect. Complete every available paper under timed conditions.
3. Study the Marking Guides, Not Just the Questions
QCAA publishes instrument-specific marking guides (ISMGs) for each subject. These show you exactly how marks are allocated — what earns a “high” versus a “satisfactory” response. Read them before you write a single practice response.
4. Build a Week-by-Week Study Plan
Start 8–12 weeks before your first exam (which means August for an October start). Map each week to specific subjects and topics. Front-load subjects with early exam dates — Economics and English are in the first two days.
5. Treat Paper 1 and Paper 2 Differently (Maths & Science)
In Maths, Paper 1 is typically non-calculator and tests mathematical reasoning. Paper 2 allows a calculator and tests application. Practise each paper type separately — they require different skills.
6. Do Not Neglect Your Internal Assessments
For Humanities and Arts subjects, internal assessments are worth 75% of your final result. A strong IA base gives you a safety net going into the external exam. Treat every IA instrument as if it is worth more than the exam — because it is.
7. Check for Subject Clashes Early
If two of your subjects fall on the same day and session, contact your school’s exam coordinator immediately. QCAA has provisions for students with clashing assessments, but your school needs to arrange alternative sittings in advance.
8. Practice Under Exam Conditions
Set a timer. No phone. No notes (unless permitted). Sit at a desk. Write with a pen. The more realistic your practice environment, the less surprising the real exam will feel. This is especially important for 90-minute science papers — the time pressure is real.
9. Look After Your Health in Exam Weeks
Four weeks of exams is a marathon, not a sprint. Sleep 7–8 hours a night, eat properly, and take breaks. Caffeine and all-nighters will hurt your performance more than missing one extra hour of study.
10. Estimate Your ATAR Before and After Exams
Use the QCE ATAR Calculator to estimate your ATAR from your expected subject results. Run different scenarios — best case, likely case, worst case. This helps you set realistic university preferences through QTAC. For a quick ballpark, try the 30-Second ATAR Predictor.
What Happens After QCE Exams
Once your last external assessment is done on 17 November, here is the timeline:
| Date | Event | What You Need to Do |
|---|---|---|
| 17 November 2026 | Last QCE external assessment | Relax — you have earned it |
| Late November | QTAC preferences close for Round 1 | Finalise your QTAC course preferences (you can still change until the deadline) |
| 16 December 2026 | QCE results released by QCAA | Log into your QCAA learner account to see your subject results (A–E) |
| 18 December 2026 | Queensland ATAR released by QTAC (9:00 am) | Log into your QTAC account to see your ATAR |
| 18 Dec – 31 Jan | Change of preference window | Update your QTAC preferences based on your actual ATAR — this is your most strategic move |
| Mid-January 2027 | QTAC Round 1 offers | Accept, defer, or wait for subsequent rounds |
| Late January – February | QTAC Rounds 2 & 3 | Additional offers — cutoffs often drop by 2–5 points in later rounds |
✅ Change of preference is your secret weapon. After you see your actual ATAR on 18 December, you can update your QTAC preferences to target courses that match your real rank. I really suggest you have a shortlist ready in advance — one course above your expected ATAR, one right at it, and one safety below. Check ATAR requirements for courses to see real cutoffs by university.
💡 Queensland ATAR timing. Queensland releases ATARs on Friday 18 December — two days after QCE results. This is later than NSW (same day) and VIC (same day). For all state release dates, see ATAR Release Dates.
Bookmark this QCE exam timetable 2026 for quick reference during the study period. If QCAA amends the official QCE exam timetable 2026, the dates above will be updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
QCE external assessments run from Monday 26 October to Tuesday 17 November 2026 — a four-week window. The exact date for each subject is set by QCAA and published in their official external assessment timetable. Most students will sit exams across two to three of those four weeks depending on their subject combination.
QCAA releases QCE subject results on Wednesday 16 December 2026. You can view your results (graded A–E) by logging into your QCAA learner account. Your ATAR is released separately by QTAC on Friday 18 December 2026 at 9:00 am. For all state release dates, see ATAR Release Dates.
In Queensland, QCAA confirms your subject results but QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre) calculates your ATAR. This is different from NSW (where UAC calculates it) and Victoria (where VTAC does). QTAC uses your best five General subject results — or four General subjects plus one Applied subject — to calculate your ATAR. Use the QCE ATAR Calculator to estimate your rank before results day.
Only QCAA-approved scientific or graphics calculators are permitted. The approved models are listed on the QCAA website and include common Casio and Texas Instruments models. Your calculator must have its memory cleared before the exam — invigilators may check. CAS calculators are not allowed in any QCE external assessment. If you are unsure, ask your teacher to confirm your model is on the approved list well before exam week.
It depends on the subject type. For maths and science subjects, external assessments are worth 50% of your final result. For humanities, arts, and business subjects, externals are worth 25% — with internal assessments (IA1, IA2, IA3) making up the remaining 75%. Check your subject’s syllabus on the QCAA website for the exact breakdown. Learn more about how your results become an ATAR at How is ATAR Calculated.
Absolutely — that is exactly what it is for. Look at the gaps between your exams and allocate your study blocks to whichever exam comes next. If you have two exams on the same day (morning and afternoon sessions), plan lighter revision the night before and focus on the morning exam first. Use the popular subjects quick-reference table above to find your subjects at a glance.
If you miss an external assessment due to illness or misadventure, you must apply to QCAA for Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments (AARA). You will need supporting documentation — typically a medical certificate or statutory declaration — and your school will help lodge the application. QCAA may grant a derived result based on your other assessments, or offer a replacement sitting in limited cases. Contact your school’s ATAR coordinator immediately if you think you may miss an exam.
A Special Examination Event (SEE) is a set of replacement exams held in December for students who qualified for AARA but could not sit their scheduled external assessment. QCAA only grants a SEE in specific circumstances — it is not automatic. If you are approved, QCAA will notify you and your school with the SEE schedule, which typically runs in the first week of December 2026.
Mathematical Methods is scheduled for Friday 30 October 2026 in the morning session (Paper 1 — technology-free) and afternoon session (Paper 2 — technology-active). Both papers are sat on the same day. Specialist Mathematics is on Monday 2 November and General Mathematics is on Wednesday 28 October.
English is scheduled for Monday 26 October 2026 — the very first day of the QCE external assessment period. English Extension and English & Literature Extension also sit on 26 October. Literature has its external assessment on Wednesday 28 October.
Most students sit 4 to 6 external assessments depending on their subject combination. Each General subject has one external assessment (some maths and science subjects have two papers on the same day). Applied subjects do not have external exams — they are assessed entirely through internal assessments and school-based projects. You only sit externals for your General and General Extension subjects.
Bring your student ID, blue or black pens, pencils, an eraser, a ruler, and your QCAA-approved calculator (with memory cleared) for maths and science exams. You may also bring a clear water bottle with the label removed. Do not bring your phone, smartwatch, any electronic device, correction fluid, notes, or unapproved materials. Your school will provide the exam booklets and any permitted reference sheets.
Yes. When QTAC calculates your ATAR, subject results are scaled to account for differences in difficulty and cohort strength across subjects. This means a B in a harder subject may contribute more to your ATAR than an A in an easier one. The scaling is applied after your results are confirmed by QCAA. Learn how it works at ATAR Scaling Explained, or see how different subjects scale with the Scaling Comparison Tool.
Yes — and you absolutely should. After ATARs are released on 18 December 2026, QTAC opens a change of preference window that runs until late January 2027. This is your most strategic move: update your preferences to target courses that match your actual ATAR. Check ATAR requirements for courses for real cutoffs by university, and use the QCE ATAR Calculator to run what-if scenarios before locking in your final preferences.
Final Thoughts
The QCE external assessment period is intense but short — four weeks and it is done. The students who perform best are the ones who know their timetable inside out, plan their study blocks around the gaps between exams, and walk into each session with no surprises about format, timing, or what they can bring.
I really suggest you bookmark this timetable, mark your personal exam dates in a calendar or planner, and start working backwards from 26 October right now. Estimate your ATAR with the QCE ATAR Calculator to see where you stand, and use that number to set your QTAC preferences strategically. After results drop on 18 December, the change of preference window is your most powerful tool — have your backup courses researched and ready.
Good luck, Queensland. You have got this.
— Daniel Mitchell, calcATAR
