Queensland

Queensland year 12 students can pursue studies that lead to a Qld Certificate of Education (QCE), a Qld Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA), an International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBD), or to an industry apprenticeship. Of these, the QCE is the qualification most commonly undertaken by students aiming for tertiary studies.

Prior to 2008, the QCE was known as the Senior Certificate, and the QCIA was named the Certificate of Post-Compulsory School Education (CPCSE).

A QCE course can be constructed from Authority subjects, externally assessed subjects, VET courses (Vocational Education and Training), school-based apprenticeships, or a mixture of these. Most students aiming for tertiary studies undertake Authority subjects in year 11 and 12, with the goal of obtaining an Overall Position (OP).

To be eligible for an OP, students must study at least 20 semester units of Authority subjects, and also sit the QCS Test.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBD) is an alternative pathway to tertiary studies.

In Queensland, the IBD is recognised as study contributing to the QCE.

IBD students study subjects from a minimum of five separate groups. The IBD is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points in total, with the highest possible total score being 45.

For tertiary entrance purposes, IBD scores are converted into an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) equivalent using a standard conversion scale that applies to all IBD students nationally.

OPs are used to rank students statewide for the purposes of tertiary admission, based on their achievements in Authority subjects.

OPs range from OP1 (highest) to OP25 (lowest).

OP results are not published by QCAA, other than as a summary statistical report of each school's OP outcomes, in bands of OP 1-5, 6-10, 11-15 and so on.

A student's year 12 subject achievement levels are reported as very high (VHA), high (HA), sound (SA), limited (LA) or very limited (VLA). These grades, together with Subject Achievement Indicators (SAIs), are used as the basis for calculating OP rankings. Full details of the OP calculation method can be found on the QCAA website.

The QCAA gives formal public recognition to the state's top year 12 students through a range of awards, named the Qld Certificate of Education (QCE) Achievement Awards.

• Outstanding Academic Achiever - top student overall (single award).
• Distinguished Academic Achiever - for exceptional achievement across a diverse range of learning (approx 25 awards).
• Highest Achievement by an ATSI Student (single award).
• Highest Achievement by an International Student (single award).
• Highest Result in the Qld Core Skills Test - for the highest scale score across all components of the QCS Test (single award).
• Highest Achievement in the International Baccalaureate (single award).
• Certificate of Academic Commendation - for students who obtain a Very High Achievement (VHA) in at least six Authority subjects.

The QCE Awards program commenced in 2014.

The establishment of this awards program has brought Qld one step closer to the practices of the other Australian State Governments, and is to be praised as a positive move for education in Qld. This is long overdue. At Top Scores, we support and applaud this change towards a more public stance of encouragement and recognition of the State's high academic achievers.

The Queensland year 11 and 12 education programs are administered by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA), formerly known as the Qld Studies Authority (QSA).

The QCAA develops and revises year 12 subject syllabuses, oversees Queensland's system of year 11/12 school-based assessment, administers the Qld Core Skills Test (QCS), and the Senior External Exam, and performs certification and record-keeping functions in relation to student year 12 achievements.