External assessment equipment list and calculator lists
The 2026 external assessment equipment list is now available on the QCAA website. It includes information about approved equipment for all assessment, QCAA-approved calculators, student devices, subject-specific equipment and prohibited materials.
The graphics calculator list and scientific calculator lists are also available. See memo 044/26 (PDF, 162.5 KB) for more information about the calculator lists.
External assessment guide for students
The 2026 external assessment guide for students is now available on the myQCE website.
It contains information and advice to help students prepare for the exams, while also looking after their health and wellbeing.
Rehearsing use of digital stimulus in external assessment
External assessments for Languages and The Arts subjects will require students to access digital stimulus.
Digital rehearsal files are available until Friday 18 September to help familiarise school staff and students with the process of decrypting and accessing files.
See memo 039/26 (PDF, 182.5 KB) for more information about accessing the rehearsal files.
Administering spoken assessment for Senior External Examination (SEE) languages subjects in 2026
Starting this year, the SEE 1 spoken assessment for the Chinese SEE, Indonesian SEE, Korean SEE and Vietnamese SEE will be conducted and recorded using Microsoft Teams. Testing and familiarisation will take place in September.
See memo 041/26 (PDF, 147.0 KB) for more information, including key dates.
Release of Critical Thinking Short Course senior syllabus
The QCAA's new Critical Thinking Short Course senior syllabus 2026 v1.0 is now available for implementation with students completing their course of study in 2027.
The syllabus is available on the QCAA website and in the Syllabuses app in the QCAA Portal.
See memo 043/26 (PDF, 152.4 KB) for more information.
Languages subject stimulus for Senior External Examination (SEE) 1
Schools with students undertaking the Chinese SEE, Indonesian SEE, Korean SEE and Vietnamese SEE can access the stimulus files and assessment tasks for the SEE 1 spoken assessment via the fileShare app in the QCAA Portal.
See memo 042/26 (PDF, 178.2 KB) for more information about checking the materials and preparing for the assessment.
Professional development
External assessment administration
We're offering free webinars for external assessment coordinators to boost their knowledge about key processes and procedures.
Register via the links below:
- External assessment administration procedures — Defining, reporting and managing incidents (Tuesday 20 October)
- External assessment administration procedures for EA coordinators (Thursday 8 October)
AARA in external assessment
School staff responsible for AARA reporting and approving processes can attend a free webinar on Wednesday 16 September or Tuesday 13 October.
The event will focus on AARA processes for external assessment including approved use of computers and assistive technology, implementation of other common AARA and illness and misadventure applications.
Ancient History
Ancient History teachers and HODs can attend a free webinar on Tuesday 20 and Thursday 22 October about the Evaluating criterion in the Ancient History General syllabus.
Student Management webinars
We're running free webinars about key processes in the Student Management app:
- Recording results for Unit 1 and Unit 2 (21 and 26 October, 2 December, 8 February)
- Recording and checking IA and final results (8 and 19 October)
- Setting up and enrolling students for 2027 (multiple dates from 13 October to 10 February)
Supporting quality internal assessment
Our series of free webinars and workshops to support teachers with designing, implementing and quality assuring internal assessment for General and General Extension subjects continues in Term 3 and 4.
Visit the QCAA website and search by subject to register.
Employment opportunities
The QCAA is recruiting to the following roles:
- Principal Project Officer — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education (Identified) (Permanent full-time, AO7). Applications close on Tuesday 8 September. See SmartJobs for more information.
- Senior Payroll Officer (Permanent full-time, AO5). Applications close on Sunday 6 September. See SmartJobs for more information.
- Senior Education Officer, Senior Assessment and Certification Support Branch (Permanent full-time, AO6). Applications close on Thursday 3 September. See SmartJobs for more information.
SEP calendar dates
The Senior Education Profile (SEP) calendar lists the key dates for endorsement, assessment, confirmation, data submission and certification throughout the year. See the QCAA website for the key dates for September.
Changed schools?
f you’ve changed schools recently, make sure you update your details and transfer your QCAA Portal account. Visit the QCAA website to find out how.
School leaders are reminded to check that staff have the correct roles assigned in the QCAA Portal applications and that principal’s delegate details are current.
- Last updated:
- 26 November 2025
