In 2014 the Queensland Government commissioned the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to review senior assessment and tertiary processes in Queensland.
ACER found that while existing arrangements had served Queensland students well and remained fair and reliable, they would not be sustainable over the longer term. ACER recommended changes to make the system more rigorous and simpler.
Preparing for change
Following the release of ACER’s report, the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) worked to improve the senior system. The goal was to better support young people in the transition to further education, training or work.
The QCAA engaged schools and education experts in consultation activities and technical work. This informed future decisions about senior assessment and tertiary entrance systems.
Senior curriculum and assessment working groups
The QCAA Board established a cross-sector steering committee to coordinate the approach. The committee created 22 subject working groups to provide expert advice on specific technical issues relating to the review recommendations on types of assessment, including internal and external assessment, and the relative impact on senior syllabuses. These working groups included representatives of the 3 schooling sectors, unions, tertiary institutions and subject associations.
The working groups addressed all Authority and Authority-registered subjects, with some groups focusing on a number of related subjects.
Subject areas covered
- English
- Specialist Mathematics
- Foundation Mathematics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Sciences
- History
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
- Geography
- Business
- Economics and Legal Studies
- Performing Arts
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Health and Physical Education
- Scripted Languages
- Non-scripted Languages
- Information Technology
- Industrial Technology
- Home Economics
- Humanities.
Working group activities
The working groups met 4 times during Semester 1 2015. They conducted a survey on assessment processes and the proposed role of school-based and external assessment in Queensland senior schooling.
Survey responses, the working groups’ final report, and information obtained through other consultation and trial initiatives informed QCAA’s advice to the Minister for Education about the ACER review recommendations and improvements to Queensland’s system of senior assessment.
Senior Secondary Assessment Taskforce
The Minister for Education established a Senior Secondary Assessment Taskforce to guide the development and implementation of these new systems.
The Minister chaired the taskforce. Members included representatives from the schooling sectors, parents, teachers, principals, unions, the tertiary sector, the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority and the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre.
- Last updated:
- 20 July 2026
