Summary of key dates for QCAA-approved AARA
Key dates for schools submitting applications for QCAA-approved AARA are as follows.
Key dates | Applications |
|---|---|
October (year prior to assessment) | Alternative formats for the common internal assessment (CIA)* Phase 1 |
End of Units 1 and 2** | Applications for students with long-term conditions |
February (assessment year) | Alternative formats for external assessment and the CIA Phase 2 |
As soon as possible before assessment | All other applications |
*The CIA is relevant to Applied (Essential) subjects.
**The QCAA recommends early submission of applications for students with long-term conditions, particularly if summative assessment (e.g. IA1) is scheduled in Term 4 of the Units 1 and 2 completion year.
Further detail
Further detail for schools reporting principal-reported AARA and submitting applications for QCAA-approved AARA — for summative internal and external assessment in Units 3 and 4 are as follows.
Type of AARA | Units 3 and 4 — internal assessments (IA) | Units 3 and 4 General subjects — external assessments (EA) and |
|---|---|---|
Alternative format papers, e.g.
| Applications for Phase 1 of the common internal assessment (CIA) are due by the end of October in the year prior to assessment. Applications for Phase 2 of the CIA are due by the end of February in the assessment year. | Applications for alternative format papers are due by the end of February in the assessment year. For General (Senior External Examination) subjects, contact the QCAA AARA Unit as soon as possible after registration. Late applications may not be possible, as significant advance notice is required for design and production. |
QCAA-approved AARA (including in combination with principal-reported AARA) | For existing long-term and chronic conditions — applications are due by completion of Units 1 and 2* For all others, applications are due as soon as possible before the assessment event. | For existing long-term and chronic conditions — applications are due by the end of Term 1 in the summative year. Note: AARA for EA should be included in the same application as for IA unless required for EA only. For other conditions that are unlikely to resolve before mid October — applications are due by the end of Week 5, Term 3 in the assessment year. AARA applications for General (Senior External Examination) subjects are due by the date published in the SEP calendar. |
Principal-reported AARA only | Notification is due before the relevant confirmation event (General subjects). | Notification is due by the end of Term 3 in the summative assessment year. |
Illness and misadventure | Apply principal-reported AARA before contacting the QCAA. See Section 6.5.1 of the QCE and QCIA policy and procedures handbook and the Illness and misadventure factsheet (PDF, 184.6 KB). | Applications are due from 14 days before the start of the external assessment period to 7 days after the student’s final assessment. See Section 6.5.2 of the QCE and QCIA policy and procedures handbook and the Illness and misadventure factsheet (PDF, 184.6 KB). |
* The QCAA recommends submitting AARA applications, especially for students with known long-term conditions, as soon as possible before these dates. This will ensure timely decisions and provide students with certainty and confidence as they prepare for assessment.
More information
See Section 6.4.3 of the QCE and QCIA policy and procedures handbook for more information about AARA key dates.
- Last reviewed:
- 22 September 2023
- Last updated:
- 4 June 2020
