Senior syllabus overview (from 2024)

Syllabus design

Syllabuses are based on design principles developed from independent international research about how excellence and equity are promoted in the documents teachers use to develop and enliven the curriculum.

All senior syllabuses in Queensland contain three elements:

1. a statement of content – what is required to be taught, expressed as knowledge, understanding and skill
2. standards of achievement – fixed reference points that describe how well students have achieved and the expected qualities of student work
3. assessment processes – the mandatory aspects of assessment appropriate to the subject.

The form that each of these three elements take in a syllabus can change over time to reflect policy priorities, system structures and the division of governance in an educational setting at any given time.

Types of syllabuses

There are several types of senior syllabuses in Queensland. They are:

• General
• General (Extension)
• Applied (Essential)
• Applied
• Short Course
• General (Senior External Examination)

For information about General, General (Extension), Applied (Essential), Applied and Short Course syllabuses, see Section 4 of the QCE and QCIA policy and procedures handbook.

For more information about General (Senior External Examination (SEE)) subjects, see the Senior External Examination pages on the QCAA website.

Alternative sequences

For more information about alternative sequences, including access to the 2025 v1.0 alternative sequences, please contact scu@qcaa.qld.edu.au.

Syllabus Implementation

Syllabuses are approved for implementation for the first time under standard delivery conditions in a nominated year. From 2024 this is as follows:

• 2024 Applied syllabuses are to be implemented for the first time under standard delivery conditions with Year 11 students in 2024.
• 2025 General and Applied (Essential) syllabuses are to be implemented for the first time under standard delivery conditions with Year 11 students in 2025.
• The 2025 Short Course syllabuses are to be implemented for the first time in 2025.
• The 2026 General (Extension) syllabuses are to be implemented for the first time under standard delivery conditions in 2026.

The nominated year is specified after the subject name on the front cover of the syllabus, e.g. Dance 2025 v1.0.

For more information about syllabus implementation, see Section 4.4.1 of the QCE and QCIA policy and procedures handbook.