For Year 12 students across Queensland, the external assessments are the final and most important step of senior school. QCE external exams count for 25% of the final result in most General subjects (50% in Maths and Science subjects), so knowing exactly when each one falls is the first step in planning your revision. This guide covers the full 2026 QCE external exam timetable and includes study strategies from our tutors to help you walk into every exam ready.
Key Takeaways
- QCE external exams run from Monday 26 October to Tuesday 17 November 2026, across four weeks of AM and PM sessions (QCAA, 2026).
- Economics opens the block; Agricultural Science (Paper 2) closes it.
- Most Maths and Science subjects sit two 90-minute papers, usually on the same day.
- If two of your exams clash in one session, QCAA moves you to the other session on the same day.
- ATARs are released at 9:00 am on Friday 18 December 2026 (QTAC, 2026).
QCE Exam Timetable 2026
The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) has released the official external assessment timetable for General and General (Extension) subjects. Exams run from Monday 26 October to Tuesday 17 November 2026, with AM and PM sessions each day.
The length shown is working time plus perusal time. For example, "2 hrs + 15 min" means 15 minutes of perusal followed by 2 hours of writing.
Week 1: 26–30 October
| Date | Session | Exam(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 26 October | AM | Economics | 2 hrs + 15 min |
| PM | Aerospace Systems | 2 hrs + 5 min | |
| Health | 2 hrs + 15 min | ||
| Music | 2 hrs + 20 min | ||
| Tuesday 27 October | AM | English | 2 hrs + 15 min |
| English as an Additional Language | 2 hrs + 15 min | ||
| PM | Ancient History | 2 hrs + 15 min | |
| Wednesday 28 October | AM | Chinese | 2 hrs + 5 min |
| Philosophy & Reason | 2 hrs + 15 min | ||
| Physical Education | 2 hrs + 5 min | ||
| PM | Spanish | 2 hrs + 5 min | |
| Visual Art | 2 hrs + 20 min | ||
| Thursday 29 October | AM | Literature | 2 hrs + 15 min |
| PM | Legal Studies | 2 hrs + 15 min | |
| Friday 30 October | AM | Chemistry (Paper 1) | 90 min + 5 min |
| PM | Chemistry (Paper 2) | 90 min + 5 min |
Week 2: 2–6 November
| Date | Session | Exam(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 2 November | AM | Biology (Paper 1) | 90 min + 5 min |
| PM | Biology (Paper 2) | 90 min + 5 min | |
| Tuesday 3 November | AM | Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies | 2 hrs + 15 min |
| German | 2 hrs + 5 min | ||
| Study of Religion | 2 hrs + 15 min | ||
| PM | Business | 2 hrs + 15 min | |
| Music Extension | 2 hrs + 20 min | ||
| Wednesday 4 November | AM | Film, Television & New Media | 2 hrs + 20 min |
| Chinese Extension, French Extension, German Extension | 2 hrs + 20 min | ||
| PM | Accounting | 2 hrs + 15 min | |
| Drama | 2 hrs + 20 min | ||
| Italian | 2 hrs + 5 min | ||
| Thursday 5 November | AM | Modern History | 2 hrs + 15 min |
| PM | General Mathematics (Paper 1) | 90 min + 5 min | |
| Specialist Mathematics (Paper 1) | 90 min + 5 min | ||
| Friday 6 November | AM | General Mathematics (Paper 2) | 90 min + 5 min |
| Specialist Mathematics (Paper 2) | 90 min + 5 min | ||
| PM | Design | 2 hrs + 15 min |
Week 3: 9–13 November
| Date | Session | Exam(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 9 November | AM | Physics (Paper 1) | 90 min + 5 min |
| PM | Physics (Paper 2) | 90 min + 5 min | |
| Tuesday 10 November | AM | Dance | 2 hrs + 20 min |
| Digital Solutions | 2 hrs + 5 min | ||
| English & Literature Extension | 2 hrs + 30 min | ||
| PM | Psychology (Paper 1) | 90 min + 5 min | |
| Wednesday 11 November | AM | Psychology (Paper 2) | 90 min + 5 min |
| PM | Earth & Environmental Science (Paper 1) | 90 min + 5 min | |
| Engineering | 2 hrs + 5 min | ||
| Food & Nutrition | 2 hrs + 5 min | ||
| Thursday 12 November | AM | Earth & Environmental Science (Paper 2) | 90 min + 5 min |
| Geography | 2 hrs + 15 min | ||
| PM | French | 2 hrs + 5 min | |
| Japanese | 2 hrs + 5 min | ||
| Friday 13 November | AM | Mathematical Methods (Paper 1) | 90 min + 5 min |
| PM | Mathematical Methods (Paper 2) | 90 min + 5 min |
Week 4: 16–17 November
| Date | Session | Exam(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 16 November | AM | Marine Science (Paper 1) | 90 min + 5 min |
| PM | Marine Science (Paper 2) | 90 min + 5 min | |
| Tuesday 17 November | AM | Agricultural Science (Paper 1) | 90 min + 5 min |
| PM | Agricultural Science (Paper 2) | 90 min + 5 min |
Source: QCAA external assessment timetable 2026 (updated May 2026). Start times are set by your school. Always check your personal timetable in the QCAA Student Portal (myQCE) and confirm with your school.
What's Different in 2026?
If you have an older sibling or friend who sat QCE exams last year, don't assume the dates carry over. The order has shifted considerably since 2025:
- The block starts and ends a day earlier. In 2025, exams ran from 27 October to 18 November. In 2026, they run from 26 October to 17 November.
- Chemistry has moved into Week 1. It now sits on Friday 30 October, a week earlier than last year.
- Mathematical Methods is now a single-day exam. Both papers sit on Friday 13 November. Last year they were split across two days.
- Psychology and Earth & Environmental Science are split across two days. Paper 1 is in an afternoon session and Paper 2 is the following morning, so plan for an evening of revision in between.
- Drama no longer requires a text selection from 2026 (QCAA, 2026).
Worth knowing: Popular Maths/Science combinations are spread out well in 2026. A student taking Chemistry, Specialist Maths, Physics and Methods sits them on 30 October, 5–6 November, 9 November and 13 November, with at least two clear days between each. Use those gaps for targeted revision rather than treating the whole period as one long block.
Key Dates After Your Exams
- Mid-December: QCAA releases final subject results and your Senior Education Profile through the Student Portal (myQCE).
- Friday 18 December 2026, 9:00 am: ATARs released by QTAC.
Want to understand how your exam results feed into your ATAR? Read our guide to how the QCE ATAR is calculated.
Essential Tips for QCE Exam Success
We asked our tutors, who have an average ATAR of 99.00, for their best exam advice for QCE students. Here's what they said:
- Start with the timetable: Map your exams onto a calendar and work backwards from each date, giving priority to your earliest exams and hardest subjects.
- Balance knowledge and exam technique: Revising content isn't enough. Practise writing full responses under timed conditions, including the perusal time.
- Understand your cognitive verbs: QCE questions use very specific action words such as "evaluate" and "analyse". Make sure you know what each one requires.
- Plan for back-to-back papers: For two-paper subjects, practise sitting both papers on the same day so you're used to staying focused through an AM and a PM session.
- Stay consistent: Short, focused study blocks every day work better than last-minute cramming.
- Look after your wellbeing: Sleep, nutrition, hydration and downtime all help you stay focused across a four-week exam period.
💡 For a full week-by-week plan, read our step-by-step guide to preparing for QCE external exams.
Maximising the Benefits of Past Papers
Past papers are one of the most effective exam prep resources. Here's how to get the most out of them:
- Complete them under timed conditions: Practise under exam conditions to build stamina and time management.
- Compare your responses to marking guides: Use QCAA marking guides and sample responses to check your work and refine your technique.
- Use them to find gaps: When you lose marks, go back to that topic in your notes or textbook before attempting the next paper.
- Repeat key question types: Practise common formats, such as short-response justifications or extended responses, until they feel routine.
- Get feedback: Ask a teacher or tutor to mark a past response and suggest improvements.
Subject-specific guides from our tutors:
- How to get an A in your QCE English exam
- How to get an A in your QCE Mathematical Methods exam
- How to get an A in your QCE Chemistry exam
- How to get an A in your QCE Biology exam
- How to get an A in your QCE Physics exam
Frequently Asked Questions
When do QCE exams start in 2026?
QCE external exams start on Monday 26 October 2026 with Economics, and finish on Tuesday 17 November 2026 with Agricultural Science (Paper 2).
When is the 2026 QCE English exam?
English and English as an Additional Language sit on Tuesday 27 October 2026 in the AM session. The exam is 2 hours, plus 15 minutes of perusal.
When is the 2026 QCE Mathematical Methods exam?
Both Mathematical Methods papers sit on Friday 13 November 2026: Paper 1 in the AM session and Paper 2 in the PM session.
What happens if two of my QCE exams clash?
If two of your exams fall in the same session, QCAA moves you to the other session on the same day. Your school will confirm your personal timetable.
When are 2026 ATARs released in Queensland?
QTAC releases ATARs at 9:00 am on Friday 18 December 2026.
Need Help Preparing for Your QCE Exams?
Personalised support can make a real difference to your exam results. Our QCE tutors offer one-on-one support in Brisbane and online, covering content revision, past paper practice and exam technique.
