QCE Exam Timetable 2026: Every External Assessment Date
Queensland's 2026 QCE external assessments start on Monday, October 26 with Economics, then English on Tuesday, October 27, and finish on Tuesday, November 17. The full timetable for every General and General (Extension) subject is below, by morning and afternoon session, from the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA). ATARs are released by QTAC at 9 a.m. on Friday, December 18.
The big dates
| Date | Exam |
|---|---|
| Mon, Oct 26 | Economics (morning): the first external assessment |
| Tue, Oct 27 | English and English as an Additional Language (morning) |
| Fri, Oct 30 | Chemistry, Papers 1 and 2 |
| Mon, Nov 2 | Biology, Papers 1 and 2 |
| Thu, Nov 5 | General Mathematics and Specialist Mathematics, Paper 1 (afternoon) |
| Fri, Nov 6 | General Mathematics and Specialist Mathematics, Paper 2 (morning) |
| Mon, Nov 9 | Physics, Papers 1 and 2 |
| Fri, Nov 13 | Mathematical Methods, Papers 1 and 2 |
| Tue, Nov 17 | Agricultural Science: the last external assessment |
| Fri, Dec 18 | ATARs released, 9 a.m. |
Full QCE external assessment timetable 2026
| Day | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Oct 26 | Economics | Aerospace Systems, Health, Music |
| Tue, Oct 27 | English, English as an Additional Language | Ancient History |
| Wed, Oct 28 | Chinese, Philosophy & Reason, Physical Education | Spanish, Visual Art |
| Thu, Oct 29 | Literature | Legal Studies |
| Fri, Oct 30 | Chemistry (Paper 1) | Chemistry (Paper 2) |
| Mon, Nov 2 | Biology (Paper 1) | Biology (Paper 2) |
| Tue, Nov 3 | Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies, German, Study of Religion | Business, Music Extension |
| Wed, Nov 4 | Film, Television & New Media; Chinese Extension, French Extension, German Extension | Accounting, Drama, Italian |
| Thu, Nov 5 | Modern History | General Mathematics (Paper 1), Specialist Mathematics (Paper 1) |
| Fri, Nov 6 | General Mathematics (Paper 2), Specialist Mathematics (Paper 2) | Design |
| Mon, Nov 9 | Physics (Paper 1) | Physics (Paper 2) |
| Tue, Nov 10 | Dance, Digital Solutions, English & Literature Extension | Psychology (Paper 1) |
| Wed, Nov 11 | Psychology (Paper 2) | Earth & Environmental Science (Paper 1), Engineering, Food & Nutrition |
| Thu, Nov 12 | Earth & Environmental Science (Paper 2), Geography | French, Japanese |
| Fri, Nov 13 | Mathematical Methods (Paper 1) | Mathematical Methods (Paper 2) |
| Mon, Nov 16 | Marine Science (Paper 1) | Marine Science (Paper 2) |
| Tue, Nov 17 | Agricultural Science (Paper 1) | Agricultural Science (Paper 2) |
Source: the QCAA external assessment timetable 2026 (May 2026 version, as published by Bribie Island State High School), © State of Queensland (QCAA) 2026, CC BY 4.0. Senior External Examinations (SEEs) are timetabled separately.
Start times
The QCAA timetable sets a morning and an afternoon session each day, and each assessment's length is shown as working time plus planning time: 90 minutes or 2 hours, plus 5 to 30 minutes. Your school sets the exact arrival and start times, so check its version. For example, Caloundra State High School asks students to arrive at 8:15 a.m. for an 8:45 a.m. start, and at 11:45 a.m. for a 12:15 p.m. start (school timetable).
If two of your assessments clash in the same session, the QCAA moves you to the alternative session on the same day. Your school will tell you which.
English and History texts
For English, Literature, Ancient History and Modern History, your school chose the text or topic you'll be examined on from the QCAA's lists. The English list includes All the Light We Cannot See, Never Let Me Go, Othello, Pride and Prejudice, The Dry, The Namesake, The Yield and Twelfth Night. You can check your school's selection on the QCAA Student Portal.
Results and ATAR
QTAC releases ATARs at 9 a.m. on Friday, December 18, 2026 (QTAC). To see yours, set up a QTAC ATAR account with your full name as it appears on your QCAA learning account, your date of birth, your LUI number and a personal (not school) email address.
Quick answers
When do QCE exams start in 2026?
Monday, October 26, 2026, with Economics. English is on Tuesday, October 27.
When is the last QCE exam?
Tuesday, November 17, 2026: Agricultural Science, Papers 1 and 2.
When are the Maths exams?
General Mathematics and Specialist Mathematics on November 5 and 6, and Mathematical Methods on November 13.
When are ATARs released in Queensland?
At 9 a.m. on Friday, December 18, 2026, through QTAC.
