Brisbane State High School has a strong tradition of academic excellence. Entry to the school through the Academic Selective Entry category is limited and heavily oversubscribed each year.
Students are selected on the basis of an order of merit.
Applying for Academic Selective Entry
A non-refundable and non-transferable Processing Fee of $420.00 applies for all Academic Selective Entry Applications. Students applying for Year 7 under this category of enrolment are required to sit the Academic Selective Entry test. This test is used to spread and rank high-performing young students. Test results are the primary selection criterion for entry. In addition to the test results, students are required to demonstrate continued excellence in academic, behaviour and effort to remain eligible for Academic Selective Entry enrolment.
Students undertaking the test are required to provide a completed Photo Identification Form (PDF, 114KB), upon registration at the test venue.
Academic Test Dates
Tests can only be undertaken on the dates listed below:
Year 7, 2026 - Academic Selective Entry Test
| Wednesday 30 April 2025
|
Year 7, 2027 - Academic Selective Entry Test
| Wednesday 30 July 2025
|
Please note that these are the only dates on which students can undertake the Academic Tests. The school does not offer alternative dates.
Year 6 process for Year 7, 2026
Applications are now closed.
Applications received after the closing date will NOT be considered.
Current Year 6 students applying for Year 7 enrolment under Academic Selective Entry category are required to:
- complete the Selective Entry Online Application Form
- complete the Application Checklist and Student Summary
- submit school reports for previous three semesters
- submit Year 5 NAPLAN report
- complete the Photo Identification Form – must be presented with the Year 6 student for registration at the test venue
- sit the Academic Selective Entry test on Wednesday 30 April and be ranked above the cut-off
- demonstrate continued excellence in academia, effort and behaviour.
Year 7, 2026 enrolment application due dates and test date are listed in the
Year 7 2026 Enrolment Timelines.
HAST Information for Year 7, 2026
The Higher Ability Selection Test - Secondary (HAST) Sample Question Booklet provides an opportunity for Year 6 students wishing to apply for the Academic Selective Entry test, to reflect on the types of skills required of the candidate but is not designed to teach candidates these skills. ACER has written this booklet to assist students become familiar with the style and content of the questions at the HAST Junior Secondary level.
Information sourced from https://www.acer.org/au.
Year 5 process for Year 7, 2027
Applications are now closed.
Test date: Wednesday 30 July 2025
Applications received after the closing date will NOT be considered.
Past test papers are not available.
As there are limited places being offered for Year 5 students, there will be a further opportunity to sit the Year 6 Test in 2026.
To gain ‘conditional entry’ into Brisbane State High School, applicants in Year 5 are required to:
Payment
The Processing Fee is required to be paid via an app called Qkr!
download Qkr! for free from Apple's app store for iPhones (iPads to download iPhone version) or from Google Play for Android phones and tablets.
refer to the Qkr! Guide
enter your child's current year level (for e.g. Year 10 2024) when adding a student profile in Qkr!
submit evidence of payment with the online application form.
All Selective Entry applications must include payment of a non-refundable $420.00 Processing Fee upon lodgement of the application.
Year 7, 2027 enrolment application due dates and test date will be listed in the Year 7, 2027 Enrolment Timelines which will be availble in May 2025.
HAST-P Information for Year 7, 2027
The Higher Ability Selection Test - Primary (HAST-P) provides an opportunity for Year 5 students wishing to apply for Academic Selective Entry for Year 7, 2027.
Test categories
1. Reading Comprehension: 35 minutes
2. Mathematic Reasoning: 35 minutes
3. Written Expression: 30 minutes
Test Preparation
We believe the best Test preparation is to be actively engaged in the current learning at Primary School.
We also recommend a good night's sleep, a healthy breakfast and parental/caregiver support in maintaining perspective and sense of calm.
One week prior to the Test, all registered students will receive an email containing all of the details you need to know for the day of the Test. Please check your junk or spam folder for this.
Year 8 - 11 process
Applications for Years 8-11 2026 open: Friday 25 July 2025.
Applications for Years 8-11 2026 close: Monday 25 August 2025.
Entry to the school through the Academic Selective Entry category for Years 8 - 11 is very limited and always heavily oversubscribed. All places for Selective Entry in Years 8 to 11 are offered based on availablity and the enrolment capacity of the school.
Fee and Application Status
- From 2025, a one-off, non-refundable fee of $420 is required to be paid once, regardless of whether you are applying under multiple categories (Academic, Sporting, Cultural - Instrumental Music).
- The fee must be paid when lodging the initial application for consideration.
- Once submitted, an application will remain active each year until the student reaches Year 11 (the School does not consider Selective Entry applications for Year 12 entry). The application only remains active if the below conditions are met.
- Families who are interested in enrolment in subsequent years must update the student's application annually with their most recent reports and achievements to ensure the application remains current. Updated documents should only be submitted within the application opening period, as per the Year 8-11 Enrolment Timelines each year.
- Failure to provide updated information will result in the application not being considered for future years.
Achievement Level for Years 8-11
Academic Selective Entry applicants must demonstrate ongoing academic excellence (e.g. strong school reports, NPLAN results, academic competitions or testing).
It is strongly recommended that students only apply if they have a minimum of straight A's in learning areas of English, Mathematics, Science and Humanities & Social Science. Applications will be reviewed holistically, alongside high-level reporting information.
If successful, students must continue to maintain a strong focus on their academia (effort, behaviour and results).
Application Process
Application process for Year 8-11 2026:
- complete the Selective Entry Online Application Form
- complete the Academic Checklist and Student Summary – upload to the Selective Entry Online Application Form section (Section 3, Number 4 – Additional Supporting Documentation)
- submit school reports for previous three semesters
- submit most recent NAPLAN report
- submit results of academic competitions and achievements
- pay the $420 non-refundable and non-transferable processing fee and attach evidence of payment to application (please see below for details on how to make payment via Qkr!)
Selective Entry Equity Bursary (Academic)
The school acknowledges that the enrolment application processing fee of $420.00 may pose a challenge for some families facing genuine hardship. In response to this concern, the School Council has approved the establishment of Selective Entry Equity Bursaries to support families experiencing financial difficulties.
These bursaries aim to ensure that the application fee does not serve as a barrier for students seeking a place at Brisbane State High School under the Selective Entry category. By offering financial assistance through these bursaries, the school demonstrates its commitment to inclusivity and providing equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their financial circumstances.
Families facing sustained hardship can now apply for the Selective Entry Equity Bursary, which can potentially cover or alleviate the cost of the enrolment application processing fee. This initiative reflects the school's dedication to making education accessible and removing financial barriers for those in need.
We invite families for whom this fee presents an insurmountable barrier to application, to submit interest in this bursary by the closing dates listed below:
Year 7, 2026
| Closed
|
Year 7, 2027
| Closed
|
Years 8–11, 2026
| 25 August 2026
|
To prepare the bursary application for submission, please download the Selective Entry Bursary application form (PDF, 754KB).
Contact enrolmentenquiry@brisbaneshs.eq.edu.au for Selective Entry Equity Bursary enquiries.
Submitting your application
1. Before you applyBefore you start the application, please ensure that you have reviewed the following information:
- Enrolment Management Plan for the conditions under which students may be enrolled in this category;
- Enrolment Timelines for the relevant year of entry including application submission dates and test dates (Year 7 entry only);
- Download the app - Qkr! for payment of Selective Entry applications - refer to the Qkr! Guide. Please add your child's current school year level (for e.g. Year 6 2025) when adding a student profile in Qkr!
2. Completing an application
Year 7, 2026: Closed
Year 7, 2027: Closed
Years 8 – 11, 2026: Applications close Monday 25 August 2025.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
3. PaymentThe Processing Fee is required to be paid via an app called Qkr!
download Qkr! for free from Apple's app store for iPhones (iPads to download iPhone version) or from Google Play for Android phones and tablets.
refer to the Qkr! Guide
enter your child's current year level (e.g. Year 5 2024) when adding a student profile in Qkr!
submit evidence of payment with the online application form.
4. Submitting your application
Enrolment application packages must include copies of the relevant supporting documentation along with the submission of the online application form. Evidence of the Processing Fee payment is required to be submitted with lodgement of an application.
If required, original documents will be sighted by our Enrolment Office at a later date (to be advised).
Online submission: Applications for Academic Selective Entry are required to be submitted online.
For further information regarding Academic Selective Entry enrolment, please contact the Enrolment Office.
Contact our Enrolment Office: