QCAA External Exam Timetable 2026 (QCE)
The 2026 QCAA external exams for General subjects run from Monday 26 October to Tuesday 17 November. Economics is first, on the morning of 26 October, followed by English on 27 October and Chemistry on 30 October. Agricultural Science Paper 2 is last, on the afternoon of 17 November. QCAA lists each exam as a morning (AM) or afternoon (PM) session, not a clock time, so take start times from your school's exam schedule.
This page lists QCAA's external assessment timetable 2026 for General and General (Extension) subjects (June 2026 version, which adds the Senior External Examinations). For past papers in each subject, start from QCAA past papers (QCE).
When are the QCE external exams in 2026?
- Week 1, 26 to 30 October: Economics, English, Literature, Legal Studies and both Chemistry papers.
- Week 2, 2 to 6 November: Biology, Business, Accounting, Modern History, General Mathematics and Specialist Mathematics.
- Week 3, 9 to 13 November: Physics, Psychology, Digital Solutions, Engineering, Geography and both Mathematical Methods papers.
- Week 4, 16 and 17 November: Marine Science and Agricultural Science.
Each General subject's external assessment is sat in this window. It is 50% of the subject result in the maths and science subjects and 25% in subjects such as English, Economics and Legal Studies, and by exam time it is the part of your result still open. How that feeds your ATAR is covered in how to prepare for QCE exams.
QCAA exam timetable 2026 by day
Type your subject to filter the table.
| Session | Subject | Time allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 26 October | ||
| AM | Economics | 2 hrs + 15 mins |
| PM | Aerospace Systems | 2 hrs + 5 mins |
| PM | Health | 2 hrs + 15 mins |
| PM | Music | 2 hrs + 20 mins |
| Tuesday 27 October | ||
| AM | English | 2 hrs + 15 mins |
| AM | English as an Additional Language | 2 hrs + 15 mins |
| PM | Ancient History | 2 hrs + 15 mins |
| Wednesday 28 October | ||
| AM | Chinese | 2 hrs + 5 mins |
| AM | Philosophy & Reason | 2 hrs + 15 mins |
| AM | Physical Education | 2 hrs + 5 mins |
| PM | Spanish | 2 hrs + 5 mins |
| PM | Visual Art | 2 hrs + 20 mins |
| Thursday 29 October | ||
| AM | Literature | 2 hrs + 15 mins |
| PM | Legal Studies | 2 hrs + 15 mins |
| Friday 30 October | ||
| AM | Chemistry (Paper 1) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| PM | Chemistry (Paper 2) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| Monday 2 November | ||
| AM | Biology (Paper 1) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| PM | Biology (Paper 2) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| Tuesday 3 November | ||
| AM | Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies | 2 hrs + 15 mins |
| AM | German | 2 hrs + 5 mins |
| AM | Study of Religion | 2 hrs + 15 mins |
| PM | Business | 2 hrs + 15 mins |
| PM | Music Extension | 2 hrs + 20 mins |
| Wednesday 4 November | ||
| AM | Film, Television & New Media | 2 hrs + 20 mins |
| AM | Chinese Extension | 2 hrs + 20 mins |
| AM | French Extension | 2 hrs + 20 mins |
| AM | German Extension | 2 hrs + 20 mins |
| PM | Accounting | 2 hrs + 15 mins |
| PM | Drama | 2 hrs + 20 mins |
| PM | Italian | 2 hrs + 5 mins |
| Thursday 5 November | ||
| AM | Modern History | 2 hrs + 15 mins |
| PM | General Mathematics (Paper 1) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| PM | Specialist Mathematics (Paper 1) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| Friday 6 November | ||
| AM | General Mathematics (Paper 2) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| AM | Specialist Mathematics (Paper 2) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| PM | Design | 2 hrs + 15 mins |
| Monday 9 November | ||
| AM | Physics (Paper 1) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| PM | Physics (Paper 2) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| Tuesday 10 November | ||
| AM | Dance | 2 hrs + 20 mins |
| AM | Digital Solutions | 2 hrs + 5 mins |
| AM | English & Literature Extension | 2 hrs + 30 mins |
| PM | Psychology (Paper 1) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| Wednesday 11 November | ||
| AM | Psychology (Paper 2) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| PM | Earth & Environmental Science (Paper 1) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| PM | Engineering | 2 hrs + 5 mins |
| PM | Food & Nutrition | 2 hrs + 5 mins |
| Thursday 12 November | ||
| AM | Earth & Environmental Science (Paper 2) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| AM | Geography | 2 hrs + 15 mins |
| PM | French | 2 hrs + 5 mins |
| PM | Japanese | 2 hrs + 5 mins |
| Friday 13 November | ||
| AM | Mathematical Methods (Paper 1) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| PM | Mathematical Methods (Paper 2) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| Monday 16 November | ||
| AM | Marine Science (Paper 1) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| PM | Marine Science (Paper 2) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| Tuesday 17 November | ||
| AM | Agricultural Science (Paper 1) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
| PM | Agricultural Science (Paper 2) | 90 mins + 5 mins |
Source: QCAA external assessment timetable 2026 (June 2026). Subjects in blue link to our past papers for that subject.
Session times and time allowed
- AM and PM are the only times QCAA prints. Your school's exam schedule gives the start time and room for each session.
- The first figure is working time. Most maths and science papers are 90 minutes; most single-paper subjects are 2 hours.
- The added minutes vary by subject. QCAA cut perusal time from 10 minutes to 5 in most subjects for 2026, which is the "+ 5 mins" on the science and maths papers. English is timetabled as 2 hours plus 15 minutes. Practise with the time your own subject is given.
Two-paper subjects
Most two-paper subjects sit both papers on one day:
| Subject | Paper 1 | Paper 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Fri 30 Oct, AM | Fri 30 Oct, PM |
| Biology | Mon 2 Nov, AM | Mon 2 Nov, PM |
| Physics | Mon 9 Nov, AM | Mon 9 Nov, PM |
| Mathematical Methods | Fri 13 Nov, AM | Fri 13 Nov, PM |
| Marine Science | Mon 16 Nov, AM | Mon 16 Nov, PM |
| Agricultural Science | Tue 17 Nov, AM | Tue 17 Nov, PM |
Four are split across two days, Paper 1 in the afternoon and Paper 2 the next morning:
| Subject | Paper 1 | Paper 2 |
|---|---|---|
| General Mathematics | Thu 5 Nov, PM | Fri 6 Nov, AM |
| Specialist Mathematics | Thu 5 Nov, PM | Fri 6 Nov, AM |
| Psychology | Tue 10 Nov, PM | Wed 11 Nov, AM |
| Earth & Environmental Science | Wed 11 Nov, PM | Thu 12 Nov, AM |
Clashes and two exams in one day
QCAA designed the timetable so most students sit no more than two external assessments on one day. If two of your subjects fall in the same session, you are allocated to the other session on the same day. Your school's exam schedule shows which one you sit.
Approved calculators
QCAA publishes two lists for external assessment: approved scientific calculators and approved graphics calculators. The lists were updated in August 2026 to add the Casio fx-8200 AU II (scientific) and the Texas Instruments TI-84 Evo (graphics). If you use a graphics calculator, follow QCAA's updated instructions for resetting and clearing it before and after each exam.
Which type your paper allows depends on the subject and the paper, so check with your teacher.
English and History texts and topics
English, English as an Additional Language, Literature, Ancient History and Modern History each have a text or topic your school chose for the exam. Your school's selection is confirmed in the QCAA Student Portal.
Senior External Examinations
Senior External Examinations (SEEs) are a separate program for adult learners and eligible Year 12 students, assessed 100% by exam. They have their own timetable, which began in October. The remaining SEE written exams are English SEE 2 (Tuesday 27 October, AM), General Mathematics SEE (Tuesday 3 November, AM; Thursday 5 November, PM; Friday 6 November, AM), Arabic SEE (Friday 6 November, PM) and Modern Greek SEE (Tuesday 10 November, PM). If you sit a General subject, the table above is your timetable.
Getting ready for your first exam
To plan the weeks before your first paper, see how to prepare for QCE exams. Each subject in blue in the timetable links to its QCAA past papers, marked by AusGrader.
Frequently asked questions
When do the QCE external exams start and finish in 2026?
The General subject external exams run from Monday 26 October to Tuesday 17 November 2026. Economics is first, on the morning of 26 October, and Agricultural Science Paper 2 is last, on the afternoon of 17 November.
What if two of my QCE exams are on at the same time?
QCAA built the 2026 timetable so most students sit no more than two external assessments on one day. If two of your subjects fall in the same session, you are allocated to the other session on the same day. Check your school's exam schedule for which session you sit.
What time do QCAA external exams start?
QCAA's timetable lists each exam as a morning (AM) or afternoon (PM) session, not a clock time. Check your school's exam schedule for the start time and room.
Why is Paper 1 in the afternoon for some subjects?
Most two-paper subjects sit Paper 1 in the morning and Paper 2 that afternoon. General Mathematics, Specialist Mathematics, Psychology and Earth & Environmental Science are split over two days instead: Paper 1 on one afternoon and Paper 2 the next morning.
Sources
- QCAA external assessment timetable 2026, QCAA, June 2026, pp. 1-7. Every General and General (Extension) exam by date, session and time allowed, the clash rules, the English and History text and topic lists, and the Senior External Examination timetable.
- Key senior subject changes: for external assessment in 2026, QCAA, July 2026, pp. 1, 3. Perusal time reduced to 5 minutes in most subjects.
- Memo 044/26: Scientific and graphics calculator lists (updated 2026) now available, QCAA, August 2026, p. 1. The approved scientific and graphics calculator lists for external assessment, and the 2026 additions.
Syllabus and assessment material referenced in this guide is © State of Queensland (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority), licensed under CC BY 4.0. See our QCAA licensing notice. AusGrader is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the QCAA.