The QCAA develops a range of syllabuses for the senior phase of learning. The syllabus types are Applied, Applied (Essential), General, General (Extension), General (Senior External Examination) and Short Courses.
Schools are responsible for ensuring that teaching, learning and assessment programs are developed from the most current syllabus. Information about syllabuses and subject resources is available via the QCAA website and the QCAA Portal.
All senior syllabuses are underpinned by literacy and numeracy. Depending on the syllabus type, a subject may have one, two or four units. Information about quality assurance processes for subjects is available in Section 9: Internal assessment — quality assurance.
4.1.1 Applied and Applied (Essential) syllabuses
Applied syllabuses comprise two types: Applied syllabuses and Applied (Essential) syllabuses.
They are suited to students who are interested in pathways beyond school that lead primarily to vocational education and training or directly to work.
Applied
Applied syllabuses are underpinned by literacy and numeracy, applied learning, community connections and core skills for work.
Applied syllabuses consist of at least four QCAA-developed unit options from which schools develop their course of study. Each unit has been written so it can be studied at any stage in the course and has been developed with a notional teaching, learning and assessment time of 55 hours. Using the syllabus, schools design a course of study by selecting four units from the unit options provided. Schools decide the order in which the units will be delivered. Once these decisions have been made, the four selected units and their order of implementation determine which units are considered Units 1–4.
Students should complete Units 1 and 2 before starting Units 3 and 4. Units 3 and 4 are studied as a pair.
Schools make A–E judgments on each of the four assessment instruments implemented in Units 3 and 4 using instrument-specific standards and report these results to the QCAA.
Applied (Essential)
Results from Essential English and Essential Mathematics may contribute to meeting the literacy and numeracy requirement for the QCE.
Essential Mathematics and Essential English provide developmental courses of study consisting of four units. Each unit has a notional teaching, learning and assessment time of 55 hours.
Students should complete Units 1 and 2 before starting Units 3 and 4. Units 1 and 2 provide foundational learning, while Units 3 and 4 consolidate student learning. Units 3 and 4 are studied as a pair and assessment is summative.
2025 Applied (Essential)
The 2025 Applied (Essential) syllabuses were revised for implementation under standard delivery conditions from 2025 — students commence their study of the subject with Unit 1 and Unit 2 in 2025 and complete their study of the subject with Units 3 and 4 in 2026.
4.1.2 General, General (Extension) and General (Senior External Examination) syllabuses
There are three types of General syllabuses — General, General (Extension) and General (Senior External Examination) — and across these types, some subjects are incompatible with each other.
General subjects are suited to students who are interested in pathways beyond school that lead primarily to tertiary studies or to other further studies.
Students cannot enrol in the following combinations of subjects:
- the General subject and the alternative sequence resource for that subject (see Section 4.2.2: Flexible delivery)
- the General subject and the General (Senior External Examination) subject
- the English as an Additional Language General subject (which is only for study by students for whom Standard Australian English is not their first or home language) and any of the following General subjects: English, Literature, English & Literature Extension or English SEE.
Schools should be aware that Specialist Mathematics must be taken in conjunction with, or on completion of Mathematical Methods. It is assumed work covered in Mathematical Methods will be known before it is required in Specialist Mathematics.
While students may study both Applied (Essential) and General subjects from the same learning area, only one may contribute to ATAR calculations. For more information, contact QTAC.
General
General syllabuses provide developmental courses of study consisting of four units. Each syllabus unit has been developed with a notional teaching, learning and assessment time of 55 hours.
Students should complete Units 1 and 2 before starting Units 3 and 4. Units 1 and 2 provide foundational learning, while Units 3 and 4 consolidate student learning. Units 3 and 4 are studied as a pair and assessment is summative.
2025 General syllabuses
The 2025 General syllabuses were revised for implementation under standard delivery conditions from 2025 — students commence their study of the subject with Unit 1 and Unit 2 in 2025 and complete their study of the subject with Units 3 and 4 in 2026.
General (Extension)
General (Extension) syllabuses provide developmental courses of study consisting of two units (Units 3 and 4). Each syllabus unit has been developed with a notional teaching, learning and assessment time of 55 hours. These subjects are extensions of the related General subjects and are studied either concurrently with, or after, Units 3 and 4 of the General course. A General (Extension) subject may only be started after completion of Units 1 and 2 of the General subject. Units 3 and 4 are studied as a pair, and assessment is summative.
General subject: Units 1 & 2 | General subject: Units 3 & 4 | Extension subject: Units 3 & 4 only |
|---|---|---|
English | English | English & Literature Extension |
Literature | Literature | English & Literature Extension |
Chinese | Chinese | Chinese Extension |
German | German | German Extension |
Music | Music | Music Extension |
2026 General (Extension) syllabuses
The 2026 General (Extension) syllabuses were revised for implementation under standard delivery conditions from 2026 — students complete their study of these with Units 3 and 4 in 2026.
General (Senior External Examination)
General (Senior External Examination) syllabuses provide developmental courses of study consisting of four units. Each syllabus unit has been developed with a notional teaching, learning and assessment time of 55 hours.
Assessment for these subjects is at the end of the course by external examination. Candidates for the Senior External Examination are referred to as students in this handbook.
The Senior External Examination is designed for:
- low candidature subjects not otherwise offered as General subjects in Queensland
- students in their final year of senior secondary schooling who are unable to access particular subjects at their school
- adult students
- to gain credit towards a QCE
- to meet tertiary entrance or employment requirements
- for personal interest.
To be eligible for General (Senior External Examination) subjects, students must reside in Queensland and meet eligibility requirements. For more information about eligibility, registration and enrolment, see Section 13.2.5: Enrolments and results.
See Senior External Examination for more information.
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*indicates a borrowed syllabus. In these instances, the syllabus is borrowed from another jurisdiction, and the external assessment is set and marked by that jurisdiction.
2025 General (Senior External Examination) syllabuses
The 2025 General (Senior External Examination) syllabuses are for implementation with students who will complete their study of the subject in 2026.
4.1.3 Short Course syllabuses
Short Courses consist of a single unit. Assessment is summative. A Short Course may be offered by a school at any time during Year 10, 11 or 12. Each syllabus has been developed with a notional teaching, learning and assessment time of 55 hours.
These subjects are developed to meet a specific curriculum need and are suited to students who are interested in pathways beyond school that lead to vocational education and training, and establish a basis for further education or work. They are informed by the requirements of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF).
QCAA Short Courses are available in:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages
- Career Education
- Literacy — A grade of C aligns with ACSF Level 3
- Numeracy — A grade of C aligns with ACSF Level 3.
