Award categories and criteria
The QCE Achievement Award categories and criteria have been reviewed and revised for implementation in 2024.
There are now eight award categories in total. Three new categories have been introduced for the 2024 cohort of students, acknowledging exemplary performance in a broad range of QCAA General subjects in the humanities, the liberal arts, and STEM:
This award is for the students who, in being awarded a QCE, demonstrate exceptionally high achievement across a diverse range of learning options.
An initial pool of students is selected using the following criteria:
- eligibility for a QCE
- five final subject results in General and/or General (Extension) subjects at an A standard, including a General English and a General Mathematics subject.
Points are then allocated for:
- relative performance in Units 3 and 4 of each student’s best 5 General and General Extension subjects. This criterion has a weighting factor of 1.5
- a student’s grade point average in their best 5 General and General Extension subjects
- the number of times a student achieves a subject score of 100 or the highest subject result in a given year
- completing additional General or General Extension subjects at an A standard
- choosing subjects from multiple learning areas (e.g. English, Mathematics, Science and the Arts)
- completing VET qualifications above Certificate II level
- high achievement in university subjects
- the volume of learning in the Complementary category of learning to ensure that other higher level learning options are taken into account (e.g. Australian Music Examination Board studies).
The number of awards conferred will vary from year to year. In most years, the number will be approximately 30-35.
The group of award winners includes Queensland’s highest achieving International Baccalaureate student who also achieves a QCE.
Prize: Trophy, $1000 prize money and invitation to the QCE Achievement Awards ceremony.
This premier award is for the student in the final list of Distinguished Academic Achievers whose achievements best meet the criteria for that award.
Typically only one winner will be selected. In circumstances where two students cannot be separated, an additional award may be conferred.
Prize: Trophy, $4000 prize money and invitation to the QCE Achievement Awards ceremony.
This award is for the highest achieving Aboriginal Student or Torres Strait Islander student awarded a QCE.
Students who identify as an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander person are shortlisted for consideration using the criteria for the Distinguished Academic Achievers category.
Prize: Trophy, $1000 prize money and invitation to the QCE Achievement Awards ceremony.
Introduced for the first time for the 2024 cohort, this award is for the student who, in being awarded a QCE, achieves the highest grade point average and A grades in all of the following:
- 2 x subjects from General English, English as an Additional Language, Literature, and English & Literature Extension
- 2 x General subjects from the Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) learning area
- 1 x General Arts subject OR 1 x General Languages subject OR 1 x other General HASS subject.
Prize: Trophy, $1000 prize money and invitation to the QCE Achievement Awards ceremony.
Introduced for the first time for the 2024 cohort, this award is for the student who, in being awarded a QCE, achieves the highest grade point average and A grades in all of the following:
- 1 x General subject from the Science learning area
- 1 x General subject from the Mathematics learning area
- 1 x General subject from the HASS learning area
- 1 x General subject from the English learning area
- 1 x General subject from the Arts learning area
- 1 x General Languages subject.
Prize: Trophy, $1000 prize money and invitation to the QCE Achievement Awards ceremony.
Introduced for the first time for the 2024 cohort, this award is for the student who, in being awarded a QCE, achieves the highest grade point average and A grades in all of the following:
- 2 x General subjects from the Science learning area
- Mathematical Methods AND Specialist Mathematics
- 1 x General subject from either the Health and Physical Education OR Technologies learning areas.
Prize: Trophy, $1000 prize money and invitation to the QCE Achievement Awards ceremony.
This award is for students who achieve an A exit result in at least six General and/or General (Extension) subjects.
The QCAA identifies recipients following finalisation of student results for certification in December. Certificates are available to download from the Student Portal.
View the list of Certificate of Academic Commendation recipients.
Prize: Certificate
This award is for students who achieve the highest result in at least one General subject or General (Extension) subject.
The QCAA identifies recipients following finalisation of student results for certification in December. Certificates are available to download from the Student Portal.
View the list of Subject Achievement Commendation recipients.
Prize: Certificate
Previous QCE system categories
For students who graduated Year 12 between 2014 and 2019, there were seven award categories:
- Distinguished Academic Achievers
- Outstanding Academic Achiever
- Highest Achievement by an Aboriginal Student or Torres Strait Islander Student
- Highest Achievement by an International Student
- Highest Achievement in the International Baccalaureate
- Certificate of Academic Commendation
- Highest Result on the Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test
View the list of QCE Achievement Award winners from previous years.
Selection process
It is important to note that only achievements recorded in a student’s learning account can be considered in the determination of awards.
A selection panel is convened to consider shortlisted candidates and determine award winners in the major award categories. The selection panel consists of senior QCAA officers who implement the criteria determined by the QCAA Board.
In addition to the criteria specified for the major award categories, the selection panel will consider how each candidate’s program of learning and final achievements reflects the following underlying principles of the QCE:
- For different pathways to the QCE.
- For a wide variety of ways of learning and of demonstrating that learning.
- For students across the spectrum of Queensland society (geographical, cultural, racial, socioeconomic).
- A standards- and qualifications-based certificate, with rigorous criteria.
- Setting challenging but achievable standards.
- Reflecting the goals of Queensland and national curriculums.
- Setting standards that hold national and international currency in education, industry and in the community.
- A passport to multiple future pathways, national and international.
- Recognition by (and entry to):
- higher education (university)
- further education (TAFE and private providers)
- employment
- schools
- general public.
- A certificate that holds high status in the community.
Extract from Norm Hunter, The QCE and the three Rs: Relevance, Rigour and Reputation — a periodic review of the Queensland Certificate of Education (2011).
The process for selection for the major award categories is as follows:
- Immediately prior to the finalisation of student results, the QCAA applies the criteria to determine an initial shortlist of candidates to be reviewed by the selection panel.
- The selection panel meets in December to consider shortlisted candidates and make final recommendations.
- The QCAA informs award recipients of the outcome of the selection process and makes public announcements. Each student’s school is subsequently notified.
- All awards (other than certificates of commendation) are conferred at the QCE Achievement Awards ceremony in February.
For more information, please email communications@qcaa.qld.edu.au.
- Last updated:
- 18 November 2024
