1. Your Queensland Certificate of Education — an introduction
This presentation provides an introduction to the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) for Year 10 students.

2. Overview What the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) represents
How you can tailor your studies to best suit your talents and interests, and create a pathway to preferred school outcomes
What options are available?
What the QCE represents
To receive a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), students must meet a standard, which includes an amount of learning in a set pattern at a set standard, and meet literacy and numeracy requirements. All of these concepts will be addressed and explained later in the presentation.
How students can tailor their studies
The QCE acknowledges that students undertake a diverse range of studies in the senior phase of learning. The QCE allows students to choose appropriate learning which best suits their ability and interests, and will create a pathway to their preferred school outcome, e.g. further study and or training or employment.
What options are available?
This presentation will look at the four categories of learning:
Preparatory
Core
Enrichment
Advanced.
It will also look at the types of learning which typically sit under these categories, and how students might undertake them in different situations.

3. What is the QCE? Queensland's senior school qualification is:
internationally recognised
achievement based
flexible ― letting you choose what, where and when you study.
The QCE is Queensland’s senior schooling qualification, which is recognised internationally.
The QCE is also an achievement-based qualification and to be eligible, students must have an amount of learning in a set pattern at a set standard, and meet literacy and numeracy requirements.
The QCE is flexible — students have nine years from when they are registered for a Learning Account to meet the QCE-eligibility requirements.
Students can choose from a diverse range of learning options.

4. What is the QCE? Awarded when you meet the set requirements
Recognises your achievements in Years 11 and 12
Shows employers and training providers that you have worked consistently and to a high standard
May be required to enrol in further education and training in Queensland, interstate and overseas
The QCE allows students to tailor their learning to the strengths, abilities and areas of interests which will best prepare them for their preferred post-school pathway.
A diverse range of achievements in studies, courses and qualifications can contribute to the QCE. The QCE is awarded when students meet the set requirements. For most students, this is at the completion of Year 12.
Potential employers and training organisations recognise that the QCE represents a standard and that eligible students can demonstrate they have been successful in depth-and-breadth learning, and have met literacy and numeracy standards at the completion of Year 12.
Some tertiary institutions (e.g. TAFEs and universities) may require students to be QCE-eligible as an entry requirement. An example of this is Central Queensland University (CQU) and its Start University Now (SUN) program. Year 12 students who successfully complete subjects in the SUN program are given direct entry into CQU if they meet the QCE-eligibility requirements at the completion of Year 12.

5. What can I study?
QCE learning options suit your strengths, interests and goals:
school subjects
vocational education and training (VET)
school-based apprenticeships (SBA) and traineeships (SBT)
learning projects
recognised studies
TAFE advanced diploma or diploma modules
university studies.
The QCE learning options chosen by students should best reflect their strengths, interests and post-school outcomes ― and provide them with the appropriate credits for QCE-eligibility and/or requirements for tertiary entrance.
Students can choose from a diverse range of learning options, such as:
school subjects
vocational education and training (VET) certificates
school-based traineeships (SBT) or school-based apprenticeships (SBA)
learning projects
recognised studies
TAFE advanced diploma or diploma modules
university studies.

6. School subjects
Authority subjects are based on syllabuses that have been approved and issued by the Queensland Studies Authority (QSA). Results in Authority subjects can count in the calculation of OP and FPs — commonly used for tertiary entrance.
There are two types of school subjects — Authority subjects and Authority-registered subjects.
Authority subjects are based on syllabuses that have been approved and issued by the QSA.
Results in Authority subjects can count in the calculation of OP and FPs; these are the most common selection devices used by the tertiary sector.

7. School subjects
Authority-registered subjects are developed from Study Area Specifications (SASs) and generally include substantial vocational and practical components. Results in these subjects are not used in the calculation of OPs and FPs.
Authority-registered subjects are developed from Study Area Specifications (SASs) and generally include substantial vocational and practical components.
Results in these subjects are not used in the calculation of OPs and FPs.

8. Recognised studies Courses of learning include:
awards and certificates
international learning programs, e.g. International Baccalaureate Diploma program
school-based courses
structured community and workplace learning
Not based on QSA syllabuses or VET qualifications
Can contribute credits towards your QCE
Recognised studies include a range of courses of learning.
Awards and certificates can contribute credit/s towards the QCE and can include:
qualifications from music, dance and speech and drama organisations, such as the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) and Royal Academy of Dance (RAD)
coaching qualifications for Rugby Union
community service awards such as Duke of Edinburgh or Drive-for-Life programs
international learning programs — the International Baccalaureate Diploma program is the only one recognised as contributing credit to the QCE.
School-based courses — for example, some schools choose to offer:
the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA)
Science, Maths and Related Technologies for Engineering School-based Apprentices (QSMART Course One)
Technologies for Engineering and Electrical School-based Apprentices (QSMART Course Two).
The full range of school-based courses can be viewed on the QSA website.
Structured community and workplace learning — programs developed and/or owned by community-based and workplace learning organisations can count towards the QCE.
The QSA currently recognises a range of:
Structured Community-based Learning programs, e.g. the Australian Air Force Cadets, Boys’ Brigade and Seagrass Watch
Structured Workplace Learning programs, e.g. Doorways 2 Construction — Construction Skills Queensland, Gateway Schools to Manufacturing and Engineering Industries, and Retail at Work — National Retail Association.
The full range of Structured Community-based Learning and Structured Workplace Learning programs can be viewed on the QSA website.

9. Learning projects Independent and unique short program of learning
Structured work-based, community-based or self-directed learning
Separate from any established school, training or other educational program
Can contribute towards your QCE
Students have the option of undertaking work-based, community or self-directed learning projects.
Structured work-based or community-based learning projects might take place when a local council organises a program to teach students about the work of work.
Self-directed learning projects give students the opportunity to design a course of study around a topic which interests them.
Completed work-based, community and self-directed learning projects can contribute towards the QCE.

10. University subjects and diploma modules
Most Queensland universities and TAFEs offer Years 11 and 12 students the opportunity to study at tertiary level.
If you complete an advanced diploma or diploma module or university subject while at school, you can earn credits towards your QCE.
Years 11 and 12 students who are interested in extending their studies and keen to experience tertiary studies have the option to:
study one or two subjects at a university
complete advanced diploma or diploma modules ― up to eight modules can be credited to the QCE.
Completed university subjects and advanced diploma or diploma modules contribute credit to the QCE.

11. Apprenticeships and traineeships
A school-based apprenticeship or traineeship provides the opportunity to train on the job while working towards the QCE.
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships can be undertaken as part of the senior phase of learning and contribute credit towards the QCE.
Students who undertake a school-based apprenticeship (SBA) will be able to participate in the workforce in the “on-the-job” component of their apprenticeship and start the VET certificate embedded in their apprenticeship.
Students who choose to undertake a school-based traineeship (SBT) will have the opportunity to complete the VET certificate embedded in the traineeship and may participate in work- related activities.

12. How do you choose what to study?
Your Senior Education and Training (SET) plan
Your teachers/career guidance officers and parents/carers will help you decide which learning options are best for you — to ensure you achieve your learning and career goals.
How do students choose what to study?
Using the Senior Education and Training (SET) plan, the teacher/career guidance officer, parents/carers and student will sit down together to discuss options. Together they will decide on the best learning options for the student in the senior phase of learning.
The SET plan ensures that the study options complement the student’s post-school preferred outcomes, e.g. employment, training or further study.

13. Career exploration
myfuture The Real Game
Students should be encouraged to undertake their own career exploration using such tools as myfuture and The Real Game.
QSA is the product champion for these two products. QSA officers can provide schools with assistance with these programs.

14. You need 20 credits at a set standard
Sound Level of Achievement, Pass or equivalent
in a set pattern
at least 12 credits from completed Core courses of study plus an additional 8 credits from a combination of any courses of study
but a maximum of 6 credits from Preparatory courses of study
and meet literacy and numeracy requirements
This diagram specifies the QCE-eligibility requirements in a step-by-step process.
Students need a minimum of 20 credits — this is referred to as an amount of learning — learning which is typically done in Years 11 and 12.
To earn credits — students must “pass” — which for school-based subjects (Authority and Authority-registered) is a Sound Level of Achievement (SA). For other types of learning it might be a Pass or equivalent. This is the set standard.
Studies need to be in a set pattern — which means students need to demonstrate a depth and breadth of learning. Students need to have completed significant learning in subject areas or vocational certificates from Core studies, which is referred to as completed Core — but can select learnings from the other categories to make up the additional 8 credits.
However, it is important to note that a maximum of 6 credits or 2 VET Certificate Is can be banked towards the QCE — this is because they are classified as a Preparatory course of study, and are usually completed as a stepping stone to courses in senior studies.
Literacy and numeracy requirements need to be met to gain a QCE.
To gain a QCE

15. A set standard
To get credits for a course of study you have to meet a minimum standard for that study, e.g. Sound Achievement, Pass, Competent — depending on the course’s type of assessment grade.
To receive credits for a course of study, students need to be successful — that is, they need to achieve a set standard.
For school-based subjects (Authority and Authority-registered) this means a Sound Level of Achievement (SA) or higher
For VET certificates this means the student is competent in the modules
The student must pass according to the type of assessment the course uses.

16. Categories of learning
Courses of study for the QCE are organised into four categories:
Core
Preparatory
Advanced
Enriched
The QCE is organised into four categories of learning:
Core
Preparatory
Advanced
Enriched.
These categories of learning will be discussed in the following slides.

17. A set pattern
A total of 12 credits must come from completed Core courses of study
Completed Core can be met through the study of:
4 semesters of school-based subjects at a Sound Level of Achievement (SA) or higher
Completed VET Certificates II, III or IV
96 days of on-the-job component of school-based apprenticeship
A total of 8 credits can come from other courses of study
The QCE is based on the philosophy that developing both depth and breadth in learning supports successful post-school opportunities for all students.
A total of 12 credits must come from completed Core courses of study:
school-based subjects ― Authority and Authority-registered subjects studied over four semesters and exited at a Sound Level of Achievement or above
completed Vocational Education and Training (VET) certificates, i.e. Certificate IIs, IIIs, IVs, including those embedded in school-based-traineeships (SBT)
97 days of the on-the-job-component of school-based apprenticeships (SBA).
A total of 8 credits can come from other courses of study.

18. Core courses of study Includes:
authority and authority-registered subjects
VET Certificates II, III and IV
school-based apprenticeships or traineeships
To get your QCE, you must achieve at least 12 credits from completed Core courses of study
At least one credit must come from a completed Core course while enrolled at school
Partial completion of a Core course of study may contribute some credit towards your QCE
Core courses of study include:
school-based subjects (Authority and Authority-registered)
Vocational Education and Training (VET) certificates — i.e. Certificate IIs, IIIs, IVs
the on-the-job-component of school-based apprenticeships (SBA)
the VET certificates embedded in the school-based traineeships (STA).
To meet the QCE-eligibility requirements, students must achieve a minimum of 12 credits to complete Core. At least one credit from a Core course must be undertaken while enrolled at school. This QCE-eligibility requirement needs to be emphasised to students who may considering leaving school before the completion of Year 12.
Students will receive partial credit if they commence but do not complete Core courses of studies, such as:
less than 4 semesters of school-based subjects (Authority or Authority-registered)
25, 50 or 75% of VET Certificate II, III or IV
less than 96 days of the on-the-job-component of a school-based apprenticeship.
This credit is in the Core courses of study category but will not count towards the complete Core courses of study requirement.

19. Preparatory courses
Includes VET Certificate I qualifications and some recognised certificates and awards
Can be used as a stepping stone to further study or training
A maximum of six credits from Preparatory courses can count towards your QCE
Only two certificate qualifications can be used to gain credit towards your QCE
The most popular Preparatory courses of study undertaken by students for credit towards the QCE are those offering VET Certificate I qualifications.
Preparatory courses are seen as study undertaken prior to the senior phase of learning or “stepping stone” courses to further study or training. For this reason, students can bank a maximum of six credits or two Certificate I qualifications toward their QCE.
Preparatory courses also include some recognised certificates and awards.

20. Enrichment courses
Provide you with opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge at a higher level
Often offered by community organisations other than those offering Core or Preparatory courses of study
A maximum of 8 credits from Enrichment courses can count towards your QCE
Enrichment courses provide students with the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge at a higher level, usually in an area of particular interest to the student.
Enrichment courses are offered by art, music, speech and drama, and community organisations.
Students can bank a maximum of 8 credits from Enrichment courses towards their QCE.

21. Advanced courses
Go beyond the normal range of typical senior schooling
Includes university courses, diplomas and advanced diplomas undertaken while enrolled at school
A maximum of 8 credits from Advanced courses can count towards your QCE
Advanced courses are those which typically go beyond the normal scope of senior schooling, and include:
university courses — students can study either 1 or 2 semesters while still enrolled at school
advanced diploma or diploma modules — students can complete up to eight modules and have them credited to the QCE.
Students can bank a maximum of 8 credits from Advanced courses to the QCE.

22. Literacy requirement
Sound Achievement in one semester of these QSA subjects:
English
English Extension
English Communication
English for ESL learners
Sound Achievement in the QSA short course in literacy
Completion of Certificate I in Communication Skills for Employment and Training (39282QLD)
Pass in a QSA-recognised literacy course
C or above in the QCS Test
Most students meet the literacy requirement of the QCE through the study of an English subject at school. Students need to be successful in achieving a Sound Level of Achievement (SA) in at least one semester of the following subjects:
English
English Extension
English Communication
English for ESL Learners.
Students may also meet the QCE literacy requirement in the following ways.
Some schools may choose to offer the QSA’s short course in literacy. Students who successfully complete this qualification will meet the QCE literacy requirement and have 1 credit banked in the Preparatory area of learning.
Students who have left school but have not yet met the literacy component of the QCE can choose to study the Certificate I Communication Skills for Employments and Training (392382QLD). In addition to meeting the literacy requirement, this qualification attracts 2 credits to the Preparatory area of learning.
Students may attain a Pass in a QSA-recognised literacy course to meet the literacy requirement.
Students who achieve a grade of C or higher in the Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test have met the literacy requirement.

23. Numeracy requirement
Sound Achievement in one semester of these QSA subjects:
Maths A
Maths B
Maths C
Pre-vocational Maths
Sound in the QSA short course in numeracy
Completion of the Certificate I in Core Skills for Employment and Training — Numeracy (39288QLD)
Pass in a QSA-recognised numeracy course
C or above in the QCS Test
Most students will meet the QCE numeracy requirement through the study of their maths subject at school. Students need to be successful in achieving a Sound Level of Achievement (SA) in one of the following subjects:
Maths A
Maths B
Maths C
Prevocational Maths.
Some schools choose to offer the QSA short course in numeracy. Students who successfully complete this qualification meet the numeracy requirement and receive 1 credit to the Preparatory area of learning.
Students who have left school can choose to enrol in the Certificate I in Core Skills for Employment and Training — Numeracy (39288QLD). This qualification meets the numeracy requirement and attracts 2 credits to the Preparatory category of learning.

24. Tracking your progress
Track your progress towards a QCE in your learning account on the Student Connect website
The Learning Account, which can be accessed through Student Connect, helps students track their progress towards a QCE.
A student’s Learning Account is opened once they have been issued with a Learning Unique Identifier (LUI). This is usually in Year 10 or when the student turns 16, whichever comes first. The account is opened by the student’s main learning provider. For the majority of students, this will be the school they attend.
Students can access their learning account using their 10-digit LUI and password. At first, this will be set as their day and month of birth.
A Student Connect User Guide link is available on the Student Connect website to guide students through the logging on process and address any issues they might experience.
Students are encouraged to visit Student Connect regularly and ensure the accuracy of their learning account.

25. When will I get my QCE?
The QCE is awarded when you meet the set requirements for a QCE — usually at the end of Year 12.
If you leave school earlier or do not achieve a QCE by the end of Year 12, you can keep working towards it for seven years after you have (or would have) completed Year 12.
When will I get my QCE?
The QSA certifies twice a year in July and December. Students who have met the QCE-eligibility requirements will be issued with one.
The majority of students will receive their QCE at the completion of Year 12, i.e. in December.
The flexibility of the QCE allows for those students who leave school early or do not meet the eligibility requirements at the completion of Year 12 to have an additional seven years from when they were (or would have been) in Year 12 to meet the QCE-eligibility requirements.

26. Find out more
Student Connect Queensland Studies Authority Visit your teachers/career guidance officer at your school
Follow these three quick and easy steps to find out more about the QCE. Visit:
Student Connect:
Queensland Studies Authority (QSA): — a link to the QCE pages is located on the QSA homepage
your teachers, Year 10 coordinator, senior schooling coordinator or school guidance officer.